Bluey Theory: The Decider is REALLY a Divorce episode (breaking down what happened to Chucky)

[@aussiegirlmargie]

How did you feel when you watched this epsiode?? Did you see it as an analogy for Divorce or just Sports? also... you can use this link to activate a VPN so you can watch ALL OF BLUEY (new eps and CENSORED eps) too! nordvpn.com/margie and here is the tutorial video on how to set it all up to watch Bluey kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2XceIOIfL6VkKM

[@_daintypainty_]

This episode is one of my favorites for sure!! ❤️❤️

[@aussiegirlmargie]

same!@@_daintypainty_ i feel like it is so underrated from season 3b too

[@hyaxxx]

Im glad we saw a episode basically about chuky haha

[@W0mbur]

This is one of my favorite episodes.

[@Spring563]

Idk

[@LetMeExplainStudios]

THANK YOU. I felt so alone in interpreting this episode as having a deeper meaning surrounding divorce.

[@bitterbanana3638]

OMG LET ME EXPLAIN STUDIOS!

[@alisonhope4728]

❤

[@ItzWilld]

NO WAY

[@IsaC258]

😮

[@Mintz_Eventing]

Wait… WHAT-

[@Bubbles-od2zm]

My parents got divorced when I was 17 and I’m also an only child so this episode really hit hard for me. It’s so tough to feel torn between the two people in the world who you can always rely on and who love you more than anything because they can’t get along with each other or see eye-to-eye.

[@Nightlight_the_therian_furry]

Same my parents split when i was a year old so i never really got to know my dad :(

[@hyaxxx]

same. Except I was 5 lol

[@AngelJuliet]

My parents got divorced when I was graduating high school. I’m also an only child.

[@TrixabelleMalone]

Aww

[@eeveefennecfox]

I was 27 when my mom and dad split up,all cause we found out that I had an older brother that's 15 years older than me and dad did not like having a stranger around me

[@sjordan9355]

I kinda really like how Lucky is depicted in this episode as well. I'm a bit surprised you didn't touch on that, maybe it hadn't quite been noticeable - but for someone who's parents divorced AND had an older sibling with parental preference - I 100% saw Lucky as something very familiar. Both my parents have children from previous marriages and relationships, and those children prefer their parent over the step-parent sort of deal. I really REALLY like the little detail about how Lucky thought it'd be 'unfair' if Chucky got to choose BOTH parents instead of just one. Lucky is older, has had more time with both parents (teams) and has had time to find his preference (Purple? Red? That one lol) Lucky chose RedPurple (Dad), and he stuck by that - but when it's apparent he COULD HAVE picked both, he gets upset and thinks its not fair. He didn't get to pick both parents, why would Chucky get to have both parents? Lucky picked their Dad, and wanted Chucky to pick their dad too - that is BLARINGLY obvious allegory for most "young child but older sibling dealing with divorce' scenarios. There is also the little added touch of making Janelle stay at home - it represents how she 'lived far away' - after a divorce, most people will have to restart and tend to go back to their hometown. The whole Allegory here is that Pat and Jan split, Lucky opted to spend more time with his Dad, who lives near ALL of Lucky's friends and School - while Jan went back to her home country. And Chucky can't decide which parent he'd rather live with full time, and Lucky is too deeply involved with his life on his dad's side to be able to go back and forth so he'd be upset if chucky got that opportunity instead. In the end, Chucky's school and normal life is with Dad, so they concede for him to live there full time.

[@SirFlopsy]

Yeah, I got the divorce vibe, but maybe not all of that. But it makes way too much sense to me for it not to be true. Makes the episode even more powerful. Thanks for sharing that.

[@kaylabrownell1268]

I HATED choosing between parents. If I went with one, I was practicing shunned and ignored by the other, now I can't make any decisions on my own without almost having a panic attack.

[@eeveefennecfox]

I couldn't choose ethier,so I live with one of them for every 6 months,but something bad happened to our house so I've been living with my dad until the house is fixed,it's been a year and whatever is happening down there,the house still isn't fixed,mom had to sue to company for refusing the fix the house,and that's alot of stress

[@aussiegirlmargie]

I’m so sorry to hear that! I feel like this is why Joe Brumm tried to make these episodes, to show parents there’s other ways of coparenting that can be positive for the child

[@aussiegirlmargie]

I’m so sorry to hear that! I feel like this is why Joe Brumm tried to make these episodes, to show parents there’s other ways of coparenting that can be positive for the child

[@Certifiedspiderhater]

⁠@@MikeCarl115 It is very clear in the show that brandy is infertile. The creator of bluey literally confirmed that chilli had a miscarriage due to infertility problems. The quote “why can’t she just have what she wants?” “Because it’s not meant to be” pretty much implies that she just physically can’t have a baby because it isn’t meant to be

[@Certifiedspiderhater]

⁠@@MikeCarl115 Also younger people can have infertility?? I don’t know why you’re implying 25 yr olds can’t be infertile

[@princesspikachu3915]

I think the episode is about having a hard time deciding on things in general. It can also apply to children of divorced parents. As someone who always gets put on the spot about what to eat or where to go for a fun outing I actually don’t like choosing. I really think the episode can apply to many things and not just sports or divorce. That’s what makes Bluey special: it resonates on so many levels and there’s many ways to see an episode.

