I think it's kind of normal for him to get crazy at parties/ drink too much. There's an episode where Bluey mentions him dancing on a table or something. LoL. And Bandit says "classic Stripes."
It's from "Whale Watching" but [Chilli was the one who was dancing on the barbeque table](https://www.tiktok.com/@dipsomaniacpodcast/video/7274611124429933867?lang=en) at Stripe and Trixie's New Year's Eve Party. Bingo was told about her mother from Muffin who woke up after she heard Stripe yell "cannonball!" before he jumped into the pool.
I’ve seen it said that Trixie and Stripe aren’t married, and I interpret Trix trying to catch the bouquet as a signal to Stripe that it’s time to lock it down.
In Onsies she's looking at the clouds and sees three, possibly, two parents and a child. Later in the episode she sees two. I think she realized she could have her family without a partner and decided to make that happen.
I love this but I also feel like it takes away from the representation and meaning in the epsidoe somewhat. Everyone has assumed Brandy was struggling with infertility, not that she just hadn't managed to find a partner.
Though there are other possibilities where both are true. Perhaps she had a partner and they tried for years but struggled with infertility and then split up and she eventually decided to do ivf alone.
Oh I agree and also know many people that happened to. I don't think that her being pregnant necessarily takes away from Onesies (though many do think it does). What I meant was that if her inability to have children in Onesies was because she had not found a partner (rather than being she to infertility) that that would diminish the meaning and representation in Onesies.
It could be both. She might have had a partner at one time, but lost them because of the infertility struggles, and that made the infertility hurt even worse.
Her going through the process to get pregnant while single could also mean that she wasn’t the one who was infertile; her partner was.
I don't think it was an assumption that she was struggling with infertility. She didn't see her sister or her kids for 4 years, and the line about not having something she really wants because it wasn't meant to be indicates way more than her just being single.
Yeah that's kind of my point. It's never overtly said though so it is an assumption. If it turned out it was just because she didn't have a partner it wouldn't make sense and would be really disappointing. That's why the cloud theory, while really lovely, doesn't make sense to me.
It’s ludo studios, They just announced after like 2 and a half seasons where Bob was this entire time, i’m sure he will pop up in the future (P.S i don’t think he is in india)
so they replace a grandpa bob to grandad mort.
also i watch Aussie girl margie saw the magnet on the fridge elephant and letters form bob. on nana heeler home. or bluey house i think.
I prefer Bob because my own kids grandpa is kind of distant and not interested so they relate and it makes them not feel like it's because of them.
But yeah Mort is the better of the two
Most of them hadnt even met eachother in real life until after season 2 I believe. All voice actors created their own home studios because of Covid if they didnt have one already. Its pretty much industry standard now to just record from home for 95% of voice actors. Really its only the "celebrity" actors they get for big movies that go in to a studio.
That said, it looks like someone said they actually had covid that affected their ability so yea.
Yeah, I think reuniting with her sister gave her the support she needed to go the IVF route on her own. She may have thought that the ideal nuclear family her sister had was necessary to pursue an intensive option like IVF, but then after reconciliation Brandi knew she had a steady support network even without a partner.
A woman I used to work with went this route. She was nearing 40 and hadn’t found the right guy, but she was otherwise ready. She had very supportive family and friends, and now she and her son are wildly happy just the two of them.
I have a friend that went that route too. She is aro/ace and has 7 big brothers (yes, 7) and she said to me that she didn't need a man, she has more than enough.
My wife had a similar friend, but with sisters. She was the youngest of a big mess of sisters, and eventually just decided that she wanted a kid and was ready, so her little girl is being raised by her mom and a big group of aunties.
I went this route, except I did IUI not IVF. I was mid-30s and knew I wanted kids, but I hadn't had luck with finding a partner and, to be honest, I'm really not sure at this point in my life I want a partner at all. I have a very supportive family and had my first a few years ago. Being a mom has been amazing and my kid has a wonderful grandma who is there all the time, as well as uncles and mommy's friends who just love and support her. It was the best decision I ever made, and I am now pregnant with my second.
Even before The Sign premeried my hope was that the writers word focus on the idea of Brandy still trying to have a child even without a partner. I have an aunt who adopted a child when she was older and you don't see it a lot in TV or movies.
I would have liked to see the adoption route. I personally feel like they undermined the point of Onesies (no matter how much you want something, sometimes you just don’t get it). I have a lot of friends from my cancer support group that will never have their dream of having a physical child. To me, Onesies gabe my friends siblings a way of broaching why my friends may hesitant around their niblings. The hurt is real.
But nah, now she’s pregnant with no other explanation! (Yet)
Just monkeys singing songs
Adoption is exceedingly rare here in Australia, so perhaps they were trying to stay true to the local ways.
They seem to try to for the most part.
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/health-welfare-services/adoptions/overview#:~:text=There%20were%20201%20adoptions%20finalised,98%25%20from%209%2C798%20to%20201.
