Screw Peppa Pig.
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For @xenon @Aqua-Letifer @89th
Every hundred years or so, the world is blessed with a piece of art that propels civilization forward and enlightens a new generation, ensuring a better future for the human race. Bluey is that art.
Bluey is a mature, sophisticated show for adults that sometimes has jokes thrown in for the kids. The humor is pitch-perfect yet poignant, reminding parents of the many pitfalls and joys of child-rearing. The biting satire is still clean and inoffensive, so it's okay to have your kids in the room while you watch it, even if they won't always get the jokes. In a recent episode, the titular Bluey visits a yard sale with her family and pretends to be a kind old granny. This is good clean fun for your kids, but the episode is really about Bluey's father, Bandit, who struggles with self-esteem as he watches his body fat jiggle in a mirror's reflection.
Haunting, but also relatable. Who hasn't watched their own jiggly fat in a mirror and suddenly been faced with 10 years of failure hanging off their midsection like a sad, half-deflated water balloon full of wet bread? Powerful stuff.
In all, children may find enjoyment in its colorful presentation and anthropomorphic Australian dogs, but they will never be able to appreciate Bluey the same way as the sophisticated adult audience for whom the show is intended.
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I mean if you want to stick to your fat jokes with Peppa Pig, be my guest.
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- They address ADHD without mentioning it.
- They show what it's like to have kids along with infertile siblings without being sappy.
- They show how left-brained dads who feel uncomfortable with make-believe can still be good dads without being preachy.
- They illustrate the meaning of "Ode to Joy" while still keeping it silly and fun enough for kids to watch.
But hey, how 'bout those cultural references in Peppa Pig, eh?? I like it when they call the dad fat again.
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Holy crap, how have I not noticed the level of detail and background story in Bluey, before? This is nuts… There is a background character (English Bulldog) named Winton. Early in the series you see Winton’s dad’s car has the mom decal scratched out of the family on the window. Over multiple seasons and episodes you see Winton’s dad in background shots with various single female dogs on dates. Nothing overt, but Bluey and family are walking through a park and you see the bulldog sitting on a bench talking with a female dog that’s holding flowers. Or they are driving past an ice cream stand and you quickly catch the dad buying another lady dog an ice cream.
This stuff goes in for seasons, then they have another episode where Bluey is just watching things happen in a grocery store on the security camera feeds. In some of the shots you see the dad keep smiling at another parent of one of Bluey’s school mates, the Terrier brothers’ mother. Then you see him grab a breath spray and start talking to her. All in the background, this is nowhere near the top of the story.
Then over another season or two you see him and her together in background shots. The Terrier brothers start appearing in episodes with Winton, the dad start’s looking happier and even a little healthier. Eventually you see a shot of Winton’s dad and the Terriers Mom hugging in front of his house with a for sale sign and Winton and the Terrier Brothers in the car.
There is an entire frigging story hidden in the background shots of episodes across the entire series, and I never even noticed it. That is incredible work by the crew. @Aqua-Letifer @xenon are there other similar storylines that I should look for?
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Holy crap, how have I not noticed the level of detail and background story in Bluey, before? This is nuts… There is a background character (English Bulldog) named Winton. Early in the series you see Winton’s dad’s car has the mom decal scratched out of the family on the window. Over multiple seasons and episodes you see Winton’s dad in background shots with various single female dogs on dates. Nothing overt, but Bluey and family are walking through a park and you see the bulldog sitting on a bench talking with a female dog that’s holding flowers. Or they are driving past an ice cream stand and you quickly catch the dad buying another lady dog an ice cream.
This stuff goes in for seasons, then they have another episode where Bluey is just watching things happen in a grocery store on the security camera feeds. In some of the shots you see the dad keep smiling at another parent of one of Bluey’s school mates, the Terrier brothers’ mother. Then you see him grab a breath spray and start talking to her. All in the background, this is nowhere near the top of the story.
Then over another season or two you see him and her together in background shots. The Terrier brothers start appearing in episodes with Winton, the dad start’s looking happier and even a little healthier. Eventually you see a shot of Winton’s dad and the Terriers Mom hugging in front of his house with a for sale sign and Winton and the Terrier Brothers in the car.
There is an entire frigging story hidden in the background shots of episodes across the entire series, and I never even noticed it. That is incredible work by the crew. @Aqua-Letifer @xenon are there other similar storylines that I should look for?
@LuFins-Dad said in Screw Peppa Pig.:
Holy crap, how have I not noticed the level of detail and background story in Bluey, before? This is nuts…
Because like all the other parents out there you don't actually watch it. I mean why would you? It's just a stupid kids' show, right?
I've given up trying to explain it to people. But it's about the best thing on television.
Please love yourself.
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Other storylines:
Jack's dad has ADHD, too.
There's an episode where Bluey's five bucks floats around a market to different people, finally landing with the musician (who's modeled after the real musician of the show). He holds on to it, and in other episodes, you can see him busking with the fiver still in his hat. He finally spends it in a third episode down the line.
Bingo has Chron's Disease.
Chili's sister has a big problem with infertility, but she's finally able to have a child.
Missy was adopted.
Muffin's nutters for like half the seasons because Stripe doesn't get off his ass and actually do some parenting. Once he and Trixie have a come to Jesus conversation about it, Muffin starts to straighten out. -
@LuFins-Dad said in Screw Peppa Pig.:
Holy crap, how have I not noticed the level of detail and background story in Bluey, before? This is nuts…
Because like all the other parents out there you don't actually watch it. I mean why would you? It's just a stupid kids' show, right?
I've given up trying to explain it to people. But it's about the best thing on television.
@Aqua-Letifer said in Screw Peppa Pig.:
@LuFins-Dad said in Screw Peppa Pig.:
Holy crap, how have I not noticed the level of detail and background story in Bluey, before? This is nuts…
Because like all the other parents out there you don't actually watch it. I mean why would you? It's just a stupid kids' show, right?
I've given up trying to explain it to people. But it's about the best thing on television.
My kids are finally into it. I don't mind it, and chuckle, but agree most of the time I have it on the background while I do something else. The show "Handstand" (Bingo is trying to do it during the party) has so many moving parts I wondered to myself how many hidden patterns or other inside jokes are embedded in that episode.
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A quick google had an interesting insight:
"One of my favorite episodes. The narrative is built wonderfully, I love how it iterates on itself. It’s heartbreaking when you realize it’s Bingo’s birthday and no one’s paying attention to her, but that makes Nana’s role in the episode extra worth it. They were both looking to be noticed and valued, and finally got what they needed from each other.
I’ve also seen someone say that when Bingo and Nana finally meet up, it breaks the cycle of all the other animations, which is really cool."
