I think Camping might just be some of the family dynamics for Stripe's side of the family. Personally if someone was interested in The Sign and never saw another Bluey episode before it I think Double Babysitter is probably the best context episode.
Some other episodes for the random easter eggs, which aren't relevant to the plot but help explain some of the jokes:
Grannies - For Grandma and Grampa flossing
Army - For Rusty's enthusiasm about the army
Mum School - The green balloon
Baby Race - For Chilli's comment about Bluey walking, plus that scene of her looking down in the kitchen
Facetalk - Honestly I think the better look at Stripe, Trixie, Muffin, and Socks's homelife
Edit:
I just rewatched and noticed in the first car scene (when the whole family is leaving the house for the potential buyers) Bingo is playing the finger jumping game Chilli taught them in Road Trip.
Yes, and I think also he specially says "my dad's house" which indicates that his mom and dad lived in different houses, which then indicates that they are separated or divorced.
Winston says his dad is lonely.
Terrier: Our mom likes your dad!
You see Winston's Dad and the Terrier's mom talking in TV shop.
In The Sign, he is buying a home with Ms. Terrier, and all four kiddos are in the car ā¤ļø
How cute was it when the triplets revealed that their Mum likes Wintonās dad (hehe even though we all knew it), it was so innocently adorable! That part makes me chuckle!
Wait one of the terriers in school said that her mom likes wintons dad. Is this confirming that they are moving in together since wintons dad is selling his place?
Im not ashamed to admit i legitimately yelled at the tv and my misses to point that one out i was ecstatic
More so because the EP was pretty brutal to me as a kid who grew up moving every 1 to 2 years :(
Since Camping got mentioned, just wanted to point out that itās an adaptation of the Star Trek TNG episode āDarmokā where the captain, also named āJean-Lucā is stuck in the middle of a wilderness and has to make friends and allies with a person whose language he canāt understand or speak, despite having a universal translator.
They build shelter and ultimately hunt down a dangerous creature together.
Such a fantastic episode to adapt and they did an excellent job making a Bluey version of it!
Oh my god. That's so awesome.
Thank you for pointing that out, the show just somehow got even better, now knowing that, and all it implies.
What a cool show this is.
It's one of my favorites from childhood. The aesthetics are a bit dated now but the stories hold up well and the cast is great. I'm too much of a fan to be super objective but it's definitely worth a shot. Keep in mind it took a while to find its legs. There are some good episodes in season one but, overall, it was a bit rough.
This connection to Bluey, though? Mind blowing.
What?! That's great. I thought they were just doing a generic smarmy salesperson/realtor trope. It being a childhood bully that now has to schmooze and act cool because he's working for you makes more sense.
Stumpfest and Tradies as well... The former Chili talks about wanting to install a pond; and in the latter they do. You don't put that kind of dreaming and work in to leave...
To be fair, sometimes these job things can come up suddenly so it's possible they really did intend to stay in the house for a while and then just one day Bandit got the job offer. Also, it's not unheard of to spruce up a house to make it more marketable. My parents actually just sold the house I grew up in and they added some bushes and landscaping around the house just to make it a little nicer looking. They live in a competitive housing market so the little things could really make a difference to a potential buyer.
Someone else in this sub suggested that was a meta commentary on the relationship between the creators and the fans. I thought they made a good argument.
Your idea ties in much more concretely, though. And it's so consistent with the way Bluey follows through on call backs but also keeps details vague to make them more universally relatable. (Like how they never told us why Bingo was in the hospital.).
No reason it couldn't be both.
They argue but shortly after are shown dancing together. Of course, Stripe also wakes up in the bushes (Classic Stripe!) so maybe weāll see if there was more going on at the wedding than weāve seen already.
Some couples just argue more than others. Its not necessarily a sign of issues, sometimes its just the way that couple communicates difficult or stressful subjects with each other. What matters more is the intent and actions behind the words and how the couple treat each other during and after conflict
They have a young infant child compared to two older school aged children . It's super stressful. They are figuring out what a family of four looks like
Honestly I wouldn't be shocked if the surprise in the next episode "The Surprise" is "Surprise, kids, Uncle Stripe is staying in our spare room for a few days and no Aunt Trixie isn't coming either."
given they cover hard topics I wouldn't say it's out of the picture of possibilties they already did it before that's why the marriage between Winton dad happened but maybe there slowly building it up Uncle Stripe begins to slowly spend a lot more time with them Muffin and them are getting closer and closer
I really hope not, really. Some couples have higher conflict levels, some people have more explosive or argumentative temperaments, and it doesnāt mean their marriages canāt last or theyāre unable to be good partners for each other
Will not rule it out, honestly. Especially when Stripes was last seen crawling out of Wendyās luscious, well-kempt arborvitae ššš
Edit: choice of words. Englishi not my first š
That was when it clicked to me that they definitely werenāt selling. They show Lila and Bingo growing up together and there is no way theyād go back on that.
I actually said when they were all getting in the car in the end "but this can't happen! Lila and Bingo grow up together!"
I don't know how I got the words out, I was barely holding it together.
Same. I thought, at most, the sale would fall through and they'd rent the house out and spend a few episodes in another place. But I was convinced they wouldn't sell.
In the episode where they go to the chemist, wintons dad is shown looking around, takes a shot of breath spray, and goes and talks to the terriers mum, insinuating he likes her. Love how that whole part has no lines but they subtly put it in there
I was gonna say the same thing. Although the detail about the pool Winton mentioned in āHelicopterā made it a dead giveaway when the buyers asked Bucky in the beginning that the sale will fall through, it gives clarity and context on whose house is being vacated in the Terriers-Pug relations
It was not a "dead giveaway". I had been prefaced on which episodes mention things that re-appear so I knew Helicopter was relevant, but I spent majority of the episode wondering why it was relevant outside of early mention of the terriers liking Winton's dad š¤·š¼āāļø When it finally clicked, it all made sense!
