No kids show has been a roller-coaster ride of emotions quite likeBluey,and as a parent, plenty of them have choked me up. The Australian animated series about the Heeler family continues to surprise me with the depth of its content, andhow well it presents complex issues like death, infertility, and mental health. The showmay have plenty of episodes that are hilariously relatable, but there are alsoBlueyepisodes that parents can learn fromjust as much as kids. The season 3 episode “Space,” for example, not only made me shed a few tears, but it was highly informative, too.
“Space” is one of the few episodes that does not center on Bluey or the other members of her family. Instead, it focuses on some ofBluey’ssupporting characters who definitely deserve morescreen time. The episode also includes a lesson that many kids and adults would have never expected to find in a children’s show but is very important nonetheless.
What Happened In The Bluey “Space” Episode
Mackenzie Deals With Trauma During A Game Of Pretend
In the season 3Blueyepisode,good friends Rusty, a Red Kelpie; Mackenzie, a Border Collie; and Jack, a Jack Russell, play a game of pretend, using a rowboat as a spaceship. Rusty is the ship’s captain, Jack is the computer and navigator, and Mackenzie is given the role of chief scientist.
While playing, the space-faring trio pretend to be hit by an asteroid, which damages the ship. As the chief scientist, whose job is to “figure everything out” and “fix stuff,” Mackenzie goes to make repairs, tying yarn around his waist as a lifeline. However, another asteroid hits them, and Mackenzie goes tumbling down the hill.Rusty goes to rescue him, and finds Mackenzie sitting under a tree, hugging his legs to his chest.They return to the ship safe and sound, but when Jack asks Mackenzie how the tether got loose, Mackenzie won’t answer.
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As the kids return to playing, Jack and Rusty discover that Mackenzie has disappeared. When they find him,Mackenzie accuses them of leaving him behind. They argue that they didn’t, and Mackenzie says he wants to pretend that they did. Later, Mackenzie “changes course” to take the ship to a black hole, which is actually a sewer tunnel nearby. Rusty and Jack attempt to stop him from entering alone, but Mackenzie insists.
On the other side of the tunnel,Mackenzie relives a childhood memory of when he went down a tunnel slide and couldn’t find his mother.His teacher, Calypso, appears, and he tells her that his mom left him behind. She shows him that that isn’t the case, pointing out that his mother is behind him, and that he simply got turned around. Calypso then tells Mackenzie that he doesn’t need to “keep coming back to this place.”
Back in the present, Mackenzie suddenly finds himself being set upon by “aliens,” who are actually Bluey, Chloe, and Indy wearing costumes. Rusty and Jack come back to rescue him, and they return to the spaceship.
Why Space Got Bluey Viewers In The Feels
The Episode Touches On Emotional Themes
There’s a high possibility that “Space” is one of the manyBlueyepisodes that will make parents cry, as it has a deeply emotional theme that I wouldn’t have expected to see in a children’s show. It begins with Mackenzie’s unusual behavior while they play pretend, making us wonder why he wouldwantto be left behind by his friends.The reason eventually becomes clear when he goes through the tunnel, and we see the repressed memory he’s been holding onto without realizing it.
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It’s likely that Mackenzie’s odd behavior is a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.PTSD is a condition in which someone has been through a traumatic event.Some symptoms may include anxiety, flashbacks, uncontrollable thoughts, and nightmares (viaMayo Clinic).By believing that his mother had abandoned him when he was little (even if it was untrue), Mackenzie had been traumatized, and was trying to relive the experience.
Even as Mackenzie acts strangely during their game of pretend, he doesn’t seem to know why he’s doing it.It isn’t until the vision of Calypso encourages him to let the memory go that he is able to move on.It’s a beautiful moment that many fans of the show could relate to or, at the very least, feel sympathetic toward. While I’ve never personally experienced what Mackenzie went through, even I was reaching for the tissues after watching this episode.
What Bluey’s Creator Said About Space
Joe Brumm Wanted To Incorporate Play Therapy Into An Episode
Taking on such an emotionally mature theme in the “Space” episode was a courageous step for the writers ofBluey,but it wasn’t the first time thataBlueyepisode went deeper than expected.Episodes like “Grandad,” “Camping,” “The Sign,” and “Baby Race” also have important themes for both kids and parents, talking about life’s hard moments that most kids’ shows won’t touch.
As for what the creator ofBlueythinks about the episode “Space”,Joe Brumm explained his thoughts on an episode of the podcastGotta Be Donein 2022:
“I read a lot about play therapy and how … you can get stuck in reliving something. [Play therapy] can appeal to a kid, and sometimes if they’ve had a car accident or something like that, their games tend to get stuck. I thought that was a lovely little story with Mackenzie and his mates. They give him that space to be stuck in that, and then Calypso is there to be that person who just says, ‘you know what, you’ve seen this now,’ and she helps him to unhook from it a little bit.”
Although the theme is rather dark, it’s impressive that Brumm chose to broach the subject of trauma on a children’s show. While reliving a traumatic moment can be scary for adults as much as kids,Mackenzie’s way of using play therapy helped him to move on from his trauma. Like so manyBlueyepisodes, “Space” is a wonderful way to introduce a complex and important concept to children, and show them how they can deal with tough situations.
Both Parents And Kids Can Learn From The Space Episode
It’s A Great Opportunity For Parents To Talk To Their Kids About Trauma
Most ofBlueyis good wholesome fun and humor, but there are some episodes that go much deeper than that. There’s a good chance that kids watching “Space” for the first time might be a little confused by the episode, since it deals with such a heavy subject. By including this complex theme, “Space” is a perfect opportunity to open up communication between family members, and for parents to educate their kids about mental health and trauma.
Another thing that “Space” does is introduce the concept ofplay therapy, which can be a huge help for kids who have been through a traumatic experience. If any child watching has participated in play therapy before without realizing it, the episode could help them understand the reason behind it, and reassure them that it’s okay. For those kids who haven’t tried play therapy, it can introduce them to a way to work through their trauma.
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Like many otherBlueyfans, I have an enormous appreciation for how the show not only entertains but educates the viewers.Episodes like “Space” not only elicit an emotional response but can teach grown-ups and kids how to deal with big feelings.