[@aussiegirlmargie]

Totally agree! I think it was a great way of showing choice and how to respond positively to someone’s choice

[@eglol]

I'd say it leans towards a deeper meaning like that, but deciding between the two parents you love, or two (or multiple) other things you love so much. When something has different colors that send a message, any message, and it's so well made while also being up for interpretation, it is truly art. Bluey did this in it's beautiful, crazy own way, but My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic also did something like this in Season 8 (?) Episode Surf and/or Turf. A creature named Terramar could shape shift between two different creatures, a Seapony or a Hippogriff, to be able to live in two different lands. Underwater, with his mom, or on land with his dad and more of his family. (His parents were still together.) He had a hard time choosing where to go, since both places were so beautiful and great places to live. Eventually, by the end of the episode, he is helped with figuring out that he really can just live in both places and go back and forth whenever he wants to. My Little Pony made an episode about choosing two different things in it's own way, and Bluey did it in it's own way too. Pretty interesting.

[@hydethecat9579]

It is about making a hard decision that could hurt the other. It was in article it is really important lesson for kids

[@PurpleHeeler3]

I'm a child of divorce and I immediately thought this was an allegory for it. It was a little more on the nose than a normal divorce, but I like how they handled it. Very mature writing!

[@amyjones7841]

Same here

[@neigeshusband5327]

Something i dont see often is the fact that they're clearly a blended family. Chuckie and Janelle are Golden Retrivers, not only are they a soft butterscotch color compared to Lucky and Lucky Dad's saturated yellow (like how Labs irl are commonly more bright yellow while Goldies tend to be more muted), but Chucky and Janelle are FLUFFY. Lucky is older and hes as smooth as his papa. This isnt a split family, its a family that came together.

[@disneydomestic]

I always assumed Pat and Janelle were reconciling. Since for all of season 1 and 2, he's "Lucky's Dad. No Janelle, No Chucky, and we barely saw Lucky. We did not even learn his name was Pat ...until he reconciled with Janelle and now we see the family. This episode just confirmed it for me anyways

[@Munchkin_12]

I think it is about divorce, did you see how after chucky run off after his mom hugged him, jenelle still had her arms stretched out after chucky left, meaning she wants chucky, bluey has shown in two episodes that when they reach their arms out for someone it means they want it, as we see in baby race when bluey had her arms out and walked to her mom and Bingo says "You must've seen something you really wanted", we see this again in onesies when brandy reaches for bingo after bingo runs off, bluey while talking to her mom says "Why can't she have the thing she wants?" to which chilli says "Cause it's not meant to be", brandy reached out for bingo because she wants kids, bluey wanted her mom (when she was a baby), and here I think Jenelle wants Chucky to be with her, I assume Lucky already chose to stay with his dad or maybe had to because he says "You can only chose one" , So i think jenelle just wanted at least one of her kids with her

[@princesspikachu3915]

Small correction on Baby Race: Bingo was the one to tell Bluey there must have been something she wanted. Chili told Bluey she didn’t know. Sorry Baby Race is probably my favorite episode ever and the one I watched the most. Hope you’re not offended by me correcting you.

[@Munchkin_12]

@@princesspikachu3915 oooh yeah srry, i forgot XD

[@angelinacamacho8575]

being mixed race this ep hits different. Ive had kids when I was little tell me that being mixed race made me confused and how you have to only choose one side because according to some you cant be both. this is also probably why chucky loved the fact that a gold team existed since it means he doesnt have to choose and gets the best of both worlds which is symbolized by his parents at the end.

[@ErisFae]

I really saw it as a general "child put in the middle of parents' differences." Teams, cultures, religions, etc.

[@christina2975]

This episode is absolutely meant to replicate the sinking feeling of having to choose between households for a birthday, a holiday, a school break, etc., then in typical Bluey fashion lands on a happy note. But I knew from the get-go what it was about because, also in Bluey fashion, it emulates that feeling very well. Admittedly, I have more first-hand experience with this than most people. It’s pretty crazy (nice, maybe?) to see this represented in animation so well

[@SailorSteph]

I agree, Janelle watching TV on her own is so weird to me, regardless of whether she is supporting another team or not. In my family you have my Auntie supporting the England rugby team and my Nan and Grandad supporting Wales and they all watch the games together. I hope her and Pat aren't getting divorced, but I agree, it could be an allegory for divorce.

[@anthonypang7927]

I know lots of families who if they support different sides; they refuse to watch it together

[@puffitale]

I’ll watch the State of Origin with Janelle anyday. GO BLUES!