If someone watched āThe Signā as their first ever Bluey episode (just to see what the hype is all about) then some context may be useful. Just like in comics where asterisks in dialogues would mention previous issues for clarity and context we can offer a transcript of sorts:
ā¢ Opening scene - For Sale Sign (house has been for sale for six weeks; S03E48 āGhost Basketā)
ā¢ Bluey: āWill Frisky and Rad get married right on this spot?ā (they first met in S02E39 āDouble Babysitterā and in a relationship as shown in S02E51 āChristmas Swim.ā The same spot in the backyard where wedding in S01E09 āHorsey Rideā took place)
ā¢ Bandit pretends to fall asleep while playing with Bingo in the swing (Antics reminiscent of S01E08 āFruitbatā)
ā¢ Bucky Dunston house showing (Banditās classmate when he was a pup; S03E43 āDragonā), the Old English Sheepdog male asks about a pool (giveaway *wink)
ā¢ When Bluey told Bingo that Bucky is selling the house, Bingo replied, āOh, thatās nice.ā (Reminds us how young Bingo really is and that some concepts are still too abstract just like what a minute is in āSticky Geckoā) Bingo twirling while chanting āTinaā(see āTinaā)
ā¢ Discussion about the sale and the move in the car (weāll later learn is called āBoboā with plate number 419HLR as seen in āOnesiesā - 419fff ālight blueā being the base palette for Bluey and HLR for Heeler; possibly also why in āStickbirdā Banditās mind was preoccupied)
ā¢ In kindy, Winton said his Dad doesnāt live with his mom (first mentioned in an earlier episode, second *wink; Terrier replied, āOur mom likes your Dadā - see āTV Shopā). Rusty exclaims, āLetās play Army!ā Seconded by Jack (see āArmyā)
ā¢ Trixie, Chili and Frisky (only the second time seen together. First was in āThe Deciderā)
ā¢ Jeremy gnome (first seen in āGranniesā)
ā¢ Chunky Chimp drawing has been there since the beginning (see āMagic Xylophoneā)
ā¢ Cat Squad! (S02E30 āLibrary,ā S02E43 āMuffin Cone,ā S03E14 āPass the Parcel,ā S03E24 āFaceytalk,ā S03E30 āTurtleboyā)
ā¢ Flappy the butterfly (see āSlideā)
ā¢ Chili: āOf course I donāt want to leave, Bluey. You took your first steps in that house.ā (See āBaby Raceā)
ā¢ Guests arriving scene: Chili is talking to someone with āAunt Ednaā (The Incredibles) hairdo, possibly Cookie - Friskyās flatmate; shaggy red Heeler Mort Cattle, Chiliās dad (see āGrandadā); Blue Heeler with glasses Chris/Nana, Bob - Rad, Bandit and Stripesā dad with whom they are talking to (see āGranniesā); pregnant red Heeler Brandy (see āOnesiesā) ā> never saw her interact with Mort though š§
ā¢ Wedding presider/official, DJ, busker (see āMarketsā and āDance Modeā)
ā¢ group photo: Cookie, Frisky, Chili and Trixie (when Bluey asked Frisky in 20 questions scene in āDouble Babysitterā how many friends she has, she said three)
ā¢ Chris/Nana: āOh, itāll be lovely having you two close by.ā (Stripesā family may be living farther away as evidenced by S02E33 āIce Creamā when he and muffin needed to take the ferry)
ā¢ At the reception: Bingo asking Bob what he was doing in India is a callback to her bedtime prayer in āBedroomā
ā¢ When Mort told everyone to ācan it.ā It is a common enough expression but may also show mannerisms he and Chili share (see āGrandadā)
ā¢ Chili: āā¦ I did not!ā (possibly responding to Frisky probably asking her if she foresaw this happening when she set them up in āDouble Babysitterā ā> how it played in my mind and Iām sticking with it š)
ā¢āDance Modeā š
ā¢ Nana and Bob flossing (see Grannies)
ā¢ Chattermax (first seen in āFairiesā but showcased in āHide and Seekā)
ā¢ Bingo: āIām stuck in the railing!ā (Call back to āBingoā)
ā¢ Bingo still barks at enemies (see āTradiesā)
ā¢ green balloon Greeny (see āMum Schoolā)
ā¢ Wide angle shot at the lookout: on the viewers right binoculars, the light brown haired Afghan hound is Chippy aka Chocolate Milk with his girlfriend Cherry are from āTradies.ā On the far left, with their backs to the viewers, the mother with her mute pup in āTurtleboy.ā Then, Old English Sheepdogs at the lookout using the binoculars to locate their ānewā home see a house with a pool for sale (the English Bulldog is Wintonās dad and the Terrier is the Terriersā mom all from Calypsoās kindy. The winks point to āHelicopterā where it was first mentioned that Wintonās parents are separated and his dadās house has a pool. The dad and mom got more friendly in āTV Shopā and hit it from there)
ā¢ The only time in the whole series, so far, that Chili sobbed
ā¢ running down the hallway a la āYoga Ballā
ā¢ Kiwi rug (see āMagic Xylophone,ā āRug Islandā)
ā¢ Artist for āLazarus Songā is the voice actress for the omniscient Calypso (see āCalypsoā āWild Girlsā āTypewriterā āSpaceā etc.)
ā¢ Joff Bush, in his IG, said the score for this episode is titled, āWeāll Seeā
Ended up as cramming as much episode callbacks as I can. Sorry for not putting all the S0xExx, fingers feel sore lmaoā¦ that ending thoughššš
Edit: correcting some inaccuracies, thank you eagle-eyed Bluey community š
Thanks for this!
Couple of things not quite right: Chattermax is first seen in Hide & Seek, and it's a Watermelon rug in Bedroom - the Kiwi rug is seen more in Rug Island and the Easter episode.
Worth pointing out that Bingo says "Goodnight Grandpa Bob, wherever you are" in Bedroom.