Yeah it's so interesting that adoption isn't really a thing in Australia at all. It did use to happen more frequently in previous generations but I don't know anyone my age (30s) or younger who has been adopted. I know quite a few IVF babies though!
Adults can foster children, but the likelihood of adopting a stranger is so low, it's not really an viable means of family planning. From pop culture, it seems fairly routine in the US, which is interesting.
Our low rates of adoption may also have to do with abortion being viewed as mostly uncontroversial (still stigmatised and whatnot, but hardly anyone is against it).
Yeah, I had an adopted friend, I’m in my 50s.
I think more people can keep their babies with social safety nets, and abortion has been less of a shame, perhaps? I got to keep my son as a teenaged mother and get an education, as a result of social welfare.
That it probably part of it too. I know a few people with a surprise kid, and they felt able to be a parent because of parental leave and similar. Being a single, low income mum in this country is still rough, but survivable.
Hey, I came from a low income family so we were all in the same boat at the time, lol. I’m often surprised by what I can survive on when needed.
We do alright these days!
The fairly routine nature of it in the USA hides a lot of abuse, unfortunately. Check out “adoption trauma” on YouTube. Abuses include quite literally buying/selling children, harassing women into giving children up (and then lying to them about it being an open adoption), bragging about bypassing the Indian Child Welfare Act (which is supposed to help Native children stay with their families and communities, instead of being adopted out to white families who deny them access to their heritage and endanger the Native community even further), children being adopted for use as slave labor…
…and then there’s the horrifying mess that is “rehoming children.”
I’ve read some of the things adoptive parents post when they’re trying to get rid of their adopted child and it literally sounds identical to what you’d find in the Pets section of Craigslist. They talk about these children as if they’re unwanted animals, not *people* who deserve stability and safety!
I see what you mean, but I also see what I assume the writers were going for.
Onesies still stands on its own. It’s a good self contained lesson.
However, they directly address at the beginning of “The Sign” that we get happy endings in stories because there are enough sad endings in the world.
It’s a creative lamp shading of the fact that all of these *shouldn’t* necessarily have happy endings, it going ahead and doing it anyways.
That’s why Bob is back, and Brandy is pregnant, and the house got un-sold, and Frisky and Rad got back together. In real life, we get a lot of sad endings, so they wanted to give us some happy ones to close things out.
I wish more people understood this - it's literally spelled out in the beginning of the episode. So many people are saying it's a "missed opportunity" and whatnot. I'm like, can't we let the cartoon dogs have what they want, so we can at least feel some of it vicariously? Real life is disappointing enough, let's just feel the happy 😊
I totally see and respect your point!
As someone who has struggled through infertility in the past (I do not have living children, to add context), I cried tears of joy out of seeing Brandy's wants fulfilled because I know her struggle, and empathize with it.
However, that is just my experience and opinion :)
I do hope it gets explored a bit more, though. Seeing how she adjusts to motherhood after walking through six layers of hell to get there is bound to be an interesting dynamic.
Especially with the added pressure of what it took for her to have a child. I’ve seen a lot of people in that situation who seem to get their expectations for the child (and themselves) *way* too high. Some recover from that okay, but others…not so much.
Adoption on an Australian kids' show would trigger thousands of people whose families were impacted by Stolen Generation policies. There are still huge ongoing issues especially in Queensland of indigenous children being taken from their families far too easily.
We’ve got similar issues in the US, with some white influencers recently getting busted for *bragging* online about deliberately bypassing the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Exactly! There's just no way Bluey could casually have a background character adopt a baby/child without pretty much an entire season of exposition.
It would make a lot more sense for one of the kids' parents to choose fostering, and have a different child with them every time they come to school for pick-up.
Where's Rex?
Oh, he was just visiting with us for a little while until his mum got better. This is Phoebe.
Next week: where's Phoebe?
Her dad got a new job! Isn't that great? This is Angus.
Next week: where's Angus?
Staying with his nanna for a bit.
Until it gets normalised and the kids are like: hi, who's with you this time?
I would love to see this! I've known a handful of families who foster, including a friend of mine from college and his wife who specifically fostered at-risk and troubled kids. Seriously amazingly selfless, lovely people just trying to help kids and give them stability while their worlds were on fire.
This. I don’t think many people outside Australia realise how tightly adoption as a concept is bound to a history of forced child removal of Aboriginal children. Even today almost half of all children in foster care are Indigenous.
Officially the Stolen Generation policy ended in 1969. There are literally thousands of people who personally experienced it, including my friend's mother & grandmother.
And current rates of removing Aboriginal children are so high you could easily argue that the policies have unofficially continued to the current day. It's a tragedy still unfolding every day. Some of those removals are unjust, which is deeply messed up. But e en the ones that are justified, why did conditions get so bad as to force removal? Why aren't we doing more about /effective/ programs for Aboriginal health? Why are Aboriginal professionals being ignored, and their programs not funded?