[@puffitale]

@@anthonypang7927 My parents did this for Manly vs. St George games - mum would commandeer the lounge room with us kids for Manly, and dad would watch in the bedroom. Granted, they were together for much longer than they should’ve been, and considering how Manly’s loss to Newcastle in the 1997 Grand Final is one of the most traumatic moments of my childhood, he knew to get out of mum’s way in case St George won…

[@Baider808]

​@anthonypang7927 Oh man, the big rivalry here is Michigan State vs University of Michigan and my boyfriend and I almost got kicked out of my aunt and uncle's house for my boyfriend's UofM hat (I had to do some negotiating and a lot of "oh he didn't know"). People take that shit so seriously

[@elenaflores1774]

It's so interesting that he described the show as being about the full experience of *parenthood* instead of childhood.

[@talleywa5772]

I think the depiction of a civil divorce in which both parties are depicted as respectful and loving threw a lot of people off. Usually divorce stories/allegories have one clear cut party at fault, usually the husband, with the conflict surrounding the offending party's action(s) and how the rest of the family reconciles with it through the divorce. But here there's absolute ambiguity, and more than that, absolute respect to and from both characters. Which is a wholesomeness we aren't used to in today's media.

[@civet-coffee4442]

always weird to me when people get uppity about other people seeing deeper meanings in media and feeling the need to tell them their wrong or thinking too hard about it or anything like that, like even if the media didn't intend for that reading i think it's always nice and interesting to see someone find a deeper meaning in a story or have a take about it you didn't notice before!

[@kumachan9311]

Yeah, I got a weird thing where in Films and stuff, sometimes I'll like 'The Bad guy' or see his point of view [hate being told who I should and shouldn't like]

[@pikasheep]

Right? I don't get why people were acting so offended when others would say it's an allegory for divorce. Like what's so wrong with that? Why are you attacking people for saying that? Honestly what is wrong with people sometimes. No need to get offended damn... it could also be about both sports and divorce

[@PRINCEGILLES]

Yeah but it’s not a deeper allegory it’s for a lack of better term “not that deep” and yes it could be interpreted as so but when you add to much to it especially since it’s a children show it’s weird.

[@notsuspicioususer4080]

@@PRINCEGILLESthe creators constantly confirm that it is “that deep”. It’s so weird to act like children’s shows don’t have deeper meaning. The whole point is to teach life lessons in a way that’s digestible for kids!!

[@Peek_7]

I thought there was a bit of a deeper meaning, but not divorce. I thought it was an episode about how kids tend to pick a favorite parent without realizing they are doing it and/or that it is hurting the other parent

[@brandoncastillo_05]

God damn, this episode I loved not just because of the main story arc but also the fact that it is a play on the allegory of divorce really makes it seem so real and it is beyond heartbreaking to see a child have to choose between one or the other Ngl this was one of my top 10 favorite bluey episodes and I love it so much, this show is literally way ahead of it's time

[@kanakukgurl88]

ITS BOTH ❤ Ludo Studios has a phenomenal talent for creating multiple meanings within stories

[@jennbigelow7915]

I don't have divorced parents so I didn't see divorce. But after discussing it I can see it now. I think this episode will speak more to each person's experience. To someone with divorced parents it would be divorce. To someone with parents of different cultures or religions its about choosing which side speaks more to you. A very deep episode.

[@ProfessorChaos56]

As someone whose parents have been divorced since before I was five years old, the separation itself has never been a big deal, just how it has always been. It definitely has affected me in terms of how I think about my parents though. When I was growing up, it was strictly mom during the week, dad on the weekends. I think I always thought of my dad as the fun parent (that old stereotype) so I always wanted to be at his house. It wasn't that I didn't love my mom, it was just as a kid, dad's house was the house with the video games, the computer, and no school, and I only got to see dad three days a week. Now, I am 25 years old and I primarily live with my dad because his house is close to work. I can't go a week (and sometimes less) without thinking about how much I miss my mom, and sometimes, I work so much that I can't see her for a whole month. Seeing Janelle so sad when Chucky doesn't pick her absolutely breaks my heart.

[@jordantoczek3237]

I was a child of divorce parents and my father was never really part of my life. I remember the resentment between my parents and how my father mistreated my mom. It was a messy event and even when there was joint custody, I always wanted to be with my mom because he would try to turn me against her or try to buy me with being the “fun” parent. My father is a toxic man whose had 5 divorces under his belt and over a dozen kids he doesn’t even care for. He eventually gave up his paternal rights voluntarily when I was seven and I was later adopted by my true father; my mom’s current husband of over 25 years ,after it was finalized and I’ve never been more happy

[@SistersTape]

that's awesome, I'm happy you got a real father in the end!

[@DaggerDemon]

As a broken child from a divorced family, (and still going through it), this does seem completely correctly resembling in a way to teach children it’s normal or ok. Even though they had to keep some things “more mellowed down”, they definitely hit some of the parts, even though it can be a little harder than that… (I have some VERY strong opinions on this bc we are in a very mind breaking situation rn but… we’re working through it!)