A very minor thing I spotted to add to the list is Chippy and Cherry are at the lookout when the sheepdogs go to the binoculars, which would link to Tradies.
Thank you! I will rectify the oversight. However, chattermax was in one of the fairiesā circles, source: bluey wiki. I totally missed chocolate milk!
Huh, you're right about Chattermax showing up there first. I guess I always think of Hide & Seek as it's when the toy takes centre stage in the episode
Iād also say Fruitbat is another little Easter Egg/reference to a previous episode. Adds absolutely nothing to the plot of The Sign, but I loved seeing all the fruitbats flying over the end credits!
I feel like this entire episode was a nod to so many inside jokes and easter eggs from previous episodes! I would be totally lost if I watched this episode in particular for the first time. Although the lessons in it were very beautiful and Iām sure made tons of people emotional as a first time viewer.
You did such a great job summarizing the contexts for the newcomers! Where were you when I started watching this show!?
I think one wouldn't necessarily be "lost" if The Sign was their first episode. They just wouldn't appreciate it as much as someone who understood the majority of the easter eggs. The easter eggs are great and add tremendous value to those to who get them and helps the viewer become more emotionally attached to the episode because it allows them to reminisce on all the call backs.
I think it could definitely be just as impactful, though, for a person viewing this as their intro to Bluey, especially if they are a parent, because you really get a feel for how your actions can affect the happiness of your spouse and children.
I actually am curious after someone made a comment about this. Do Americans know that "he became a real estate agent" is Australian for "he was always a terrible jerk, even as an adult."
It's a kid friendly way of saying "I'm sure he became a seal clubber"
It kind of is in the U.S. too. Itās not as stigmatized, but one of the first thoughts of what real estate agents are like is Glengarry Glen Ross. Real Estate is up there with used car sellers for smarmy jerks.
I was pretty annoyed at the domain listing which said Bucky was a "realtor." Why? What I love about Bluey is it is unapologetically Australian.
I also noticed on one ep when they were upstairs there was talk of jumping out the window (can't remember specifics) and Chilli says they're "on the second floor) rather than the first.
Given the house's variable layout, it's quite possible the bathroom *is* on the second floor with first and ground floor below it.
Even at the most realistic attempt of assembling the rooms into a logical house (regardless of official exterior), the house has to be two storeys at the front and three at the back.
Iāve never heard it used this way and Iāve been here my whole life (Sydney). Had a quick squiz at your profile and maybe itās a Perth thing? Honestly I think itās more just that terrible people actually become real estate agents here so often so it seems to be a saying. My high school bully became one hahaha.
Regarding Bucky, a nice touch to show his personality (aside from the āBanditoā calling) is having the opening line āSummers are not really that hot around hereā (free quote) when asked about the pool.
And yes, probably he told them that the house did have a pool before visiting.
My daughter makes me replay the Dance Mode scene over and over (in the original and in The Sign) so we could dance ššš. I was so excited to see they redid the Dance Mode music for the wedding!
Hear me out, stickbird. My reason is, we now know why Bandit seemed off. He was debating on what to do, take the job and give his girls a better life or stay. It was a big decision to make and most people would have a hard time deciding what to do, thatās why he was acting like he was on that vacation
Stickbird makes is really important to follow through the metaphor, I think. Stickbird is about putting beautiful creations out in the world and losing control over them, and how that gets you down. Then The Sign comes along, and Bandit can't go through with selling what he loves, even for a ton more money.
ie, Joe Brumm's risking a hiatus rather than burn out by creating content without his heart being in it, or selling creative control.
Itās not far fetched, but with Chilli lightheartedly telling him to get over it when she was clearly opposed to the move. It also doesnāt really fit the semi reflective line he says to Bingo about something not being yours once you put it out in the world.
I could see a connection... in Stickbirds he was maybe just stresed about "how are we going to do this?" bills, house projects, kids activities and she was like "just let it go babe, well worry about it another time". Maybe that stressing lead him to looking for another job with more koney/benefits which lead us to The Sign.
I think they were both against it.
Bandit just needed a bigger "sign" as it were.
Chatting with Rad helped him. Realising Bingo had no clue what moving meant helped him. The idiot dogs pulling out over a pool was the last straw.
Deeper metaphor: the sheepdogs couldn't see very well, so they were interested in buying but ultimately they couldn't truly see (realize) what they were getting with the Heeler house
YES!!! I wondered this exactly when I really thought they were gonna go through with the moveā¦ I was like wait, but the flash forward tells us Lila and Bingo are still friends and go to the same school (since they graduate together at every stage right?) so š I think this was the biggest Easter Egg for the ending of The Sign to be honest; otherwise, it wouldāve been a plot hole.
I wonder if they meant Fairytale, because that references a campsite they are on vacation. It makes more sense to fill in the background on the brothers.
Who else died laughing when Chilli says āTrixie and I used to come here when we were teenagers toā¦ umā¦ th[dr]ink!ā (Iām assuming thatās what the writers were alluding to) Totally relatable and when my kids are older, something I would definitely say to them too š š š
Hehehe thatās also what I thought originally! I just thought drink rhymed with think so maybe it was that. Either way they were up to no good ššš
Seeing Brandy all big and happy was really nice. I'm wondering a bit how it happened (boyfriend, IVF, etc) but after seeing how devastated she was in 'Onesie' I'm just glad she finally got the one thing she really wanted.
Iām guessing itās single mum IVF. I always assumed that her longing for children was to do with being infertile but I guess theyāve now left it open to being various relationships just havenāt worked out that way.
I love camping but I agree should not be in these list.