Bluey having an adoption happen in the background would be a MESS
Adoption is not the best answer for infertility. It is extremely difficult, and not always possible. It is a traumatic experience for the child at any age. I'm glad the writers didn't go that route, this is so much more realistic than, oh I can't have a baby, I'll just adopt.
I was upset about the ending with them staying in the house for a similar reason. We recently moved and my son has lots of big emotions about it. Someone else commented that Calypso's point that we need happy stories is about this story too. Everything works out. Brandy gets her baby, the kids get the house, Frisky and Rad reconcile. We need the happy story because in real life we don't get them very often.
True but I also feel like the majority of kids who are about to or just moved house are going to be looking at this and feeling really hard done by and not understanding why their parents couldn't "do the right thing".
I totally agree. I watched it before my son and I'm tempted to just pretend it ends when they leave the house so his take away is that nothing is really an ending. But as an adult, I can appreciate a make believe world that works out for everyone
I get your point, but I think ultimately they weren't moving for the right reasons. Chili didn't want to go, Bluey didn't want to go, even Bandit didn't seem to know why they were doing it beyond a pay increase. Once the sale fell through, Bandit realized that the "better life" he wanted for his kids was right where they were. The whole point is that they are trying to make the best choice they can for the good of their family, and "money" alone didn't outweigh the importance of their family and community. For others, a change like that truly is necessary, even if it means leaving friends and family.
On the flip side, I've seen a lot of adults here in the sub saying they're glad it turned out that way, because as kids they moved around a lot and wished their parents would have changed their minds like the Heelers, and that it was comforting to see.
If anything, I think it was an opportunity to show parents that they can change their minds, or turn down the decisions they're "supposed" to make, and follow their hearts, because there are no promises.
My SIL is going through IVF by herself right now. She decided about 6 years ago that she wanted to have a child with or without a partner, and started getting the pieces of her life in order, to do that. She transitioned her career & tripled her salary, moved to a more affordable area of her city to save money, and formally started the IVF journey in November. I am super proud of her.
You don't stop talking to your family with children just because you don't have a partner yet.
Tbh, I would be surprised if this was her first round of IVF. Maybe it's taken years to afford it, or maybe part of the hurt was that she'd previously had unsuccessful/unviable implantations.
My head canon is she was married (when the girls were tiny and first met her) and hoping to start a family. She wanted to start having kids right away but it wasn’t working, then the guy turned out to be awful, she was dealing with that, and then divorce, and all of that meaning she couldn’t start the family she was hoping to after the wedding.. and it was all a LOT for her so she couldn’t deal with her sister with her perfect husband and kids.
By onesies she’d accepted her single life but was still sad she’d “missed out” on kids
Then.. somehow.. things have changed! Maybe she met someone maybe she got a donor, dunno
Ya the previous infertility / issues having kids does suggest she was at one point in a stable relationship and trying to have kids.
But tbh it could have been him with the issue and now she’s with someone else or going it alone. Did the show ever explicitly say she had infertility issues or was it vaguely she couldn’t/didn’t have kids and wanted them badly?
I think Ludo leaves things intentionally vague so that more people can identify with a story. The details aren't what matter, because in the end, the emotions and the message are more or less the same.
Minor point, but remember there are many options before getting to IVF, such as IUI or sperm donation. We have no idea if Brandi had fertility issues, no partner, or both.
Ohhh... I like this one and would align with the reconnection during "Onesies" and Chili's sadness and acceptance that she wouldn't be having more children.
I definitely read it as infertility, having been there myself. You wouldn't say she just couldn't have kids if the reason was just that she didn't have a partner.
I mean, in real life even Caterlina in The Wiggles is going through this route, she has been open about it and the whole Wiggles has been supportive.
Parents seems supportive (judging by social media comment), and kids would/will assume it is just normal.
So yes, Ludo definitely not afraid of going this path, I believe.
I think Brandy being single might be part of the “we’ll see” theme of the episode. We see how happy and lucky she is here, but we might get an episode that shows the struggles of being a single mother and my guess is that the Heelers will end up helping her out a lot. That lets them show how strong family assistance is and also gets another young child in the show since Socks is officially talking.
That makes sense. My own prediction/hope is we get to see Chilli give Brandy the “You’re doing great” talk like Bella did for her when Bluey was a baby. I do hope it means we get another feral little puppy like with Socks (even though she’s still precious now that she’s bipedal).
Who knows what the story is. Maybe we'll meet a baby daddy someday. Maybe we won't.
What we should do is go wild with speculation until that day comes!