[@WolfPupFairy]

I immediately felt those themes of divorce! I grew up with my parents separated and having to make those stressful choices of choosing one parent over the other, who I lived with when, and etc. My little sister was Lucky here, and knew exactly who to side with when we were kids, but I could never choose because I always wished for us to just be a family together again. The fact that you didn't grow up with separated parents, but saw those messages, shows once again how strong the writing in Bluey really is. The surface story of sports is certainly there and I'm not ignoring that, but it just seemed so clear as day that this was talking about divorce it hit me so hard upon first watch.

[@hydethecat9579]

According to a news article this is what the deeper meaning is"Deeper down, though, it's a lesson of the reality that decisions for children are hard when they know that someone they love is going to be hurt, no matter what they decide."

[@Hellohumangirl]

As someone who had their parents break up at five, (I’m still a kid) this moment hit hard for me..I almost cried, I HATE going back from my mom to my dad every other week..I love how they add some personal messages..❤thank you Bluey.

[@cjb1500]

I really appreciate how Bluey shows time and time again how much parents words and actions effect their kids. It gives me hope for the future. I've got an inner child still trying to heal and Bluey definitely helps 💙

[@brandonespinoza9279]

I relate to The Decider’s divorce allegory, as I relate to Chucky in a sense, because my parents divorced in the Summer of 1996, when I was just 5 years old, at the time, over 27 years ago, as it actually made me resent fathers like mine, as a kid, as my mother always told me, my father was a “monster” as I couldn’t understand why he was the way he was, until after my 18th birthday in 2009, and let’s just say he was a little “too touchy” with my older maternal half-sister, when she was 11 at the time, as I was just an infant, when it all went down, in the early 90’s!

[@dillonwright13]

I genuinely thought I was the only one who felt the divorce topic vibes. That scene was too painful for me to watch, not even the ending of the episode could make me feel better about it. I swear, I’d jump out of a third story window onto a concrete floor than have this divorce thing play out for real.

[@felixortiz7260]

I am a child of divorce. My parents split when I was about 7 years old and I had to choose who to live with. The thing that made it worse was we left the state we lived in, leaving my mom alone. To this day, that experience still traumatizes me. When I saw this episode, I IMMEDIATELY clicked what was going on for Chucky. Thank God, I’m in a much better place mentally & now that I have a little girl, I would NEVER want to put her through that kind of pain.

[@Fleet1ngf0r3stNOWINACTIVE]

Theres always the possibility of this leading up to a divorce, especially how the bluey verse iw EXTREMELY realistic and the average divorced parents are 54% of all parents. But theres wendy (judo's mum) who is also thought to be divorced. So i guess we will have to wait, but thats just whqt i think, ludo studios is so surprising and that's why we love them!

[@Aperson3727]

I’m a child of divorce and every time we go from one parent to the other the other one always looks so sad when we go just like the way luckys mum looked when luckys brother chose the QLD team

[@restionSerpentine]

"Except for your mate Mackenzie!" "Whats going on?"

[@Idiotbox186]

Great video as always Margie! I completely get where people are coming from saying that this is just an episode about sports and State of Origin, but I think if someone has a different interpretation of an episode than you you shouldn't immediately just shut them down and say "no, this is what's the episodes about, no deeper than that". Everyone has different experiences that will shape their interpretation of art, whether the creator meant it to have that meaning or not, and that's okay! For example, "movies" is obviously about learning how to push yourself outside your comfort zone to try new experiences even if they're scary. But if I, as a neurodiverent person with sensory issues, said that for me it felt like a nice exploration into learning how to deal with situations that are hard because of those sensory issues (taking breaks, closing your eyes and ears if you need to, stimming if it helps -lol chaotic bingo- and not feeling obligated to stay if it's too much). My interpretation isn't Canon, but it isn't wrong either if that's what I got from it TLDR: please don't gatekeep the morals and messages of media. It's supposed to be for enjoyment :)

[@cravenlunatic1]

i think a big part of the show is giving kids (and sometimes parents) examples of how to handle difficult situations. so i don't think an episode has to be literally about divorce for kids whose parents might be divorced to learn something. if a kid sees chucky having to choose which parent to be with and thinks "that's what's happening to me too" it won't matter if technically the episode is about sports. maybe some fans got worried that if the episode was about divorce, it meant that pat and janelle would get divorced, so they resisted the idea.

[@howitsbeen]

This episode, even simply the music, always has a way of making me emotional and tear up. It's definitely an episode meant to show the effects of divorce from the POV of the child trying to understand it and make the best for both sides. I don't think it's fair to say "it's just an episode about State of Origin" cos that just harshly devalues what a lot of people experienced and/or are experiencing. It's like having a mental disorder and someone telling you "nah, it's just your laziness". It breaks my heart to see that, especially since the interpretation of a piece of art has no ill effect on ANYONE. I have many friends who are of divorce or nearly of divorce, and have gotten my own experiences as well. I'm a child disowned, later adopted by my Dad who himself had divorced parents. When we first watched this episode, we were speechless in emotion. I never really understood my parents reasoning to let me go which i felt a bit with the confusion Chucky experiences and my own confusion of why not watch the game together. But I can never fully comprehend how my Dad felt watching it. It was at the end of Season 3B, so we had a lot of time to process it over again, but my god did it make him tear up more than i did. I'm glad you made this video pointing out why it is definitely not just a "State of Origin" episode, and touches more on deeper subjects such as divorce's effect on a child. Makes people like me feel less alone in seeing the episode as such, with all these loud people telling us to "shut up and stop ruining a good show".