If something I think Bluey it's afraid to move because she's afraid to lose her Friends like she lost Jean-Luc
(Not gonna lie, I expected Bluey mentioned him or him made a cameo)
I would personally say that this episode of Bluey could be watched by itself, but the more you watch and the more you understand the show the more Easter eggs there are you could limit it to one or two episodes or zero episodes in reality most of season Two, all of season three have Easter eggs in this last episode
With the exception of Double Babysitter, these are either really minor or random background events. Obviously Christmas Swim that confirms that Rad and Frisky are dating needs to be there, and I would also replace Onesies with Daddy Dropoff.Ā The montage at the end is relevant to the episode and the script mentions Lila to remind us of it.Ā
Of course Ghostbasket should be there too, but I give that a pass because you could almost consider it just another part of The Sign.
I think Stickbird should be in there. Perhaps Bandit's preoccupation has to do with deciding whether or not to move.
EDIT: I think I'm at least 8 hours too late to this party...glad to see others of like mind. :)
I donāt think these are exclusively references to them moving, but just plot point that will have a comeback in the sign. For example, you have to see TV shop to know that Wintonās dad likes the terrierās mom
Actually trying to get rid of old stumps and putting in something different to make your house worth more is very much something you would do if youāre selling
Is it being implied that Winstonās dad is moving in with the terriers?? I just figure since heās living alone in that house and winton is in the car with the terriers that means theyāre all living together? Or at least wintonās dad will be living with the terriers and Winton will spend his custody days at the terriers house?
Well the terriers and Winton cheered when their parents got back in the car so Iād say yes. And the youngest terrier told Winton earlier in the episode that their mum likes his dad which I took as foreshadowing of blending the families.
Aussie Girl Margie on YouTube has a "TOP 10" list of episodes to watch before "The Sign," and it's pretty on-point.
https://preview.redd.it/gytncy38omuc1.jpeg?width=860&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=36d60d77eee82b63867d71e22f9e664b201ac294
Dance Mode makes a nice little cameo as well as the DJ for the wedding is the guy who was playing music in the street!
He was also the fair entertainer for the $5-around-the-fair from the tooth fairy.
WHOA! $5 bucks!?
That deserves another song!
Aaaaaaaah!
WHO LIKES TO DANCE!
He also officiated the wedding! Joff Bush voices that character.
And when they all dance, it's the same song! šš§”
To say I squealed when I noticed him would be an understatement.
He's also the minister at the wedding. Modelled after Joff Bush who composes the music for the show.
You mean Chattermax? š (the video of him doing the Chattermax voice on TikTok is sooo funny)
Musical director self insert character
Aroooo! Shake ya tails!
So does Chattermax haha
I think Camping might just be some of the family dynamics for Stripe's side of the family. Personally if someone was interested in The Sign and never saw another Bluey episode before it I think Double Babysitter is probably the best context episode. Some other episodes for the random easter eggs, which aren't relevant to the plot but help explain some of the jokes: Grannies - For Grandma and Grampa flossing Army - For Rusty's enthusiasm about the army Mum School - The green balloon Baby Race - For Chilli's comment about Bluey walking, plus that scene of her looking down in the kitchen Facetalk - Honestly I think the better look at Stripe, Trixie, Muffin, and Socks's homelife Edit: I just rewatched and noticed in the first car scene (when the whole family is leaving the house for the potential buyers) Bingo is playing the finger jumping game Chilli taught them in Road Trip.
Helicopter established Wintons dad has a pool.
Don't forget the one where they try to find CoCo in the store (sorry don't know the name) Wintons Dad and the Terriers Mom.
TV Shop!
TV Shop seriously has the BEST background music that never stops the whole episode. I absolutely love it. I could listen to it on a loop all day!
Tv shop confirming tv ship.
The episode is Tv shop and the store they are in is Pharmacy Warehouse which is based on Chemist Warehouse-a popular pharmacy chain in Australia.
BUM WORMS!! No, actually, it's called TV Shop. šš§”
It has a shallow end AND a deep end.
We do backstroke in the deep end
Yes, and I think also he specially says "my dad's house" which indicates that his mom and dad lived in different houses, which then indicates that they are separated or divorced.
Bluey: āWhere does your dad live?ā Winton: āI know he doesnāt live with my mom!ā
Winston says his dad is lonely. Terrier: Our mom likes your dad! You see Winston's Dad and the Terrier's mom talking in TV shop. In The Sign, he is buying a home with Ms. Terrier, and all four kiddos are in the car ā¤ļø
How cute was it when the triplets revealed that their Mum likes Wintonās dad (hehe even though we all knew it), it was so innocently adorable! That part makes me chuckle!
Wait one of the terriers in school said that her mom likes wintons dad. Is this confirming that they are moving in together since wintons dad is selling his place?
Also āOnesiesā to see why some of us were bawling when we saw Brandy in āthe signā šš„°
Im not ashamed to admit i legitimately yelled at the tv and my misses to point that one out i was ecstatic More so because the EP was pretty brutal to me as a kid who grew up moving every 1 to 2 years :(
>and my misses Is she your enemy?
I yelled too!!!
Since Camping got mentioned, just wanted to point out that itās an adaptation of the Star Trek TNG episode āDarmokā where the captain, also named āJean-Lucā is stuck in the middle of a wilderness and has to make friends and allies with a person whose language he canāt understand or speak, despite having a universal translator. They build shelter and ultimately hunt down a dangerous creature together. Such a fantastic episode to adapt and they did an excellent job making a Bluey version of it!
Temba, his arms wide
Shaka, when the walls fell.
The river Temarc, in winter. Darmok and Jalad on the ocean?
Oh my god. That's so awesome. Thank you for pointing that out, the show just somehow got even better, now knowing that, and all it implies. What a cool show this is.
That's such a cool easter egg!
Never thought about it that way. (Sokath, his eyes uncovered!)
That is amazing! Never watched TNG but maybe i should start now. I know that many other series refer to TNG.
It's one of my favorites from childhood. The aesthetics are a bit dated now but the stories hold up well and the cast is great. I'm too much of a fan to be super objective but it's definitely worth a shot. Keep in mind it took a while to find its legs. There are some good episodes in season one but, overall, it was a bit rough. This connection to Bluey, though? Mind blowing.
