海角大神

I have always been impressed by the power of good children鈥檚 programming 鈥� the type of television that can also have a profound effect on adults. The sounds and sights draw us in 鈥� the playful jingle of 鈥淐oComelon,鈥� or the journey through the tunnel into the sprawling world of 鈥淔raggle Rock.鈥�

鈥淏luey,鈥� the animated children鈥檚 show about a family of Australian cattle dogs, has had a similar effect in my household and beyond. Much of the world knows about 鈥淏luey.鈥� How it talks about adult issues like aging or infertility with a gentleness and honesty that makes it compelling viewing no matter what your age. And every father who watches secretly wants to be Bandit, the main character鈥檚 dad.

It reminds me of the cultural relevance of 鈥淪esame Street.鈥� Even now, I can hear the reassuring doo-wop of the Pointer Sisters as a pinball races through various machinations. 鈥淥ne, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12,鈥� their voices ring in soulful, funky harmony. 鈥淪esame Street鈥� taught me numbers, yes. But it also taught me respect, kindness, and curiosity.

Time magazine once said聽the greatest achievement of Jim Henson, architect of 鈥淪esame Street鈥� and 鈥淔raggle Rock,鈥� was helping to 鈥渟ustain the qualities of fancifulness, warmth and consideration that have been so threatened by our coarse, cynical age.鈥�

鈥淏luey,鈥� on Disney+, has this gift as well. In the case of my family鈥檚 favorite episode, 鈥淩ain,鈥� this sense of compassion is achieved in relative silence. The only audible voices are within the first few seconds 鈥� a series of goodbyes from the title character and her mother, Chilli. Then, a rumble of ominous thunder takes the pair in different directions 鈥� Bluey into playtime, and Chilli into a rush to yank the clothes off the line.

The episode is a reminder of how childhood and parenthood 鈥� so often in conflict 鈥� can quickly lead to unscripted joy and unlooked-for grace. Chilli鈥檚 housecleaning efforts are thwarted when Bluey turns her mother鈥檚 work into a messy dam in the driveway. In the episode鈥檚 climax 鈥� a literal push-and-pull between mother and daughter 鈥� Chilli is unable to keep Bluey from leaving wet paw prints through the house. So she lies on the floor in what appears to be defeat before eventually joining in the mischief.

鈥淩ain鈥� has brought my family together. My 2-year-old began to mimic Bluey鈥檚 sloshy rush toward the door into either my arms or my wife鈥檚. Before he could communicate words, he was able to express his approval of 鈥淏luey鈥�!

Where 鈥淪esame Street鈥� endeared itself to generations through education and representation, Bluey鈥檚 calling card is its empathy. The result is the show鈥檚 remarkable ability to handle tough situations with an infusion of love and understanding.

In 鈥淥nesies,鈥� an episode that subtly addresses infertility and the situations that can separate families, Bluey inquires:

鈥淢um, why did Auntie Brandy want to leave? Is she sad? And why have we only seen her once in our lives?鈥�

鈥淵ou know how you really want Bingo鈥檚 cheetah onesie?鈥� Chilli responds. 鈥淏ut it doesn鈥檛 fit you, so you can鈥檛 have it. And there鈥檚 not anything anyone can really do to make it fit.鈥�

鈥淲hy can鈥檛 she just have the thing she wants?鈥�

鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 not meant to be.鈥�

Combined with the visual of Bingo in a cheetah onesie running away from Brandy, it makes for heart-wrenching, insightful television.

I recently walked through a toy aisle and saw a 鈥淏luey鈥� toy that featured a sanitation worker. I can remember as a kid how much people derided folks who made a living taking out the garbage. Young people who said they wanted to be a custodian as an adult got teased.聽

As a teacher鈥檚 kid, I knew better. I thought the world of 鈥淢r. Raymond,鈥� the custodian who was the first person to get there in the morning and the last one to leave. His surname, Bright, captured the essence of how he engaged teachers and children.

The first line of a classic tune by The Stylistics is an ode to striking sanitation workers, and their reprise is a reminder, much like Bluey, that people make the world go round.

鈥淏luey鈥� deserves all of its critical acclaim. Its cast of characters, including Bluey and Bingo鈥檚 doting, do-it-all father, is worth celebrating. But the defining component of shows such as 鈥淏luey鈥� and 鈥淪esame Street鈥� is that they don鈥檛 just build core memories.

They build positive character attributes. And that is something we never age out of.