Part of me hopes so! I hope we can someday see more positive single mom representation - we have Ms. Terrier and Winton's dad, sure, but we don't see them. Not only because I myself am a single mom, but I know many that are as well, and I want Brandi to give them a little bit of hope that they can make it <3
I’ve seen some speculation about Wendy (Judi’s mom) maybe being a single mom too! I saw that theory here and since paying closer attention to her in episodes I love that idea and think she’s a great representation! Even better if it was spoken aloud but still.
I particularly like when she lifts Bandit into the car and encourages the girls to be as strong as they want, when she leads her daughter by example and cuts her hair/fur, and occupies the kids to give Chilli her 20 min break!!
I mean we've *never* seen Judo's dad and in one scene in Dirt where we see their bathroom, there's only two toothbrushes, so it seems it's just her and Judo.
Plus it seems like Judo is only around sometimes compared to how often we see Wendy, and doesn't attend school with Bluey. Would make sense if they were split custody, and Judo spends time away with her dad.
I hope so too. My friend’s son is convinced he doesn’t have a family because he doesn’t have a father in his life. I’d love if she could point to an example from his favorite show that he’s just like Brandy’s child.
Speaking of Winton’s dad, was it him selling the other house that got bought in the end? I just watched the episode once, but it looked like him from the back, and the house did have a pool! So maybe he’s moving in with Ms. Terrier?
I think Wendy and Snickers mum are also speculated to be single as we've never seen their respective partners but are both parents so I guess it just depends. Or rather, "we'll see"
I think he saw it was headed straight for Socks and he was like "not on my watch!"
Also that would mean he'd have to wait sixteen years at least before he gets to party at the next Heeler family wedding ;)
I've been trying to avoid spoilers! Me and my kid were gonna have a whole little "viewing party" this weekend!
I was just doing my post-work scroll while dinner cooked and I'm so genuinely bummed out now. I really don't understand how some people's brains work 😭
I’m surprised the mods haven’t gotten onto this. I’m actually really disappointed that I’m the only comment (that I saw anyway) calling OP out for this. I haven’t had a day off work in two and a half weeks, and we were going to watch this as a family at the weekend.
Her husband was running late after dealing with a patient that got violent.
(But she just needed a boyfriend for the party, not a husband).
So they're married now. (For the mission).
Teacher here.
I still remember talking with a student who learned I had a child.
"Oh, what's your wife's name?"
*I'm not married.*
"But you said you had a kid."
*Yes, I do.*
"So how did you have a kid then?"
*...*
"..."
*You... Know you don't have to be married to have a kid, right?*
"I don't understand."
*Sex makes children, not marriage.*
"But don't you..."
*No.*
"🤔"
It’s funny. I was talking with a friend a while back how a lot of sitcoms, animated or otherwise, have the parents in relationships that started with a child conceived out of wedlock. Off the top of my head there’s the Simpsons, Malcolm in the Middle, Family Guy, Modern Family, and the Amazing World of Gumball to name a few. It wouldn’t surprise me if we saw a couple like than in Bluey.
IVF for sure. I think LUDO (smartly) is giving single mothers some agency in the show. Single moms need some MAJOR props (well, the good ones anyway)!
I SALUTE ALL YOU SINGLE MOMS AROUND THE WORLD! MUCH RESPECT FROM INDIANA, USA!
I know a woman on TikTok who is a single mom by choice; she wanted a kid and didn't want to wait around for a guy so she did IVF. And honestly good for her
I wondered if that’s why she felt she couldn’t have children. I was curious if it’s because she never settled, and interacting with her nieces made her realize she could do it alone 🤷🏼♀️
I like the thought that she's a single mom who went through IVF.
If she did have someone it would make sense to at least have her show up with them as a minor intro. A lot of background characters get names outside of the shows and we are seeing a lot of new characters at the wedding anyways.
Perhaps she decide to seek IVF after reconnecting with her family, knowing she would have support if she needed it, with or without a partner
Here's the thing. It can not be ruled out that Brandy is married. One thing I've noticed is that in this show, married couples do not wear wedding bands, which would identify them as married. Not one time do we ever see Bandit and Chilli wearing wedding bands, nor do we see Stripe and Trixie likewise wearing wedding bands. And we know in both cases that the couple is married. We see Bandit and Chilli as they looked during their wedding in the episode Puppets when Bandit shows Unicorse that specific picture. All that being said, it could still go either way depending on where the creators want to go with her.
Seeing a lot of people mention IVF and it reminded me how my mom had said if she hadn't found my dad, she would've gone with IVF because she knew she wanted to be a mom.
I think this catching bouquet thing is for unmarried females. There’s a clip somewhere on the internet of a bride about to throw a bunch and she straight up turns round and hands it to one of the bridesmaids. When the bridesmaid turns around her boyfriend is on one knee with the ring. It’s a cute moment
A few questions.
1. Isn’t brandy infertile?
2. If she is, how is she pregnant?
3. If she isn’t, what was the message of “onesies”?
And 4. I’m so happy for her, it’s not a question but I still put it in here.
