I make no secret of being a fan of the kids’ TV show, Bluey. It features fantastic, short 7-8 minute episodes that are stuffed with great characters, fantastic stories and even valuable life lessons for both kids and parents. At this juncture, I think I should mention that I am the father of a 6 and a 4-year-old, hence why I spend time watching kids’ TV shows. Bluey is not only a wonderful cartoon for youngsters, it is one of the best shows on TV at the moment, regardless of the intended audience.

Recently, Bluey had its season finale – which I’m not going to spoil here. Though I’m pretty sure that any Bluey fan has already watched it (several times) by now. The finale, called The Sign, breaks a Bluey rule because its runtime is 28 minutes, which is around four times longer than a usual episode. The basic plot of The Sign is about Bandit getting a new job in another city and selling the family home, to move everyone away. Bluey is understandably upset about moving because she won’t see any of her friends any more. While little sister Bingo seems on board with the idea. Then there are the adults who have mixed feelings about the whole move too. Bandit’s new job pays more, and he will be able to better provide for his family as a result of the move. On the surface, it seems like a great idea. So Chilli is supporting Bandit, but does she really want to move away deep down?  Then, throw in a wedding where Uncle Rad is set to marry Frisky, but the bride runs away, there are a lot of changes going on in the world of Bluey. Big changes could affect the lives of so many of the characters and mark the end of the show.

The Sign is an episode of surprises and some pretty deft writing. The plot is both simple, but with just the right amount of complexity and multiple layers to not confuse kids, but still keep adults engrossed. There are a ton of references, callbacks and background details, so that you really need to give it multiple viewings to catch everything. And there’s the ending and the bit where my tears begin to fall. It is just so emotive as the music plays with no dialogue and Bandit… well he becomes one of the greatest TV dads ever as he tries to keep his family and friends happy, all while knowing that he needs to do what is best, even if it means making almost 48-year-old men, like me, cry. It really is a fantastic slice of TV and an utterly brilliant way to end a series. The only real downside? Not enough Pat (Lucky’s dad).

It has been 4 days since I watched and re-watched The Sign, I wonder if my emotional state can handle another viewing yet?