5 ms·

As a kids show bluey is adequate. However, I suspect its secret is that it's really a show for parents with young children that just happens to hold the attent

• owenfi 2y ago
  Agree, except I think you missed the beginning of that episode. Like there are no overnight successes, there are many prompts and maybe not the best strategies (such as “I’ll give you a dollar if you clean up”).
• slothtrop 2y ago
  I think that's it. They've found a balance in "family" entertainment that is sophisticated enough to please adults, much the way Pixar and 90s Disney films had. The Simpsons at outset was also sort of like this for older kids. There was moral panic at the time, but it didn't prevent the show from being an incredible phenomenon, heavily merchandised the way Bluey is now. I must have been obsessed with the Simpsons since 7-8 years old.
• wijwp 2y ago
  > However, I suspect its secret is that it's really a show for parents with young children that just happens to hold the attention of kids. That's how a lot of successful children's movies/shows work in a way. Have you ever rewatched older kids movies as an adult and realized how many adult-level jokes they slipped in that you never noticed as a child? If you're asking parents to spend 1.5 hours at a movie theater, you better throw in some adult humor in there as well.
  • Cyph0n 2y ago
    I don’t think inserting innuendo is necessary. In fact, I personally find it distasteful and nothing more than an easy way out. I think the proper way to do it is to include themes and/or characters that adults would relate with too. Ghibli movies are one example where this is done well (most of the time).
    • sanderjd 2y ago
      Bluey doesn't do it as innuendo either. I like Bluey and Ghibli the most of all children's media I'm familiar with, for exactly this reason.
  • dralley 2y ago
    That's every classic Pixar movie
    • IshKebab 2y ago
      Yeah Pixar does it a lot, and Bluey, and Peppa Pig a little. But it's really uncommon in kids TV shows. 99% of them are straight up dross just for kids with no accomodation for parents. That's why Bluey is so popular. It's the only good TV program for adults that kids will also watch. (And I agree it's only super popular for adults, kids are way more into trash like Blippi.)
      • sanderjd 2y ago
        Oh I disagree, my kids like Blue a lot more than Blippi. But they like better-but-still-dross like "Spidey and His Amazing Friends" about the same as they like Bluey, whereas their parents like Bluey about an order of magnitude more :)
  • hylaride 2y ago
    Sesame Street is this way. Watch versions from your youth and you'll see references to pop culture everywhere. From the specific 1970s rock bands, Star Wars, Monsterpiece Theater, etc. It's so obvious when I see it now, but a lot of it went over my head at the time.
  • ip26 2y ago
    Bluey isn’t just aware parents are watching, though. It’s not just cameos and a little sneaky grown up humor. It’s more like two stories, both compelling, are being told at the same time, depending on which character you identify most with.
    • sanderjd 2y ago
      Especially since having a second child start growing up, I've realized it's actualy four stories, often all compelling at once. There's Bluey's story, and there is the dad's and mom's story, but there is also Bingo's story, about being the younger child. My younger kid loves the episode called "Bingo", which is specifically about Bingo.
      • markus_zhang 2y ago
        "I miss my sister, and the fridge doesn't like me" Sooooooo cute.
      • TeMPOraL 2y ago
        There's another Bingo-focused episode, called "BBQ", that's absolute favorite of my little Bingo's. My younger daughter (3.5yo now) definitely sees herself in the Bingo character.
• skrebbel 2y ago
  > But they also enjoy many things on TV and bluey doesn't stick out that much. Fwiw my kids (9 - 12) watched every episode at least 4 times already by now. Especially my youngest thinks it's 10x better than anything else on offer. In terms of categories, there's basically Bluey, and everything else. Just to say, tastes differ. I agree it's a great show for parents too but the idea that it doesn't stick out much for the kids doesn't resonate with me. There's so many details, so many layers, so much to discover.
  • grepfru_it 2y ago
    Wait until your kids have kids and say “hey kids I used to watch this show bluey” and will turn it on and ..then they will understand..
  • hnlmorg 2y ago
    My kids love Bluey too. When they were little they loved it because there were cartoon animals laughing and playing. When they were slightly older they loved it because the jokes were funny. And when they got a little older still, they loved it because the silly things the parents did in the show reminded them of the silly things us parents do. So they’ll often call out “that’s what you do daddy!” during the episodes. The show is a work of genius because it feels like a slice of real life but packaged in a way that is entertaining for kids. So I do completely agree that it has a lot of appeal for adults too, and that definitely helps.
• simonsquiff 2y ago
  It’s undoubtly a brilliant show for parents - in fact I’d describe it as a show about parenting. But it’s much more than an adequate kids show, it’s certainly top tier for my kids. My 4 year old has been enormously influenced by Bluey, in a positive way. She’s very playful, and Bluey is all about fun and silly games. She wants to play all the Bluey games, and will riff off them too, it’s been a huge source of inspiration for lots of fun together. She loves the show, it’s definitely right up there for many kids too. I also fully agree with the other posters saying how it’s an excellent model of top-tier fathering. It’s definitely helped me up my game, I’ve leaned much more into daddy-fun silly games, partly because Bluey gives you a bunch of games that you can copy (and your kids will understand), but also because it helps encourage spontaneity and improv. I think my best advice for dads with 3+ year olds is ‘watch Bluey’
  • RobinL 2y ago
    I agree. Bluey is a great show. As a dad it can either make you feel inadequate or motivate you to to better. You just have to accept no dad can be Bandit all the time, but try to be Bandit as much as possible.
    • sanderjd 2y ago
      Yeah, this. I love love love Bluey, but I also often think, "get a job, Bandit!" :)
      • shadowgovt 2y ago
        I'm fairly certain we only see the family during the slices of time mom and/or dad have the to interact with the kids. "Rug Island" alludes to the notion that when Bandit goes to work, he may as well be going to a foreign country as far as the kids know.
        • bombcar 2y ago
          He goes on a work trip at least once, and the episode implies it’s not an abnormal situation. At least twice he’s trying to get to work, so he doesn’t just work from home.
• michaelbuckbee 2y ago
  To be clear, Bluey was actually the most streamed show in 2024.
• sanderjd 2y ago
  No way man. My kids love Bluey. You're right that they don't understand why (or that) we love Bluey way more than the other shows they also love (which mostly suck) but what's so brilliant about it is that it's top-tier for them, while simultaneously being #1 (by a lot) for us.