"Growing up a ‘90s kid and now as a proud mama to a kindergartener, itâs safe to say Iâve watched a lot of television. Like, a lot. While my tastes and preferences have evolved over time, one thing I loveâespecially as a writerâis when characters just stick with you. In fiction, you can tell awesome and thoughtful writing by how characters develop, grow, and interact with each other. But itâs pretty rare to find characters from kids’ cartoons who resonate with you like that. At least it was until Bluey came along. I freaking love Bluey.
Specifically, I stan Chilli and Bandit (for those unfamiliar, theyâre Bingo and Bluey’s parents). You can tell they love each other and their children, their connection is evident, and theyâre so fun. Chilli and Bandit are not without their flaws, of course, which makes them that much more authentic, and I happen to think Bluey’s parents are #couplegoals. Here are eight reasons why.
1. They Laugh A Lot
One of our favorite episodes, âDance Mode,â really highlights the fun dynamic between Bluey’s parents. They arenât afraid to embarrass or be silly in public with their girls, and their original songs are also quite entertaining. Chilli and Bandit seem pretty much down for anything if it means making memories or getting giggles from each other and their kiddos, showing that they arenât afraid to let loose and have fun. I like to think this helps them keep the spark going. And then, I remind myself Iâm talking about two cartoon dogs. Either way, they really donât take each other, or life, too seriously.
2. They Roll With It
Chilli and Bandit are pretty good at going with the flow, and that’s an awesome attribute considering parenting two young kids isn’t easy. Another favorite episode in our house, “Housework,” shows the two navigating disruptions to their set aside time to clean the house. Instead of being sticklers for the anticipated chores, when the girls are being playful and disruptive (and hilarious, if you ask me), they’re able to take a breath together and, instead, soak in the small and silly moments of their family. (This one stuck with me for sure.)
3. Theyâre on the Same Parenting Page
Parenting is hardâand the show isnât afraid to show that. But Chilli and Banditâs ability to âgetâ each other and keep an eye out for one another is next level. Take for example, “Takeaway.â When Chilli is feeling stressed and overwhelmed by the chaoticness of parenthood, Bandit suggests ordering in for dinner. Itâs a simple and small gesture that shows Chilli heâs âon itâ and âgets itââthey both do a great job of showing theyâre attentive and intuitive partners.
4. They Squabble and Struggle
In keeping true to their developed personalities, the realness of Chilli and Banditâs relationship can also be seen in the way they squabble. Theyâre not immune from eye rolls or mutterings (and theyâre sometimes shared as reactions to their kidsâ antics, which I love)âjust like us real humans in real relationships arenât.
Thereâs also the episode where theyâre pretty much parenting hungover, âWhale Watching,â which takes place on New Yearâs Day, and we can see their real AF tag team efforts to survive parenting while, um, not feeling their best (because theyâre freaking awesome and had too much fun together the night priorâwho among us hasnât been there?). Itâs not ideal, but they make it through together, as we do.
While thereâs no need to take sides as viewers, throughout Bluey we can see the duo engage in some less than ideal (but no less real) situations, disagreements, or âsquabblesâ like when they go back and forth about the âbin bags.â Assuming this is how they handle most fears and lifeâs challenges, itâs inspiring. They arenât perfect, and they donât pretend to be.
5. Some Things Are Kept Between Just Them
So, I honestly donât know this, but Iâd like to think that just as social media is considered a highlight reel, so are the episodes. It would be wildly inappropriate if we were to see Chilli and Bandit, say, discuss any intimacy issues, budget stressors, or work woes in a childrenâs TV showâbut in writing this, I figured Iâd tell myself they certainly have their issues, we just donât see them.
Though, we do see some things that let us fill in the blanksâlike in the episode âCurry Questâ in the third season when itâs revealed Bandit has to head off on a work trip for six weeksâwhich Iâm sure couldnât have been easy on any of them. Or when we get to see a glimpse into his home office in âYoga Ball.â As someone who works from home and knows how Bandit is often the one home most with the kids⊠you get the idea.
6. They Let Go and Move On
Like any other couple, Chilli and Bandit arenât perfect. But one thing Iâve noticed throughout the show is they tend to pick and choose their battles and are really great at letting things go. Theyâre forgiving attitudes and interactions consistently show us they know neither is without their faults or flaws, but they love each other (like a lot) despite them.
Take, for example, âStickbird“âwhen The Wheelers head to the beach and Bandit is definitely not acting or feeling like himself. Spacey and disengaged, Chilli notices saying, âLet it go, babe, youâre missing all of this,â and he replies, âIâm trying to.â In her saying, âLet it go,â Chilli shows theyâve obviously discussed what is bothering him previously, and sheâs keeping an eye out for himâencouraging him to be in the now instead of in his mind.
Another favorite? Back to the bin bag argument in âPostman,â where Bluey overhears some squabbling between her mum and dad. Though she wants to try to âfixâ things, she eventually learns that some bickering here and there is okayânormal evenâand even people who love each other donât agree with each other 100 percent of the time.
7. They Exemplify Real Partnership
One of the Bluey moments that really stuck with me was in Season Two’s episode “The Show,” when Bandit reaches for Chilliâs hand while Bluey was pretending to be pregnant with a balloon under her shirt, and it pops. I took it as a subtle nod to a heartbreaking pregnancy loss, which was actually later confirmed by the creator himself that, âthe show indeed does point at Chili having a miscarriage.â It was an insinuation that again reminded us that Bluey is as much for the parents as it is for the kids, and it was the simple act of hand-holding that represented their true partnership and care for one another.
8. They Make Time For Each Other⊠and Themselves
Bluey is one of the only childrenâs TV shows that Iâve watched where it depicts both parents carving out time for themselves and each other, even when itâs hard or hectic. Romantic dinners, dance parties, and even smaller moments of hugs or headrests show Chilli and Banditâs deep adoration for each other. They also (though infrequently) share a âsmoochu kissâ on-screen, and I think itâs so important for kids to see that.
And in the episode âRelax,â we watch the family embark on a vacation. When they arrive at their vacation home, Bluey and Bingo do what kids doâinstantly wanting to go-go-go. Bandit tells Chilli that heâs got the kids, so Chilli should take some time for herself. In an all-too-real moment for anxious parents everywhere, itâs not that easy, even when the opportunity presents itself. Chilli struggles with having nothing to do, projecting a sense of guilt. But seeing Bandit give Chilli the opportunity to have some time for herself shows how strong their relationship is and how much they look out for each other like all couples should.
