Bluey & The Miscarriage And Infertility Episodes

So this post is going to cover two things about two important issues that are not widely discussed enough. Miscarriage and Infertility. How does a show aimed at kids deal with these topics? 

I'll tell you today and the reasons why they were brought up.

Brandy & Infertility

In the episode of Bluey titled "Onsies" Auntie Brandy, (Bluey's Auntie) visits for the first time in years. Chili's sister Brandy wants kids but unfortunately is unable to, that's why she stayed away from the family and her sister for years. It's difficult and traumatic and anxiety inducing for her to deal and think of kids, her inner turmoil and fall into depression kept Brandy away for so long, and she gives herself a prep talk just to see her family. Brandy and Chilli have a close bond despite her not visiting for 4 years. Brandy has Bluey and Bingo Onesies, and they don't fit either kid very well and Bluey asks her mum Chili to make it fit and Chili answers with a quick "it's not meant to be kiddo" which foreshadowed a lesson later in the episode. There's a few times Brandy tries to have a heart-to-heart with her sister, but the kids interrupt it because Bingo becomes more animalistic when she wears a onesie, which is pretty funny. It's possible the sisters bonded more so over the fact Chili had a miscarriage before Bluey was born also, but I'll touch on that in a bit. So the aforementioned foreshadow moment goes with Chili talking to Bluey saying "you know how you want bingos cheetah onesie, but it doesn't fit you, so you can't have it. There's something Auntie Brandy wants more than anything, but she can't have it and no one can do anything about it. She can't have the thing she wants because it's not meant to be." Brandy and Chili have a heart-to-heart and Chili makes sure she's not alone and cares about her and her well-being and isn't mad about not seeing her in 4 years and Brandy confirms it won't be so long til she sees them again and the two dance like they did as kids to make chilli's kids laugh and smile again.

Chilli & Miscarriage

In the episode "The Show" it takes place on Mother’s Day. Bingo, Bluey and Bandit bring Chilli breakfast in bed, but Bingo trips and spills the tray. Bingo runs from the room crying, and Chilli encourages her to have a little cry, pick herself up, dust herself off and carry on. “The show must go on,” Chilli says. Then Bluey has the idea to put on a play about how Bandit and Chilli met. The key moment in the episode happens when Bingo, playing Chilli, has a balloon under her shirt to represent Chilli’s pregnancy with Bluey. The girls get carried away horsing around, and the balloon pops.

Many parents instantly became obsessed with this moment, because the view turns from showing the balloon popping, to Bandit grabbing Chilli’s hand as her smile fades. We have confirmation from “Bluey” creator and writer Joe Brumm himself, thanks to the new book “Hard to Bear: Investigating the Science and Silence of Miscarriage,” by Isabelle Oderberg. There’s so little representation of miscarriage in pop culture, nonetheless in children’s programming. My realization upon knowing this was shock but also a feeling of pride because this topic which affects me, being a father of miscarriage'd babies, hit me. This topic isn't widely discussed, and the care for those affected isn't much at all. So it's nice to see and hear this issue being raised and talked about since it's deemed to be such a common issue.

There is something truly special about “Bluey.” It’s a show that manages to transcend generations while actually having a heart and this is why and these episodes I mentioned are why I started watching this show and taking notice of it in the first place. I started recently to watch the show from it's beginning as it's soft and calming and sort of reassuring for me at the moment as my girlfriend is away for work, and it reminds me of her and her soft loving caring nature and Bandit is the dad I aspire to become. Thanks for reading and for visiting my blog, stay shiny and follow for more!

Bluey's Dad Is The Best Animated Dad!

Bandit Heeler is Bluey's dad, in the mega hit kids TV show of the titular character named Bluey. In all my years of seeing Dad's in animated shows and even in sitcoms of live action material, Dad's are always portrayed as silly, disgruntled, clumsy characters and portrayed as the butt of every joke.

Bluey's Dad, Bandit however is not any of those characteristics, he generally loves his kids and does all he can right by them. Bluey dad is an inspirational role model, a realistic expectation of a real dad as he does also have his flaws but he has amazing examples of gentle parenting. He always makes valuable life lessons fun and enjoyable even for the kids. Bandit is a stand-out father who has inspired real-life parents and guardians with his commitment to his kids and imaginative play. He not only takes care of his own children but also helps other kids, showing compassion and kindness. Bandit is always so commited to imaginative play and ensures the kids have fun and learn valuable lessons through the process. He has extreme patience and care and always puts his kids first no matter his mood or the type of day he is having.

In the episode "Takeaway," Bandit is tasked with running a few errands and brings Bluey and Bingo along. Tired of waiting for their to-go food, the girls start to pester Bandit and wreak havoc outside the restaurant. At first, Bandit is (understandably) frustrated and tries to keep his kids in line. Eventually, he comes to an important conclusion: the kids are just being themselves and there's no reason to be overly stressed. Bluey regularly does a great job of illustrating parenting's challenges. Bandit's arc in "Takeaway" isn't just a crucial representation, but one of those times Bluey is more for adults than kids.

There are many times when Bluey tackles serious issues, though the episode called "Stickbird" stands out for its portrayal of navigating mental health-related concerns. During "Stickbird," the Heelers enjoy a day of sun, sand, and waves, but Bandit is clearly preoccupied with something. Unable to be fully present, he often stares off into the distance and remains pretty quiet. "Let it go, babe," Chilli says. "You're missing all of this." While the show never reveals what's troubling Bandit, it reiterates the importance of honoring one's mental health, while also encouraging folks to let go of the burdens that bog them down.

An ongoing gag in Bluey is that Bandit is always having the laundry basket knocked out of his hands. While it's more of a funny in-joke for fans than anything else, the recurring laundry issue reiterates that Bandit doesn't let the small things get to him. When kids don't fully understand the many chores and stressors that come with "adulting" it's easy to feel frustrated and overwhelmed, especially when the little things pile up. Bandit's more "go with the flow" attitude emphasizes the importance of not taking everything too seriously.

Even some of the worst parenting moments in Bluey prove that Bandit is one of TV's best dads, largely because Bandit's flaws make him more believable. Throughout the course of the series, Bandit has a few pretty hard-to-swallow moments. In "Obstacle Course," his pride gets the best of him: at the end of the race, he blatantly cheats to beat Bluey, who trained very hard. In "Mini Bluey," Bandit shows his favouritism toward the more well-mannered Bingo in front of Bluey. Weirdly, he never apologizes. While these Bluey moments shouldn't serve as a guide for parents, they help make Bandit a more well-rounded, relatable father figure.

These are just some of the reasons and standout moments for me as to why Bandit Heeler is the best animated TV dad. Thanks for reading and visiting my blog, stay shiny and follow for more!