[@zuglymonster]

I think its more about having to choose between parents when they are disagreeing, or like you said different religions or values. Honestly I think if they are going to do a divorce episode it will be about Wendy and Judo, or Winton and his dad. I know kids especially at that age feel guilty choosing one parent over the other even if its something silly like a sports team, or whos a better cook, ect. That kids should choose what they like for themselves not choose a team or a color or a food or whatever because their parent likes it. Choosing what they like even if it might disappoint Mum or Dad

[@Solar_Corpus]

My parents went through a divorce when I was that age. It seriously effected my relationship with everyone, I genuinely felt guilt if I wanted to go do something with my dad over my mom, grandma over my mom, etc. I was afraid they would be hurt by my decision. Even if it was over something so small like riding to an event with someone over someone else. The guilt was real and dreadful.

[@ItsyuhgurlRaeRae]

Not me, but my dad. When he was a kid (not sure how young) my grandparents from his side of the family split up. My grandpa was in the military when he met my step-grandma. When I was younger and met my grandma and step-grandma (not at the same time), I didn’t understand what divorce was until another relative’s (not saying what one) parents split up. I met my step-aunt in 2017. Divorce is a tough thing to deal with.

[@FeralSwift]

I wonder if the creators choose a hard topic and then just build the fun loving goofy kids show around that theme.

[@sparxstreak02]

While the ep certainly shows the complications & consequences of divorce, from what I’ve seen so far, I don’t think Janelle & Pat are actually divorced, since we see photos of them together with both their sons & doing stuff together like planning Chucky’s birthday party in ‘Pass the Parcel’

[@OceanicPearlz1]

They aren’t divorced. They just like different sports teams. And that’s the same with me and my childhood ♡ me and him can’t stand each other’s home sports teams cause we come from different places but on our case the differences is what makes our love for each other stronger in a way.

[@andreaaguilar9740]

My parents divorced when I was 3, and years later, I faced issues related to being torn between two parents who hated each other, but each forced me to hate the other and keep secrets from them. I lived with one parent in poverty and barely saw the other parent. When said other parent got remarried and had children, it was hard. I grew up with envy for that child for getting the perfect family that I didn't. I never met or seen anyone else with the same background so I never talk about it to anyone. Growing up I did have a rough time due to the many serious and/or minor problems the my parents gave eachother. For this to be more normalized in kids shows in a kid friendly way, helps kids who are growing up like I did, have some closure, or at least some way to cope. I'm glad to see representation!

[@Tea-KW]

I wasn't sure if it was trying to go as an allegory for specifically divorce. But 100% i felt like this episode was showing moments where kids are forced to choose a side when they dont want to. Imo i agree that if it was ONLY about sports they would have watched together. Im really happy that both parents supported chucky making his own choice and letting lucky know that you don't always have to pick a side (really, what would have happened if chucky kept swapping back and forth over a sports game they are only watching). I liked how it was always framed on what Chucky wanted not how the adults felt (yes we see his parents get upset but never once do they try to guilt Chucky into picking a side). My parents seperated but never divorced, i remember being torn having to figure out who "needed me" more in thag scenario than i was trying to figure out what i wanted. I was 10 and stressing out about being with my epileptic father 24/7 out of fear that hed have a seizure and need medical attention when nobody was around, or staying with my mother who was having breakdowns over my father cheating on her and i had to keep being her rock. As much as i WISH they had divorced, it does hurt knowing i couldnt even make a choice for myself i felt like i HAD to pick based off what the adults in my life needed from me. Glad that Chucky still has a choice if he ever wants to change his mind

[@tomcurl8034]

I’m 27 and my parents got a long overdue divorce last year and my dad is still tantruming about having to pay alimony

[@cheesetoes721]

This episode hit me very personally since I was five years old when my parents split, I always felt like it definitely had a deeper meaning and symbolized divorce

[@BenieTheDragon]

I thought when I saw this, it was about the game. It never hit me it was about divorce, but this definitely makes a lot of sense.

[@Eszra]

I saw it as a child making a choice but also learning that sometimes not all choices turn out nice for everyone. In the end the whole family found a way to be together and really thats what kids want for everyone to be happy.

[@matthewcenteno5515]

My parents separated (never married) before i was 1 year old and growing up with split parents i 100% saw the analogy in this episode the first time i watched it!

[@brambleheart]

As someone whose parents divorced when they were a toddler, I feel this so much! My parents both like hockey so I had to choose between their teams all the time lol. Luckily my mom was supportive when I chose my dads team (the red wings) since my dad is more involved in watching and supporting the team. Unfortunately I am a dual citizen, so my parents cannot agree on the same team for internationals haha.