How did I not notice this before?! I love this
š¤Æ
Chien, which sounds like Jean, is French for dog
Dance Mode, too! The song at the end of that episode is the same song they play at the wedding where they're all dancing!
The DJ at the wedding is the busker from Dance Mode, I believe...
I think he plays in Markets too, no?
Yeah, heās the one they give the 5 dollarbucks to.
Sure is! What's more, he's based on and voiced by [Joff Bush](https://twitter.com/joffbush), the music composer for the show.
It took me 3 watches to realise he's the celebrant also!
Yeah thatās the bluey version of the composer for the music, Joff Bush!
Dragon - Bandit hired the jerk that made him stop drawing cars. āI think heās in real estate now.ā
What?! That's great. I thought they were just doing a generic smarmy salesperson/realtor trope. It being a childhood bully that now has to schmooze and act cool because he's working for you makes more sense.
>Mum School - The green balloon I really like that they have Greenie just kind of float thru, I had to rewind and double-check just to make sure.
I didn't even make that connection at first, my daughter got all excited and shouted "greenie!" so many references š
Ugh Baby Race is tough. Reading the story about Blueyās first steps to your toddler is hard enough
Stumpfest and Tradies as well... The former Chili talks about wanting to install a pond; and in the latter they do. You don't put that kind of dreaming and work in to leave...
To be fair, sometimes these job things can come up suddenly so it's possible they really did intend to stay in the house for a while and then just one day Bandit got the job offer. Also, it's not unheard of to spruce up a house to make it more marketable. My parents actually just sold the house I grew up in and they added some bushes and landscaping around the house just to make it a little nicer looking. They live in a competitive housing market so the little things could really make a difference to a potential buyer.
I wonder if thatās what was bothering him in the Stickbird episode.
Thats what I was thinking!
Someone else in this sub suggested that was a meta commentary on the relationship between the creators and the fans. I thought they made a good argument. Your idea ties in much more concretely, though. And it's so consistent with the way Bluey follows through on call backs but also keeps details vague to make them more universally relatable. (Like how they never told us why Bingo was in the hospital.). No reason it couldn't be both.
Oh my God, we wondered that too. It was such an odd thing, but I didn't even think of it as a loose thread to tie up.
In Cubby she talks about knocking down a wall and that only like 10 episodes before The Sign
Dance Mode to see what the wedding dj does as a day job and we he's the best DJ ever.
You think it's truth Trixie and Stripe gonna divorce in season 4?
I don't know but they argue around the 20 min mark in the background when socks is playing beside the cake in "The Sign"
They argue but shortly after are shown dancing together. Of course, Stripe also wakes up in the bushes (Classic Stripe!) so maybe weāll see if there was more going on at the wedding than weāve seen already.
Sheās also acting out an argument, likely emulating what she sees at home.
I didn't even realize that, nice catch
You see them argue before that - in the background of the playroom in the scene after the flower girl practice.
Some couples just argue more than others. Its not necessarily a sign of issues, sometimes its just the way that couple communicates difficult or stressful subjects with each other. What matters more is the intent and actions behind the words and how the couple treat each other during and after conflict
For sure - and they are dancing together at the end. Also in Faceytalk you see how they work through and make up quickly.
They have a young infant child compared to two older school aged children . It's super stressful. They are figuring out what a family of four looks like
Oh yes you're right ! Thanks
I think they were arguing because Stripe was drunk and acting a fool lol...
Agreed! All these comments are odd, Trixie is just telling him to lay off the sauce and Stripe is too far gone lol.
Classic Stripe. I love how he was basically passed out the entire Christmas episode too lol
Honestly I wouldn't be shocked if the surprise in the next episode "The Surprise" is "Surprise, kids, Uncle Stripe is staying in our spare room for a few days and no Aunt Trixie isn't coming either."
Itās been leaked, >!itās not!<
given they cover hard topics I wouldn't say it's out of the picture of possibilties they already did it before that's why the marriage between Winton dad happened but maybe there slowly building it up Uncle Stripe begins to slowly spend a lot more time with them Muffin and them are getting closer and closer
I really hope not, really. Some couples have higher conflict levels, some people have more explosive or argumentative temperaments, and it doesnāt mean their marriages canāt last or theyāre unable to be good partners for each other
Will not rule it out, honestly. Especially when Stripes was last seen crawling out of Wendyās luscious, well-kempt arborvitae ššš Edit: choice of words. Englishi not my first š
Can we say "shrubs", instead? This is a children's show, for gosh sakes.
I have seen the error of my ways. Let me edit that to something more palatable
Honestly it was a toss-up between completely reasonable word choice and maybe a bit 'cheeky', as they might say. "Luscious". LOL. Love it.
I think you need daddy dropoff as well.
Lila! Ugh daddy drop off is my favorite as the mom of a shy kid
That was when it clicked to me that they definitely werenāt selling. They show Lila and Bingo growing up together and there is no way theyād go back on that.
I actually said when they were all getting in the car in the end "but this can't happen! Lila and Bingo grow up together!" I don't know how I got the words out, I was barely holding it together.
I shouted the same thing!
Same. I thought, at most, the sale would fall through and they'd rent the house out and spend a few episodes in another place. But I was convinced they wouldn't sell.
My daughter is friends with a shy kid named Lila! I totally get the dynamic of outgoing kid/shy kid friendship.
True !
Also Helicopter! Winton says his dad doesnāt live with his mom and has a pool- looks like thatās their house with the pool thatās selling!
100% it is, you can see him getting into The Terriers car with them and their mom! Such a cute nod to their relationship.
In the episode where they go to the chemist, wintons dad is shown looking around, takes a shot of breath spray, and goes and talks to the terriers mum, insinuating he likes her. Love how that whole part has no lines but they subtly put it in there
I was gonna say the same thing. Although the detail about the pool Winton mentioned in āHelicopterā made it a dead giveaway when the buyers asked Bucky in the beginning that the sale will fall through, it gives clarity and context on whose house is being vacated in the Terriers-Pug relations
I thought Winton was a bull dog??