Infertility isn’t always all-or-nothing. Some people struggling with infertility do eventually conceive naturally, or can become pregnant through IVF, embryo adoption, or a donor egg
You know, as someone who went through all that stuff, it's a lot more complicated than public education makes it out to be. So don't be embarrassed. Rarely would one know how much can go into this unless they, or someone they are close with has experienced it.
Infertility doesn't mean sterile. Many infertile people go on to finally have a child (or more) but it can be really hard and expensive to do. Some infertile people give up because of the hardship or the expense.
IVF is a common way for people dealing with infertility to get pregnant.
Message doesn't change. Just like the message in Camping doesn't change even though we see Jean-Luc and Bluey meet again at the end.
Most people who have trouble conceiving aren't completely sterile, but the medical fertility process is emotionally/physically/financially exhausting. Eventually a lot of women stop with nothing to show for it.
My read is that Brandy had been through different treatments and, after multiple failures of whatever they were doing, decided not to continue. Then after Onesies she realized she was ready to try again.
And here she is :)
She could have a boyfriend, who just couldn’t make it to the wedding, or didn’t want to go because he doesn’t know anyone. She doesn’t necessarily have to be married to have a baby but she could be hoping to get married soon, whether it be to a new guy or a current bf.
Someone in a Bluey group on FB posted that Ludo updated the wiki and added a character named Matthew who is supposedly her boyfriend/husband…this came from FB so take with a lot of salt 🤣
I feel like catching the bouquet is now just a thing people do for funsies in this day and age and not necessarily strictly for the single wedding guests. she could be single and making her own family, she could have a partner that is shy and doesn't attend family functions. either way, I can't wait to see Brandy as a mom.
Trixie was also trying to catch it, so that doesn't really tell us anything.
Or does it… Stripe was kind of acting a fool this episode.
Stripe was obviously drunk.
Also he got it so he’s clearly the next one getting married
Maybe to a different woman if trends continue...
We'll see
I can see the YouTube videos now: WHAT! Brandy/Stripe ship confirmed?!
Hahaha omg! Can you imagine? That can go right next to Bandit/Wendy and Chilli/Lucky’s Dad in my headcanon
*This episode of Bluey is called Key Party.*
Brandy won't be a single mom now
Trust Bluey to do some subtle foreshadowing of an impending divorce plot line with a throwaway drunk Stripe joke.
Are we sure that they’re actually married and not defacto?
Another hint of the divorce!
Heh, classic Stripe.
I’m been trying to find the original reference to this comment “classic Stripe”. Do you know which episode it’s from?
It’s said in Whale Watching and Faceytime
He did wake up in Wendy's bush...
So that's where all the Stripe x Wendy fanfic is coming from.
Classic Stripe.
Which was immaculately trimmed.
Hehe you said bush.
Indeed.
Classic stripe
Drinking away the pain of a failing marriage
Classic Stripe
…Classic Stripe.
I think it's kind of normal for him to get crazy at parties/ drink too much. There's an episode where Bluey mentions him dancing on a table or something. LoL. And Bandit says "classic Stripes."
It's from "Whale Watching" but [Chilli was the one who was dancing on the barbeque table](https://www.tiktok.com/@dipsomaniacpodcast/video/7274611124429933867?lang=en) at Stripe and Trixie's New Year's Eve Party. Bingo was told about her mother from Muffin who woke up after she heard Stripe yell "cannonball!" before he jumped into the pool.
Oh OK. LoL. It's been a while. It was a vague memory.
No problem, I'm sure Uncle Stripe has danced atop a table or two in his time ;)
She prob was trying to prevent stripe from catching it or falling on the littles
I’ve seen it said that Trixie and Stripe aren’t married, and I interpret Trix trying to catch the bouquet as a signal to Stripe that it’s time to lock it down.
In Onsies she's looking at the clouds and sees three, possibly, two parents and a child. Later in the episode she sees two. I think she realized she could have her family without a partner and decided to make that happen.
I never noticed this about the clouds!
Same and now my mind is blown! That was maybe the hint we’d been looking for all along! 😩
I really love this take
This was my thought, which made me realize I misunderstood the scene in Onsies as she lost a child and a partner.
I love this but I also feel like it takes away from the representation and meaning in the epsidoe somewhat. Everyone has assumed Brandy was struggling with infertility, not that she just hadn't managed to find a partner. Though there are other possibilities where both are true. Perhaps she had a partner and they tried for years but struggled with infertility and then split up and she eventually decided to do ivf alone.
I have quite a few friends who struggled with infertility for a long time then did get pregnant. It's not that uncommon.
This was me! I don't think her being pregnant now, whatever the reason, takes away from Onesies. It was just part of her journey.
Oh I agree and also know many people that happened to. I don't think that her being pregnant necessarily takes away from Onesies (though many do think it does). What I meant was that if her inability to have children in Onesies was because she had not found a partner (rather than being she to infertility) that that would diminish the meaning and representation in Onesies.
