Every evening, my house is like yours. My partner and I get home from work, tea’s in the oven, household chores remain neglected..
. and endless Bluey repeats are on TV. A night hasn’t passed recently when Bluey’s not been demanded.
Hours go by with the beloved Heeler family before we finally, reluctantly say it’s bedtime. But the thing is, there’s no child in our house pleading to stay up. It’s just me and my partner – she’s 27, I’m 30, and we’re childless , but still enchanted and enraptured by this beautiful series.
For those unaware, Bluey is an Australian animated show about a family of anthropomorphic dogs: six-year-old Bluey, her four-year-old sister Bingo, and her parents Bandit and Chilli. Like the majority of kids’ TV, episodes are 8-10 minutes long, mostly self-contained, and feature clear morals and bright colours. Episodes revolve around Bluey and Bingo’s boundless energy and imagination as their parents try to maintain the household – conflict is sparse.
On the surface, there’s little to explain why two fully-grown DINKs (double income, no kids) like us have invested themselves in the series so much. I usually gravitate towards TV that’s gritty or messy or serious – Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon , The Sopranos , Succession , Fargo, Mad Men, Girls. Even my favourite comedies and dramedies tend to be cynical or dour – It’s Always Sunny, Peep Show, The Office (UK), Arrested Development.
You get the idea. I like light, op.