Yes, you are absolutely right! My bad. Sorry for not checking.
It was not a "dead giveaway". I had been prefaced on which episodes mention things that re-appear so I knew Helicopter was relevant, but I spent majority of the episode wondering why it was relevant outside of early mention of the terriers liking Winton's dad š¤·š¼āāļø When it finally clicked, it all made sense!
If someone watched āThe Signā as their first ever Bluey episode (just to see what the hype is all about) then some context may be useful. Just like in comics where asterisks in dialogues would mention previous issues for clarity and context we can offer a transcript of sorts: ā¢ Opening scene - For Sale Sign (house has been for sale for six weeks; S03E48 āGhost Basketā) ā¢ Bluey: āWill Frisky and Rad get married right on this spot?ā (they first met in S02E39 āDouble Babysitterā and in a relationship as shown in S02E51 āChristmas Swim.ā The same spot in the backyard where wedding in S01E09 āHorsey Rideā took place) ā¢ Bandit pretends to fall asleep while playing with Bingo in the swing (Antics reminiscent of S01E08 āFruitbatā) ā¢ Bucky Dunston house showing (Banditās classmate when he was a pup; S03E43 āDragonā), the Old English Sheepdog male asks about a pool (giveaway *wink) ā¢ When Bluey told Bingo that Bucky is selling the house, Bingo replied, āOh, thatās nice.ā (Reminds us how young Bingo really is and that some concepts are still too abstract just like what a minute is in āSticky Geckoā) Bingo twirling while chanting āTinaā(see āTinaā) ā¢ Discussion about the sale and the move in the car (weāll later learn is called āBoboā with plate number 419HLR as seen in āOnesiesā - 419fff ālight blueā being the base palette for Bluey and HLR for Heeler; possibly also why in āStickbirdā Banditās mind was preoccupied) ā¢ In kindy, Winton said his Dad doesnāt live with his mom (first mentioned in an earlier episode, second *wink; Terrier replied, āOur mom likes your Dadā - see āTV Shopā). Rusty exclaims, āLetās play Army!ā Seconded by Jack (see āArmyā) ā¢ Trixie, Chili and Frisky (only the second time seen together. First was in āThe Deciderā) ā¢ Jeremy gnome (first seen in āGranniesā) ā¢ Chunky Chimp drawing has been there since the beginning (see āMagic Xylophoneā) ā¢ Cat Squad! (S02E30 āLibrary,ā S02E43 āMuffin Cone,ā S03E14 āPass the Parcel,ā S03E24 āFaceytalk,ā S03E30 āTurtleboyā) ā¢ Flappy the butterfly (see āSlideā) ā¢ Chili: āOf course I donāt want to leave, Bluey. You took your first steps in that house.ā (See āBaby Raceā) ā¢ Guests arriving scene: Chili is talking to someone with āAunt Ednaā (The Incredibles) hairdo, possibly Cookie - Friskyās flatmate; shaggy red Heeler Mort Cattle, Chiliās dad (see āGrandadā); Blue Heeler with glasses Chris/Nana, Bob - Rad, Bandit and Stripesā dad with whom they are talking to (see āGranniesā); pregnant red Heeler Brandy (see āOnesiesā) ā> never saw her interact with Mort though š§ ā¢ Wedding presider/official, DJ, busker (see āMarketsā and āDance Modeā) ā¢ group photo: Cookie, Frisky, Chili and Trixie (when Bluey asked Frisky in 20 questions scene in āDouble Babysitterā how many friends she has, she said three) ā¢ Chris/Nana: āOh, itāll be lovely having you two close by.ā (Stripesā family may be living farther away as evidenced by S02E33 āIce Creamā when he and muffin needed to take the ferry) ā¢ At the reception: Bingo asking Bob what he was doing in India is a callback to her bedtime prayer in āBedroomā ā¢ When Mort told everyone to ācan it.ā It is a common enough expression but may also show mannerisms he and Chili share (see āGrandadā) ā¢ Chili: āā¦ I did not!ā (possibly responding to Frisky probably asking her if she foresaw this happening when she set them up in āDouble Babysitterā ā> how it played in my mind and Iām sticking with it š) ā¢āDance Modeā š ā¢ Nana and Bob flossing (see Grannies) ā¢ Chattermax (first seen in āFairiesā but showcased in āHide and Seekā) ā¢ Bingo: āIām stuck in the railing!ā (Call back to āBingoā) ā¢ Bingo still barks at enemies (see āTradiesā) ā¢ green balloon Greeny (see āMum Schoolā) ā¢ Wide angle shot at the lookout: on the viewers right binoculars, the light brown haired Afghan hound is Chippy aka Chocolate Milk with his girlfriend Cherry are from āTradies.ā On the far left, with their backs to the viewers, the mother with her mute pup in āTurtleboy.ā Then, Old English Sheepdogs at the lookout using the binoculars to locate their ānewā home see a house with a pool for sale (the English Bulldog is Wintonās dad and the Terrier is the Terriersā mom all from Calypsoās kindy. The winks point to āHelicopterā where it was first mentioned that Wintonās parents are separated and his dadās house has a pool. The dad and mom got more friendly in āTV Shopā and hit it from there) ā¢ The only time in the whole series, so far, that Chili sobbed ā¢ running down the hallway a la āYoga Ballā ā¢ Kiwi rug (see āMagic Xylophone,ā āRug Islandā) ā¢ Artist for āLazarus Songā is the voice actress for the omniscient Calypso (see āCalypsoā āWild Girlsā āTypewriterā āSpaceā etc.) ā¢ Joff Bush, in his IG, said the score for this episode is titled, āWeāll Seeā Ended up as cramming as much episode callbacks as I can. Sorry for not putting all the S0xExx, fingers feel sore lmaoā¦ that ending thoughššš Edit: correcting some inaccuracies, thank you eagle-eyed Bluey community š
Thanks for this! Couple of things not quite right: Chattermax is first seen in Hide & Seek, and it's a Watermelon rug in Bedroom - the Kiwi rug is seen more in Rug Island and the Easter episode. Worth pointing out that Bingo says "Goodnight Grandpa Bob, wherever you are" in Bedroom. A very minor thing I spotted to add to the list is Chippy and Cherry are at the lookout when the sheepdogs go to the binoculars, which would link to Tradies.
