Top 10 Times Bluey Tackled Serious Issues

This episode was aired during election season in Queensland and explores what makes a good leader. It’s voting day in the world of “Bluey” and mom and dad explain to the girls that you should pick a leader, based on who you think would make a good boss. But how do you know? Bluey is left to find this out for herself, through imaginative play, as she takes on the role of ringmaster in a game of circus. She’s firm but fair, listening to the other kids and taking on their ideas. She also smoothly manages a threat to her authority with compromise and kindness by including Hercules in the game and letting him play to his strengths. Basically, it’s all about democracy.

#9: How to Deal with Jerks “Bin Night”

Also in:

Top 20 Times Bluey Tackled Serious Issues

Sending your child off into the world is a scary prospect for any parent - what if the other kids are mean to them? In “Bin Night,” we get to experience that anxiety secondhand, as Bandit and Chilli discover that Bingo is having some trouble with a new boy, Banjo, in kindergarten. When he calls her a ‘bobo head,’ Chilli encourages her to tell a teacher if he doesn’t stop. It’s all going well until the insults get a little bit meaner and another kid joins in. It’s heartbreaking, but the Heelers resist the urge to tell Bingo to fight fire with fire, and keep on with the gentle advice and support instead. They’re rewarded when she overcomes her troubles and even makes a new friend.

The plot of “Turtleboy” focuses on Bingo and Bandit, who come across a toy in the park and get into a bit of a moral dilemma over whether or not they can take it home. However, the episode is notable for its depiction of deafness and characters who speak using Australian sign language, known as Auslan. Just like Bingo and her dad, Dougie and his mom come to the park and play with ‘turtleboy.’ Their conversation is almost identical to Bandit and Bingo’s, it’s just conducted in Auslan. The episode was praised for its positive representation and accurate depiction of the signs, which were faithfully animated with the help of expert consultants.

One of the series’ most emotional and beautifully animated installments, “Sleepytime” takes place during a single night in the Heeler household. And it depicts a scenario that will be familiar to most parents. Although Bingo is determined to have a ‘big girl sleep’ in her own bed, she unknowingly goes on a nighttime wander. Set to Holst’s “Jupiter”, the episode bounces between real life and Bingo’s dreamscape, which betrays her separation anxiety. In the dream, she gains reassurance from the sun, which speaks with her mother’s voice. When morning strikes, you might just find yourself welling up at the sight of Bingo in her own bed.

Although it’s technically aimed at kids, there are a few cases where “Bluey” speaks more directly to the parents. “Baby Race” is a flashback episode centering on Chilli, who shares a story with the girls to demonstrate the importance of running ‘your own race.’ As a new parent, she gets caught up in the competitive spirit of a moms’ group. She begins to feel like a failure when Bluey isn’t progressing as quickly as the other babies. But then Coco’s mom comes to visit and offers some much needed reassurance. It’s a genuinely touching moment and a deftly delivered message of support for all the new mothers watching at home. And when Bluey takes her first steps, you’ll be hard-pressed not to shed a tear.

Neurodiverse kids don’t often see themselves represented on screen, but “Bluey” designates an episode to Jack, an excitable terrier with implied ADHD. Jack finds it difficult to do what he’s told, sit still or remember things - or so he believes, which breaks our hearts a little. However, when he starts at his new school he’s quickly befriended by Rusty, an army-obsessed Red Kelpie who adopts him as a recruit. Jack discovers that he can do more than is usually expected of him and we learn that Rusty’s father is in the army, which explains his preoccupation. It’s lovely to see Jack thrive and the return of Rusty’s dad is the cherry on top.

#4: The Life Cycle “Flat Pack”

Also in:

Top 10 Times The Golden Girls Tackled Serious Issues

There’s a lot to unpack and put together in this episode, in which the Heeler parents attempt to assemble a flat pack swing set while the kids play with the packaging. In the space of seven minutes, we get an allegory of the theory of evolution, as well as a representation of the human life cycle. It’s all gorgeously animated and set to a beautiful piece of music. We also get some relatable bickering as mom and dad get frustrated with the flat pack, which is foreshadowed by an enjoyably meta line from Bandit. It’s all very clever and even a little bit moving.

Some topics are difficult to broach with children, and even with the adults around us. But in season three of “Bluey” the writers touch on the subject of involuntary childless-ness honestly, and in a way that children can understand. Rose Byrne guest stars as Brandy, Chilli’s sister who hasn’t visited the family for four years. It’s implied that Brandi found it too painful to be around Bluey and Bingo, as she can’t have kids of her own. It’s a bittersweet little installment. But the relationship between the sisters is tenderly drawn and the episode garnered praise for drawing attention to the sensitive subject without trivializing it.

Children often work through their feelings and make sense of things through play. In “Early Baby” Bluey’s friend Indy incorporates her own experiences (with her baby sister) into a game of doctors. She teaches the other kids at school - and young viewers at home - about premature babies. Bluey is acting as the doctor. When it’s Indy’s turn in the make-believe birthing bed, she explains that her baby is coming early. So she’ll need to stay in the hospital for a few days in an incubator (or as she puts it, a fish tank with holes in it.) The episode is gently humorous and doesn’t get too heavy, but explains the concept sensitively in a way that children can easily grasp.

#1: Death “Copycat”

Also in:

Top 10 Funniest Our Flag Means Death Moments

When is the right time to teach a child about death? Whenever you do it, this “Bluey” episode could be a good place to start. Bluey and her dad spot an injured parakeet on the road near their house. They jump in the car and speed off to the vet, but it’s ultimately too late to save the bird. Bluey is upset and wishes the creature hadn’t died. She wonders if there’s any chance it might come back. But that’s not possible, and Bandit is straight with her about the reality of the situation. Like Indy with the premature baby, Bluey works through the day’s events by recreating them in a game, which helps her accept what happened.