Since its debut in 2018, Bluey has become an international sensation. Originally from Australia, where all the beloved characters reside, it gives us a look at Australian culture and customs. The only significant difference is how the Australians celebrate Christmas, as it's summer.
Disney commissioned with Ludo Studios, BBC Studios (UK), and ABC (Australia)- the teams behind Bluey- Disney was granted distribution rights and added the animated children's show to their extensive catalog in 2019. The addition only increased its massive fanbase in the US, and other countries outside Australia, The UK, and the Commonwealth became involved with Bluey's adventures and imaginative gameplay. Contrary to popular belief, Disney doesn't own Bluey; they just made it part of their expanding universe.
But don't go thinking Bluey is only for kids. The show has plenty of adult references to which we can relate. We're selecting eight, two of which are inspired by The Simpsons. You can't get any better than that.
The jokes and references fly over the kids' head, but we grownups understand excellently.
The 8 adult references in Bluey
Dollarydoos ("The Statue Game")
The Simpsons heavily influenced Bluey's creation, and creator Joe Brumm confirmed how the infamous Fox show connects with his in a podcast interview.
In "The Statue Game," Bandit spends $400' Dollarydoos' on a statue, who's really his younger daughter, Bingo, and has fun with the game. Longtime The Simpsons fans will recognize that Dollarydoos was used in the season 6 episode, "Bart vs. Australia." Bart makes a prank phone call to a naive boy living in the Australian Farmlands and asks about the Coriolis Effect. The call cost $900 AUD and about $560 USD. The prank gives Bart and his family a free trip to Down Under.
"The Statue Game" is the only Bluey episode that uses the Dollarydoos term. After that, the writers changed it to "dollarbucks."
Frustrated with being a parent and getting agitated with stuff
Now and then, parents get a little frustrated with their kids, as they can be stressful (but in a good way). The same applies to the Heelers. In the Bluey short "Mower," Bandit vents his frustration out on the mower, a primary example of emotional release on inanimate objects when we're angry at something.
We saw Homer behave in the same on numerous occasions. From building a dog house, his TV, and even at his cars
"Ooh, Biscuits!"
In Australia, Ireland, and The UK, the term "biscuits" refers to cookies. Here in the US, we refer biscuitswith the quickbread breakfast companion or the dog cookie. In my household, Ireplace the word with "treat" for my pups, as that's what thry were trained on.
In Bluey, the word biscuits takes on a whole new meaning and it's a profanity. I'm not saying it's the F-Bomb, but slightly less offensive.
When Chilli and Frisky were teens
In our second The Simpsons reference, Chilli tells her daughters and nieces that she her her friend, Frisky, used to go to the pier and do some "serious thinking." She modifies the word from the obvious drinking, and the girls don't realize it.
The quote comes from Homer (naturally), when he tells his kids that he has to go and do some serious thinking. Unlike the Heeler girls, Bart and Lisa knew exactly what their dad met and are disappointed by it.
The 1980s
The '80s was a great decade for kids growing up. Bandit, his brothers, and Chilli had the privilege, ast here were arcades, family vacations, and less parental supervision because you stuck together and knew some dangers. As a kid who grew up in the '80s, seeing all the references brought back many memories.
Miscarriages
Bluey fans theorized that Chilli might have had a miscarriage, and while Brumm hasn't yet confirmed it, there are several indicators that it's canonical. In the episode, The Show, both Bandit's and Chilli's faces fall when the balloon pops under Bingo's shirt, and Bandit reaches for his wife's hand. Another instance would be the broken egg dripping with yolk in "Sleepytime," the third clue is dismantling the crib in "Bedroom," Chilli gets upset about it because it should've had another child sleeping in it. The scene could also reflect that her fertile days are ending, and in red-heeler dogs, females tend to be challenging to breed.
Miscarriages are an emotional stage for any parent because it means the miracle was taken away without explanation sometimes.
Fertility issues
When Chilli's sister, Brandi, pays a visit and brings the girls gifts. Then, they all interact in a wild and adventurous game of Onesies. During the game, Bluey notices that Brandi seems to connect with Bingo in a parental way. Chilli explains to Bluey that some "things are not meant to be," meaning that Brandi has fertility issues, which makes it difficult to have a child of her own. People with fertility problems tend to isolate themselves as if seeing a family with kids depresses them.
The Bluey writers done a great job of making the reference child-friendly, while making it obvious to the adults.
That guy at the wedding
There's always going to be that one guy or guys who had too much "fun" at the wedding. Stripe is one of those guys, and he really gets it on during Rad Heeler's ceremony in "The Sign." Stripe is loud and pranking, and he wakes up in a hungover state on the neighbor's lawn following the reception the night before.
While the after effects of getting drunk and having the time of your life is usually the worst sick days you can imagine, the memories before them leaves a sweet note.