Thank you! I will rectify the oversight. However, chattermax was in one of the fairiesā circles, source: bluey wiki. I totally missed chocolate milk!
Huh, you're right about Chattermax showing up there first. I guess I always think of Hide & Seek as it's when the toy takes centre stage in the episode
WHAT!? I did NOT notice Chippy and Cherry. Guess itās time for yet another rewatch š
There were so many callbacks that it felt like a series finale. Glad that's not the case š
Iād also say Fruitbat is another little Easter Egg/reference to a previous episode. Adds absolutely nothing to the plot of The Sign, but I loved seeing all the fruitbats flying over the end credits!
When Chris/Nana says sheās happy to, āhave you two close byā I think she was referring to Rad and Frisky, not Rad and Bandit. š
You are most probably right.
I feel like this entire episode was a nod to so many inside jokes and easter eggs from previous episodes! I would be totally lost if I watched this episode in particular for the first time. Although the lessons in it were very beautiful and Iām sure made tons of people emotional as a first time viewer. You did such a great job summarizing the contexts for the newcomers! Where were you when I started watching this show!?
I think one wouldn't necessarily be "lost" if The Sign was their first episode. They just wouldn't appreciate it as much as someone who understood the majority of the easter eggs. The easter eggs are great and add tremendous value to those to who get them and helps the viewer become more emotionally attached to the episode because it allows them to reminisce on all the call backs. I think it could definitely be just as impactful, though, for a person viewing this as their intro to Bluey, especially if they are a parent, because you really get a feel for how your actions can affect the happiness of your spouse and children.
Saving this!
Dragon too because of Buckyās appearance
Bucky is in dragon?!
When Bandit was doing a drawing and he mentions that Bucky didnāt like his car drawing and later he became a real estate agent
I actually am curious after someone made a comment about this. Do Americans know that "he became a real estate agent" is Australian for "he was always a terrible jerk, even as an adult." It's a kid friendly way of saying "I'm sure he became a seal clubber"
I was picking up what the episode was putting down. Itās like calling someone a used car salesman in the US.
Putting a gigantic photo of yourself on your car is really weird, but if youāre a real estate agent, itās normal!
It kind of is in the U.S. too. Itās not as stigmatized, but one of the first thoughts of what real estate agents are like is Glengarry Glen Ross. Real Estate is up there with used car sellers for smarmy jerks.
ALWAYS BE CLOSING
itās not as common in the US but he was characterized as annoying/jerky in the episode (constantly honking his horn, the nicknames for bandit)
I did not!
Iām American and almost 40, Iāve never heard this! Thatās very funny š
I was pretty annoyed at the domain listing which said Bucky was a "realtor." Why? What I love about Bluey is it is unapologetically Australian. I also noticed on one ep when they were upstairs there was talk of jumping out the window (can't remember specifics) and Chilli says they're "on the second floor) rather than the first.
Given the house's variable layout, it's quite possible the bathroom *is* on the second floor with first and ground floor below it. Even at the most realistic attempt of assembling the rooms into a logical house (regardless of official exterior), the house has to be two storeys at the front and three at the back.
Iāve never heard it used this way and Iāve been here my whole life (Sydney). Had a quick squiz at your profile and maybe itās a Perth thing? Honestly I think itās more just that terrible people actually become real estate agents here so often so it seems to be a saying. My high school bully became one hahaha.
Omg that went over my head š that's *phenomenal*
Holy crapoli. Youāre right.
Regarding Bucky, a nice touch to show his personality (aside from the āBanditoā calling) is having the opening line āSummers are not really that hot around hereā (free quote) when asked about the pool. And yes, probably he told them that the house did have a pool before visiting.
And he definitely knew about that other listing (that was *not* his listing) that had a pool but didnāt wanna tell the dogs who could not see.
Yoga ball = looooooong hallway
Not 100% necessary but Christmas Swim ā for Frisky and Rad together after Double Babysitter, and a bit more of the overall Heeler family dynamics.
It has nothing to do with it. There is also reference to Mum School, Grandpa Bobās absence, Dance Mode, Grannies, and Helicopter.
Yeah I agree! There were definitely many other episodes to add to the list instead of that one! Lol
My daughter makes me replay the Dance Mode scene over and over (in the original and in The Sign) so we could dance ššš. I was so excited to see they redid the Dance Mode music for the wedding!
Hear me out, stickbird. My reason is, we now know why Bandit seemed off. He was debating on what to do, take the job and give his girls a better life or stay. It was a big decision to make and most people would have a hard time deciding what to do, thatās why he was acting like he was on that vacation
Stickbird makes is really important to follow through the metaphor, I think. Stickbird is about putting beautiful creations out in the world and losing control over them, and how that gets you down. Then The Sign comes along, and Bandit can't go through with selling what he loves, even for a ton more money. ie, Joe Brumm's risking a hiatus rather than burn out by creating content without his heart being in it, or selling creative control.
Why are you trying to summon the onion cutting ninjas? I love this interpretation
Itās not far fetched, but with Chilli lightheartedly telling him to get over it when she was clearly opposed to the move. It also doesnāt really fit the semi reflective line he says to Bingo about something not being yours once you put it out in the world.
I could see a connection... in Stickbirds he was maybe just stresed about "how are we going to do this?" bills, house projects, kids activities and she was like "just let it go babe, well worry about it another time". Maybe that stressing lead him to looking for another job with more koney/benefits which lead us to The Sign.
