Suburban Dad Pop

Ending a television show seems to be one of the hardest tasks in contemporary art. Finishing arcs, accomplishing goals, and conquering obstacles is difficult to plan and even harder to execute. Critically acclaimed programs are not immune to criticism and can face backlash from the most loyal of fans when their endings are perceived to be lackluster. Not everyone loved Don Draper’s Coca Cola advertisement or Tony Soprano fading to black. (For the record I loved both endings).

Which is not to say that sticking the landing is impossible, especially if you are a fan of Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad, Reservation Dogs or The Americans.

So, with the recent two-episode arc of Bluey (episodes titled Ghostbasket and The Sign) the obvious question to be asked is “Was this the end?”. However, the more interesting question is “SHOULD this be the end?”.

The answer to both is, to quote the farmer in Calypso’s book, “We’ll see”.

Let’s visit the former question first.

The Sign had many hallmarks of a series finale – callbacks, the entire cast participating in a big event (Rad & Frisky’s wedding), and montages that showcased a combination of humorous and emotional moments.

Personally speaking, none of those heart tugging moments flexed more than the surprise appearance of a PREGNANT Aunt Brandy. This is where the water works started for me and I don’t apologize for a pregnant, animated dog making me happy.

If I had to wager, I bet Bluey has made you tear up too. That emotional magic is ingrained in the show’s DNA and this particular moment was a call back to when the audience found out that (after almost THREE entire seasons) that Chili has a sister, named Brandy, who has struggled with fertility; the extent of that struggle has caused a semi-estrangement between the two. The Sign marks the only second appearance of Brandy in the entirety of the series and while she doesn’t even have a line, the show runners made the moment count.

Of course, the larger conflict used to counter the feel-good vibes of the wedding was the drama centering around Bandit accepting a higher paying job in a new city and the Heeler family moving. The same animated, fictional house where viewers watched Bluey learn to walk, Bingo execute a handstand, and Chili and Bandit build their life together, seemed to have found a buyer. As movers emptied the the fixer-upper at the end of the Cul-De-Sac, I wondered if the showrunners had one last heart-warming trick up their sleeve.

Spoiler alert: Damn right they did.

Via a serendipitously placed coin and telescope, the Heeler’s plans to move became unraveled and the audience was treated to a montage of the Heeler family, in their empty house, eating delivery food while laughing and playing and wagging their tales. The Heelers, it seems, like all good dogs are staying.

Was this the audience’s last encounter with the Heeler family? If not, I can’t remember any episode of recent television history that had this much of a finale vibe that didn’t actually end up being a finale. I, for one, hope it was. But, should it be?

We’ll see.

I am not series creator and showrunner Joe Brumm and I don’t know what makes him tick, what his motivations are, or if he will be able to turn down the inevitable boatload of money Disney will offer him for new episodes. What I do know is that Bluey has almost always succeeded more than it has failed and as a consumer and fan of this show, I have no right to complain if it ended now. After 151 episodes that transcend age and background, teach life lessons, and bring families together, Bluey doesn’t owe its audience anything.

The worst-case scenario would be watching Bluey outstay its welcome and dip in quality, which taking the family out of Brisbane would have done. I definitely didn’t want to see the growing pains of Bluey and Bingo making friends at a new school, be exposed to a new wacky neighbor (Pat was more than enough), or see Chili try and infiltrate a snobby, upper crust suburban mom clique.

The Heelers outside of Brisbane would have been unfathomable and heartbreaking and changed the show’s legacy. In other words, it would have been like watching Rusty fail at cricket and no one wants to see that.

So, if Bluey does come back, what kind of show will we be watching? Will the quality meet the Bluey standard of excellence? Will Bandit, by virtue of previously quitting his old job, be looking for a new job? Will Brandy’s baby be a boy or a girl? Will Mort’s heart issues be revisited? Will Muffin ever share her toys?

We’ll see.

Or maybe we won’t. Thanks for everything, Bluey.