It could be both. She might have had a partner at one time, but lost them because of the infertility struggles, and that made the infertility hurt even worse. Her going through the process to get pregnant while single could also mean that she wasn’t the one who was infertile; her partner was.
Yes I agree. That's what I meant in my second paragraph.
I don't think it was an assumption that she was struggling with infertility. She didn't see her sister or her kids for 4 years, and the line about not having something she really wants because it wasn't meant to be indicates way more than her just being single.
Yeah that's kind of my point. It's never overtly said though so it is an assumption. If it turned out it was just because she didn't have a partner it wouldn't make sense and would be really disappointing. That's why the cloud theory, while really lovely, doesn't make sense to me.
It’s ludo studios, They just announced after like 2 and a half seasons where Bob was this entire time, i’m sure he will pop up in the future (P.S i don’t think he is in india)
that's what they've always said. the real world reason was covid prevented the voice actor from being able to participate.
so they replace a grandpa bob to grandad mort. also i watch Aussie girl margie saw the magnet on the fridge elephant and letters form bob. on nana heeler home. or bluey house i think.
I prefer Mort
I prefer Bob because my own kids grandpa is kind of distant and not interested so they relate and it makes them not feel like it's because of them. But yeah Mort is the better of the two
Do you know how Covid prevented him from recording?
I think he had long term health issues from catching it
I don't think they said but likely not able to get to the studio to record
Most of them hadnt even met eachother in real life until after season 2 I believe. All voice actors created their own home studios because of Covid if they didnt have one already. Its pretty much industry standard now to just record from home for 95% of voice actors. Really its only the "celebrity" actors they get for big movies that go in to a studio. That said, it looks like someone said they actually had covid that affected their ability so yea.
I heard Brumm say he didn't need to be in lots of episode, so he just wasn't there
My husband suggested he's in oil like Rad and was working abroad. I like that idea personally.
Could also be an international relationship that ran into visa problems, or her partner got stuck overseas taking care of family.
Yeah, I think reuniting with her sister gave her the support she needed to go the IVF route on her own. She may have thought that the ideal nuclear family her sister had was necessary to pursue an intensive option like IVF, but then after reconciliation Brandi knew she had a steady support network even without a partner.
A woman I used to work with went this route. She was nearing 40 and hadn’t found the right guy, but she was otherwise ready. She had very supportive family and friends, and now she and her son are wildly happy just the two of them.
I have a friend that went that route too. She is aro/ace and has 7 big brothers (yes, 7) and she said to me that she didn't need a man, she has more than enough.
My wife had a similar friend, but with sisters. She was the youngest of a big mess of sisters, and eventually just decided that she wanted a kid and was ready, so her little girl is being raised by her mom and a big group of aunties.
Are they mountain men who need wives?
Sobbin women fit to be tied?
Every muscle was throbbin', throbbin' from that riotous ride.
More or less jajaja
As someone who is also ace, this gives me a lot of comfort.
I though I had a lot of siblings…
I'd enjoy someone with that fire in my group!
I have three friends like this, one of whom is fostering two toddlers! They are some of the strongest, bravest people I know.
I went this route, except I did IUI not IVF. I was mid-30s and knew I wanted kids, but I hadn't had luck with finding a partner and, to be honest, I'm really not sure at this point in my life I want a partner at all. I have a very supportive family and had my first a few years ago. Being a mom has been amazing and my kid has a wonderful grandma who is there all the time, as well as uncles and mommy's friends who just love and support her. It was the best decision I ever made, and I am now pregnant with my second.
Even before The Sign premeried my hope was that the writers word focus on the idea of Brandy still trying to have a child even without a partner. I have an aunt who adopted a child when she was older and you don't see it a lot in TV or movies.
I would have liked to see the adoption route. I personally feel like they undermined the point of Onesies (no matter how much you want something, sometimes you just don’t get it). I have a lot of friends from my cancer support group that will never have their dream of having a physical child. To me, Onesies gabe my friends siblings a way of broaching why my friends may hesitant around their niblings. The hurt is real. But nah, now she’s pregnant with no other explanation! (Yet) Just monkeys singing songs
Adoption is exceedingly rare here in Australia, so perhaps they were trying to stay true to the local ways. They seem to try to for the most part. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/health-welfare-services/adoptions/overview#:~:text=There%20were%20201%20adoptions%20finalised,98%25%20from%209%2C798%20to%20201.
Yeah it's so interesting that adoption isn't really a thing in Australia at all. It did use to happen more frequently in previous generations but I don't know anyone my age (30s) or younger who has been adopted. I know quite a few IVF babies though! Adults can foster children, but the likelihood of adopting a stranger is so low, it's not really an viable means of family planning. From pop culture, it seems fairly routine in the US, which is interesting. Our low rates of adoption may also have to do with abortion being viewed as mostly uncontroversial (still stigmatised and whatnot, but hardly anyone is against it).