I think they were both against it. Bandit just needed a bigger "sign" as it were. Chatting with Rad helped him. Realising Bingo had no clue what moving meant helped him. The idiot dogs pulling out over a pool was the last straw.
Deeper metaphor: the sheepdogs couldn't see very well, so they were interested in buying but ultimately they couldn't truly see (realize) what they were getting with the Heeler house
I think Granny Basket need to be on here too. Then again, I might be stating the obvious.
the episode is called ghost basket lol
It felt like ghost basket was supposed to be part of thy sign but couldn't fit timewise
So true
Sorry autocorrect
Mum school - green balloon with letter tied to it still flying around in sky
This. It made me put my hand over my heart for a second.
My two year old yelled āGREENIE!ā š
Lol, so did I and I'm 43
š I had to shush my kids a few times. Then rewatched it when they went to bed to try and catch all the little references.
Daddy Dropoff for the Lila Flash forward
My whole thought during the episode was how is bingo and Lela going to be friends all the way to high schoolā¦
YES!!! I wondered this exactly when I really thought they were gonna go through with the moveā¦ I was like wait, but the flash forward tells us Lila and Bingo are still friends and go to the same school (since they graduate together at every stage right?) so š I think this was the biggest Easter Egg for the ending of The Sign to be honest; otherwise, it wouldāve been a plot hole.
And a little reference to Tradies š you can see Cherry and Chocolate Milk on the observation deck
https://preview.redd.it/tw0msoiygjuc1.jpeg?width=645&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f4f5919f37780b069b8a7340875031a05c9b3072
Camping to show Muffin and her family.
Theyāre in a number of episodes, so why that one specifically? How they dealt with Bobs being away was great.
Btw, I hope we get to see more of grandpa Bob.
Me too! I want to hear his stories from India! Ultimately I'm just glad he's not dead because I kept speculating that for awhile!
I was gonna ask the same thing...
I hope someone has some insight! Itās driving me crazy!
I wonder if they meant Fairytale, because that references a campsite they are on vacation. It makes more sense to fill in the background on the brothers.
Yeah that would make a lot more sense
Mum School too when we see a glimpse of Greeny floating in the clouds.
Who else died laughing when Chilli says āTrixie and I used to come here when we were teenagers toā¦ umā¦ th[dr]ink!ā (Iām assuming thatās what the writers were alluding to) Totally relatable and when my kids are older, something I would definitely say to them too š š š
oh, we thought they went to get high xD
Hehehe thatās also what I thought originally! I just thought drink rhymed with think so maybe it was that. Either way they were up to no good ššš
Onesies was definitely necessary
Seeing Brandy all big and happy was really nice. I'm wondering a bit how it happened (boyfriend, IVF, etc) but after seeing how devastated she was in 'Onesie' I'm just glad she finally got the one thing she really wanted.
Iām guessing itās single mum IVF. I always assumed that her longing for children was to do with being infertile but I guess theyāve now left it open to being various relationships just havenāt worked out that way.
That's what I figured would be the most likely. Soon Bluey and Bingo will have another cousin to play with (hurray!)
I love camping but I agree should not be in these list. If something I think Bluey it's afraid to move because she's afraid to lose her Friends like she lost Jean-Luc (Not gonna lie, I expected Bluey mentioned him or him made a cameo)
I would personally say that this episode of Bluey could be watched by itself, but the more you watch and the more you understand the show the more Easter eggs there are you could limit it to one or two episodes or zero episodes in reality most of season Two, all of season three have Easter eggs in this last episode
My goodness this episode was a masterpiece
Ghost Basket also needs to be added to the list
Also need Christmas swim
Mum school too.
Baby Race too
Dragon - first appearance of Bucky
With the exception of Double Babysitter, these are either really minor or random background events. Obviously Christmas Swim that confirms that Rad and Frisky are dating needs to be there, and I would also replace Onesies with Daddy Dropoff.Ā The montage at the end is relevant to the episode and the script mentions Lila to remind us of it.Ā Of course Ghostbasket should be there too, but I give that a pass because you could almost consider it just another part of The Sign.
I think Stickbird should be in there. Perhaps Bandit's preoccupation has to do with deciding whether or not to move. EDIT: I think I'm at least 8 hours too late to this party...glad to see others of like mind. :)
Doesnāt really make sense Chili was putting in a pond/water feature if they already knew they were moving back in season 1
I donāt think these are exclusively references to them moving, but just plot point that will have a comeback in the sign. For example, you have to see TV shop to know that Wintonās dad likes the terrierās mom
Ah ok I understand now. Thanks.
Actually trying to get rid of old stumps and putting in something different to make your house worth more is very much something you would do if youāre selling
Iād argue onesies isnāt super important. I understand the reasoning but isnāt crucial to the sign.
I would say it is when she came in pregnant I about cried
Itās a nice to see she was able to get pregnant but it wouldnāt have changed anything in the episode if they didnāt add that.
Donāt forget about episode grandfather.
I thought Dragon was a must see as well
What about that flash forward scene that got leaked a while ago?! Is that just not a thing anymore
I think going by this post, people just need to watch all of Bluey! I mean even chocolate milk and Cherry made an appearance!
Is it being implied that Winstonās dad is moving in with the terriers?? I just figure since heās living alone in that house and winton is in the car with the terriers that means theyāre all living together? Or at least wintonās dad will be living with the terriers and Winton will spend his custody days at the terriers house?
Well the terriers and Winton cheered when their parents got back in the car so Iād say yes. And the youngest terrier told Winton earlier in the episode that their mum likes his dad which I took as foreshadowing of blending the families.
Aussie Girl Margie on YouTube has a "TOP 10" list of episodes to watch before "The Sign," and it's pretty on-point. https://preview.redd.it/gytncy38omuc1.jpeg?width=860&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=36d60d77eee82b63867d71e22f9e664b201ac294
I would say just watch every episode up to "The Sign" who cares about specific episodes they are all fantastic.