[@iallan]

I think there are a lot of people that want to see the basic meaning of sports, becuase the QLD/NSW rival is similar to Rangers v Celtic. Michigan versus Michigan State ect, ect, ect. But you are right considering, the track record of the show that nearly every episode that has a deeper meaning, then this has deeper meaning too.

[@foreverpadawan8027]

I literally asked my wife this last weekend when we where watching this ep with our son if it was just because of my own experience or if it was intended that i saw an allegory for divorce. Thanks for showing me im not alone.

[@KyriePotter]

My dad loves Bluey so much every day when Bluey is on his eyes are glued to our TV

[@moonstoneuniverse8516]

When I first saw the episode I thought it just straight up thought it was about divorce.

[@jiiamp]

Thank god I wasn’t alone in seeing this episode as a divorce analogy, my parents are divorced so I noticed the parallels, and Bluey isn’t afraid to have deep episodes

[@originalstickers]

I love how we all get a chance to see ourselves in Bluey. I never picked up on a divorce aspect, because I was seeing more of the concept of ethnic identity and mixed families, from my own life. It is shown in many ways throughout the episode, but it's solidified for me with Mackenzie's line at the end, "what's going on?" While Mackenzie's parents are aware of their identity and are proud of it, Mackenzie has no such association with it. Children often don't see ethnicity or regional identity, because it doesn't factor into their ideas of social value. Without his parents trying to instill value in their shared identity, Mackenzie lives in a world in which everyone is "the same", and doesn't understand what is going on.

[@cosplaygamer23]

My parents aren't divorced. When I was 2 they broke up and for my whole life I've been going back and forth with seeing them and this episode hit hard for me. I never got a choice to pick what I want it was just given to me.

[@rindrr]

As someone who struggles with seeing any deeper meaning because of my autism (Not every autistic person is like this) I LOVE this so so much. It's done so well if it really is the allegory for it. I love Janelle and hope we can see more of her!

[@M644theawesome]

While talking about co-parting when it comes to divorced parents, my mind just goes to a different show I have watched, Big City Greens, where the Dad(Bill) and Mom(Nancy) are divorced but still a team, I am not really good at really explaining what goes on in that show but I really do feel like it shows a great way of parenting, where the dad is the more main parent of the show for a good while before a certain episode where the mother does come back

[@chilling_in_fall]

Yeah…. I see that just because they are divorced doesn’t mean they are toxic to each other… Also reminds me when I watched The Casagrandes and the Santiago parents Maria and Arturo are also divorced but awkward to one another.

[@lordmage3694]

So I saw your video title before watching The Decider, but even without the seed being planted, I would’ve also thought that it had a deeper meaning for divorce. They’re literally having a child choose between which parent to be with! How could it NOT have a deeper meaning towards divorce XD

[@sweets_Cat88]

I didn’t get divorced vibe from the episode. I just saw it as a couple can still have a relationship while having opposite interests. And I was very young when my parents got divorced and … While as a kid I rather be with my dad but for my upbringing i lived with my mom while my sister and I had weekend visits with my dad.

[@Alpha-kw2xh]

I always assumed Janelle was the step-parent as we have never seen or heard of her until the parcel episode. And considering they both live together, and have never seen chucky and lucky together up til the parcel episode

[@Oldchannel96]

man, now i know why this episode hits so hard to me... T_T i never even thought about making that connection!!!

[@BaIooTheBear]

When I watched this episode.. it looked like there was sm going on between them.. it felt sad.. I mostly felt it for sports though..

[@Nickelbag610]

It could be giving the kids the tools they need to make these choices. My parents drug me into their fights a lot. And while toxic I still would have appreciated knowing I didn't have to pick a side just because I'm closer with one parent. I stuck by my mom even when she was wrong. It doesn't have to be as extreme as my situation. But I could be like a kid breaking a tie in a place to eat. I.E. mom wants McDonald's Dad wants Taco Bell so mom and dad ask kid what they want. It can be stressful for younger kids to be put on the spot and maybe they feel upset and think they are picking one parent over the other when in reality it's not that deep. But to me it felt more like parents needing to put aside their surface differences for their kids. My mom likes bands like ICP and Eminem while my dad likes Guns and Roses and Nickelback. And rather just have one specific type of music (because my mom said at one point my dad didn't want me listening to music like that but my mom loves her music so it was a huge dumb fight for them) my parents just played mixes of both. Because it was literally not worth them fighting over the radio while dealing with us kids and working 12 hour days. They'd make mix tapes of music both liked/ the other liked and just play it.

[@kumachan9311]

whoop whoop

[@NessaTheBat1]

This episode of Bluey shows another serious topic in a brilliant way. I was so sad that Chucky felt like he had to choice one team. I'm glad they always find their happy end in these episodes.