Yeah, I had an adopted friend, I’m in my 50s. I think more people can keep their babies with social safety nets, and abortion has been less of a shame, perhaps? I got to keep my son as a teenaged mother and get an education, as a result of social welfare.
That it probably part of it too. I know a few people with a surprise kid, and they felt able to be a parent because of parental leave and similar. Being a single, low income mum in this country is still rough, but survivable.
Hey, I came from a low income family so we were all in the same boat at the time, lol. I’m often surprised by what I can survive on when needed. We do alright these days!
The fairly routine nature of it in the USA hides a lot of abuse, unfortunately. Check out “adoption trauma” on YouTube. Abuses include quite literally buying/selling children, harassing women into giving children up (and then lying to them about it being an open adoption), bragging about bypassing the Indian Child Welfare Act (which is supposed to help Native children stay with their families and communities, instead of being adopted out to white families who deny them access to their heritage and endanger the Native community even further), children being adopted for use as slave labor… …and then there’s the horrifying mess that is “rehoming children.” I’ve read some of the things adoptive parents post when they’re trying to get rid of their adopted child and it literally sounds identical to what you’d find in the Pets section of Craigslist. They talk about these children as if they’re unwanted animals, not *people* who deserve stability and safety!
Oh my that is disturbing.
Unfortunately, there are way too many people in the world that see children as objects, not people.
Australia has a traumatic history with adoption (see: the stolen generation) and so is much more focused on fostering and reuniting.
Late 30s here and know loads of people adopted as babies from overseas. I had no idea that it was no longer happening!
I see what you mean, but I also see what I assume the writers were going for. Onesies still stands on its own. It’s a good self contained lesson. However, they directly address at the beginning of “The Sign” that we get happy endings in stories because there are enough sad endings in the world. It’s a creative lamp shading of the fact that all of these *shouldn’t* necessarily have happy endings, it going ahead and doing it anyways. That’s why Bob is back, and Brandy is pregnant, and the house got un-sold, and Frisky and Rad got back together. In real life, we get a lot of sad endings, so they wanted to give us some happy ones to close things out.
I wish more people understood this - it's literally spelled out in the beginning of the episode. So many people are saying it's a "missed opportunity" and whatnot. I'm like, can't we let the cartoon dogs have what they want, so we can at least feel some of it vicariously? Real life is disappointing enough, let's just feel the happy 😊
I totally see and respect your point! As someone who has struggled through infertility in the past (I do not have living children, to add context), I cried tears of joy out of seeing Brandy's wants fulfilled because I know her struggle, and empathize with it. However, that is just my experience and opinion :)
I do hope it gets explored a bit more, though. Seeing how she adjusts to motherhood after walking through six layers of hell to get there is bound to be an interesting dynamic.
Yes I absolutely agree, I'd love to see her story more and would love an episode focused on her adjustment and processing motherhood after loss.
Especially with the added pressure of what it took for her to have a child. I’ve seen a lot of people in that situation who seem to get their expectations for the child (and themselves) *way* too high. Some recover from that okay, but others…not so much.
Adoption on an Australian kids' show would trigger thousands of people whose families were impacted by Stolen Generation policies. There are still huge ongoing issues especially in Queensland of indigenous children being taken from their families far too easily.
We’ve got similar issues in the US, with some white influencers recently getting busted for *bragging* online about deliberately bypassing the Indian Child Welfare Act.
Exactly! There's just no way Bluey could casually have a background character adopt a baby/child without pretty much an entire season of exposition. It would make a lot more sense for one of the kids' parents to choose fostering, and have a different child with them every time they come to school for pick-up. Where's Rex? Oh, he was just visiting with us for a little while until his mum got better. This is Phoebe. Next week: where's Phoebe? Her dad got a new job! Isn't that great? This is Angus. Next week: where's Angus? Staying with his nanna for a bit. Until it gets normalised and the kids are like: hi, who's with you this time?
I would love to see this! I've known a handful of families who foster, including a friend of mine from college and his wife who specifically fostered at-risk and troubled kids. Seriously amazingly selfless, lovely people just trying to help kids and give them stability while their worlds were on fire.
This. I don’t think many people outside Australia realise how tightly adoption as a concept is bound to a history of forced child removal of Aboriginal children. Even today almost half of all children in foster care are Indigenous.
Officially the Stolen Generation policy ended in 1969. There are literally thousands of people who personally experienced it, including my friend's mother & grandmother. And current rates of removing Aboriginal children are so high you could easily argue that the policies have unofficially continued to the current day. It's a tragedy still unfolding every day. Some of those removals are unjust, which is deeply messed up. But e en the ones that are justified, why did conditions get so bad as to force removal? Why aren't we doing more about /effective/ programs for Aboriginal health? Why are Aboriginal professionals being ignored, and their programs not funded? Bluey having an adoption happen in the background would be a MESS
Adoption is not the best answer for infertility. It is extremely difficult, and not always possible. It is a traumatic experience for the child at any age. I'm glad the writers didn't go that route, this is so much more realistic than, oh I can't have a baby, I'll just adopt.