[@anela205]

for me i always saw chucky's conflict as an identity thing, either gender or sexuality, or whatever identity. like as a bisexual i always heard the comment "you cant be on both sides. you have to pick one" and it really resonated with me, that feeling of no knowing what identity you are. esp with the children's book called "my shadow is purple" it just felt like a good allegory for that

[@zuglymonster]

I agree I feel it was more about telling kids choose what you like because YOU like it, not because you want to make someone else happy. I am Agender and I often get "you can't be neither!! You have to be SOMETHING! How can you not feel gender" I am also asexual (sex indifferent type) for years I didn't realize it. I just went along with the motions because thats whats expected. Although me never being the one to initiate sex and having to be FORCED by my insane ex husband to "choose a famous man you'd have sex with" when I said none, he refused to believe me or believe I just "had a low sex drive' (what I thought before I learned about asexuality) and that I was having sex with other guys in our garage while he slept, or I'd "sneak out of my therapy appontments go down the street have sex in a car and then sneak back in without him seeing me" because he drove me because I can't drive due to medical issues

[@blu_otaku7063]

Co parenting with uncooperative or hateful parents is a nightmare and it hurts more than the other parent. It really hurts the child. Im glad they showed what it should be.

[@inkyboy88]

If the message wasn’t about divorce then it would have been Lucky’s whole family on the blue team while Stripe and his girls came over to watch the game. A lot of “We’re going to beat you across the yard” to the point of annoying Wendy.

[@fuzzylittlespider]

This episode makes me really uncomfortable the pain in Janelle’s eyes when Chucky picks the red team. 💔

[@HenrietteNobbe]

Dw

[@ajwinberg]

I never look for deeper meanings, so whenever you put a video out like this i listen to what you have to say and usually i see the deeper meaning after you have explained it. 😅

[@StealthheartDraws]

I see this being closer to interfaith marriage, but I feel like they generalized it for the purpose of being able to be seen for multiple reasons. Overall, it’s about making difficult choices. But as for me going into an interfaith marriage, I feel like this interpretation would apply most closely to my future children

[@Madjichen]

My parents are divorced since I was 9 so I definitely saw this episode having the divorce allegory. It really hit home on how hard divorce can be on children having to choose or feel like its your fault for it happening. However, I'm lucky that my parents never resented each other and just wanted us to be happy so they let us see my mom every two weeks or on weekends. They did fight in front of us but they never used us against each other and still think of each other as good friends nowadays which I find very sweet. I wish it was more common but unfortunately, that's not the case. It's harsh and upsetting. I hope everyone who has gone through divorce as children are healing okay from that trauma and to understand it was never your fault :)

[@samanthaash3944]

I have to agree. If you're watching sports and you know your friend is on the other side, I assume half of the fun is talking crap about their team while you all watch the game together. So there's something else there.

[@guildinkwell]

I didn't see this as an allegory for divorce until now. Now I'm just sad.

[@andocoolxd5158]

It could work as an analogy or a metaphor but the episode itself isn’t really focusing on that path; it's up to a personal interpretation, wether you perceive it as just a relatable scenario (choosing teams on an important sport event) or something deeper (like this) But one thing is clear, those two aren't separating anytime soon (Pd: Quick anecdote, when I first watched Faceytalk, I got anxious the whole episode believing at the end of it, Stripe and Trix were getting one themselves, thank goodness it wasn’t the case.) 😂😭😂

[@godofall7624]

You’re literally interpreting one fight as an end-all or be-all. Why would a divorce from something minor like that transpire

[@andocoolxd5158]

@@godofall7624 Uhm... I only said it was up to personal interpretation (and that it was a secondary idea), I'm personally also in the "it's just a minor sport centered squabble" perceiving... The video itself is bringing the divorce idea to the table, not me.

[@godofall7624]

@@andocoolxd5158 I was talking about Faceytalk in this case

[@TheforeverPigeonKing]

My only problem with this episode is that lucky is annoyingly discolored. Like he never looked like he was made of pee in previous episodes

[@bobodelray6342]

I cried, relating with this episode on another level

[@ericastones1052]

As a child of divorce I did see it in the decider as it was a bit of a football match between my mum and my stepdad being he was the reason of the divorce.

[@CallieTheCattleDog]

In the episode Dance Mode, I saw Wendy’s license plate. It said W3NDY73. I don’t know where the 73 came from, but it’s just a video idea. My decision is that Wendy is older than we think…

[@_urfavvswiftie_]

we need to make this the top comment so she sees this

[@AwkwardJolene]

So I’m not sure if anyone else noticed, but the song that plays when Chucky is having to choose between his parents kind of sounds like “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M 🤔

[@brandoncastillo_05]

Oh my God, I already feel bad and why did you have to say that now I feel even way more worse knowing that

[@Demiaifai1]

I'm not going to choose which explanation of this episode is better but I think the divorce perspective seems more touching and reasonable seeing this as more than just an opposition of two sports teams

[@meowpoint1403]

In short: it's an allegory for divorce, but that's not what happened in-universe.

[@phutopia]

“No worries, sweetheart. Good luck…. But not too much”

[@serperiorandtheanimator9216]

When me and my boyfriend saw this episode, we were like “WAIT- IS THIS A METAPHOR FOR DIVORCE???” Glad to see we’re not the only ones.

[@richewilson6394]

I love where they can leave things open to people's interpretations in terms of the situation here. Most people want to have a direct form of information of what's going on the situation. But here it's not so demanding as far as overall the storyline. Also there are a lot of other countries that have this problem where they have team rivalry stuff happening all the time.

[@cassiemoonlight]

Wait what?… I don’t understand. I mean in the end of episode, they seen love each other, if they really divorced then why they still live together? If that is happening, poor Lucky and Chucky going through this situation…. I know Bluey show is meant for adults but yeah… Well if so and it’s actually healthy divorced, Pat and Janelle stay friends, that would be great unlike bad divorces…

[@New3DSLuigi364]

There's Only ONE Divorce on the Show; and That would be from WINSTON'S Parents!!

[@cassiemoonlight]

@@New3DSLuigi364right

[@fairlyoddenginecreations]

I don't think that's the case Both of them hugged while one carried the other for a split moment, so clearly they still have an immense love for each other. By that logic, they should have gotten a divorce after the events of Pass the Parcel after their disagreement

[@New3DSLuigi364]

@@fairlyoddenginecreations Considering that Winston's Dad Scratched off an Image of Winston's Mum from HIS Car; IT'S CLEAR THAT HE HAS NOTHING BUT ABSOLUTE CONTEMPT TOWARDS HIS EX-WIFE!!

[@rosestarofroseclan8094]

Dude, she's not saying they're actually getting a divorce, the episode is a Medifore for divorce. Meaning it was reminiscent of how a divorce might look to a child, not that it's literally about them getting divorced.

[@omegaflowey9932]

2:15 "What's going on?" 😂

[@bitterbloodeddemon]

Oh I feel that "You have to choose one side" thing within a divorce. When my parents got divorced I was very little, and the courts pulled me aside and asked who I wanted to live with. I offered that maybe I alternate weeks or months at each house and they said I couldn't do that, that I had to choose one.

[@ForistArt]

I remember watching this episode and it made me cry because it reminded me of my parents getting divorce a year ago

[@UnknownRTS]

Why do you think Joe chose Pat’s family to represent the divorce metaphor, especially when we know of at least one family that is actually divorced, possibly more? Could it maybe be because Pat‘s family worked best with the sports team analogy?

[@defintitlynotAhsoka]

I'm in a situation like this right now where I kinda have to pick. This is SO accurate. The worry of how to parent you wont pick will react and how it's 'your fault' that they feel that way.

[@rubytook8067]

This episode hit so hard. My parents divorced when I was young and constantly had to choose between my parents.

[@TrueEnergizerBunnies]

On the surface this is just about sports, but deeper in I can definitely see the divorce allegory. I dont think Pat and his wife are or will be getting a divorce but this sports thing i s a clever way to touch on that topic and how kids feel torn between having to choose one parent or the other especially when they know the parents dont like each other anymore.

[@Nevertoleave]

Why wouldn’t they just use Winston? His parents are divorced. To me it’s more about when parents fight and kids feel like they have to take sides

[@alibanana4562]

As a child with split parents this video really touched my heart as this happened at the same sort of age chucky is ❤

[@eeveefennecfox]

you know....I did think it was weird that pat and janelle were in different houses,I didn't really think anything of it though,I don't know anything about sports,but it seems like in every cartoon,people go to each other's houses and have a party for their teams,but I did find it weird that janelle didn't have anyone over...? I did start to question where her friends were at,but since I don't understand sports or heavy rivalry I have no idea if this is considered normal or not being in separate houses for a sports game,so this does now feel like a divorce episode and it makes me sad for chucky,he's just a little dude,but then this doesn't make sense in other episodes like pass the pacel,it seemed like they lived together,but this episodes does make sense on why it took 3 seasons to meet chucky

[@EvilsDeathAzul]

I don't think it specifically meant divorce, but decisions made with two parents in general. It can also be interpreted as each parent having their own things they are interested in, along with things they both are interested in together, and how a child can decide whether or not he/she is interested in what each parent does/wants, even when what the parents are interested in are opposite of each other (such as which Rugby team to root for, in this example). I don't know, maybe the lesson is subjective depending on who views the episode as well.

[@cherawackler2565]

I think one of the best things about blimey is that all of the episodes have a theme and some of them have a deeper meaning. I really like that kids can relate to at least one of the episodes and not feel so alone when they have hard topics like that in their day to day life. Like, if you where watching cocomelon you wouldn’t be able to relate to a singing police officer would you?

[@lucifie]

Your interpretation here is great, and totally valid. I also liked the 'Decider' ending where McKenzie's family shows up. If I may indulge in a little off-color humor, seeing as how the Border Collie family are presumably on their way to the actual stadium for the game, I was thinking that they should remember their blackjacks, switchblades, and broken bottles, you know, for the usual soccer game violence that's been in the news. I know that I have a rather peculiar sense of humor.........