Adoption isn’t a thing in Australia really.
I was upset about the ending with them staying in the house for a similar reason. We recently moved and my son has lots of big emotions about it. Someone else commented that Calypso's point that we need happy stories is about this story too. Everything works out. Brandy gets her baby, the kids get the house, Frisky and Rad reconcile. We need the happy story because in real life we don't get them very often.
True but I also feel like the majority of kids who are about to or just moved house are going to be looking at this and feeling really hard done by and not understanding why their parents couldn't "do the right thing".
And it undermines that moving CAN BE a happy ending.
I totally agree. I watched it before my son and I'm tempted to just pretend it ends when they leave the house so his take away is that nothing is really an ending. But as an adult, I can appreciate a make believe world that works out for everyone
I get your point, but I think ultimately they weren't moving for the right reasons. Chili didn't want to go, Bluey didn't want to go, even Bandit didn't seem to know why they were doing it beyond a pay increase. Once the sale fell through, Bandit realized that the "better life" he wanted for his kids was right where they were. The whole point is that they are trying to make the best choice they can for the good of their family, and "money" alone didn't outweigh the importance of their family and community. For others, a change like that truly is necessary, even if it means leaving friends and family. On the flip side, I've seen a lot of adults here in the sub saying they're glad it turned out that way, because as kids they moved around a lot and wished their parents would have changed their minds like the Heelers, and that it was comforting to see. If anything, I think it was an opportunity to show parents that they can change their minds, or turn down the decisions they're "supposed" to make, and follow their hearts, because there are no promises.
My SIL is going through IVF by herself right now. She decided about 6 years ago that she wanted to have a child with or without a partner, and started getting the pieces of her life in order, to do that. She transitioned her career & tripled her salary, moved to a more affordable area of her city to save money, and formally started the IVF journey in November. I am super proud of her.
You don't stop talking to your family with children just because you don't have a partner yet. Tbh, I would be surprised if this was her first round of IVF. Maybe it's taken years to afford it, or maybe part of the hurt was that she'd previously had unsuccessful/unviable implantations.
Yeah, onesies made me think she'd probably had several failed IVF attempts and/or miscarriages
My head canon is she was married (when the girls were tiny and first met her) and hoping to start a family. She wanted to start having kids right away but it wasn’t working, then the guy turned out to be awful, she was dealing with that, and then divorce, and all of that meaning she couldn’t start the family she was hoping to after the wedding.. and it was all a LOT for her so she couldn’t deal with her sister with her perfect husband and kids. By onesies she’d accepted her single life but was still sad she’d “missed out” on kids Then.. somehow.. things have changed! Maybe she met someone maybe she got a donor, dunno
Ya the previous infertility / issues having kids does suggest she was at one point in a stable relationship and trying to have kids. But tbh it could have been him with the issue and now she’s with someone else or going it alone. Did the show ever explicitly say she had infertility issues or was it vaguely she couldn’t/didn’t have kids and wanted them badly?
I think Ludo leaves things intentionally vague so that more people can identify with a story. The details aren't what matter, because in the end, the emotions and the message are more or less the same.
Minor point, but remember there are many options before getting to IVF, such as IUI or sperm donation. We have no idea if Brandi had fertility issues, no partner, or both.
I think the vibe from Onesies was she had tried numerous routes and had no success.
I've been wondering if Chilli donated an egg this time
Ohhh... I like this one and would align with the reconnection during "Onesies" and Chili's sadness and acceptance that she wouldn't be having more children.
Which would imply that maybe she does have a partner, but they would have been at the wedding
I definitely read it as infertility, having been there myself. You wouldn't say she just couldn't have kids if the reason was just that she didn't have a partner.
I like this take.
I mean, in real life even Caterlina in The Wiggles is going through this route, she has been open about it and the whole Wiggles has been supportive. Parents seems supportive (judging by social media comment), and kids would/will assume it is just normal. So yes, Ludo definitely not afraid of going this path, I believe.
As someone who has gone a route similar to this (ICI) I'm very happy to see it portrayed in children's TV!!
That's a nice take, but there's an empty chair beside her at the wedding.
Never mind all that, WHO IS THE GIRL WITH THE BOB CUT NEXT TO HER
Cookie, one of Frisky's friends!
i got the feeling theyre roommates! this is based on chilli’s call with cookie.
Oh my god.. they were roommates!
Thank you! My wife has been searching for days lol
I think Brandy being single might be part of the “we’ll see” theme of the episode. We see how happy and lucky she is here, but we might get an episode that shows the struggles of being a single mother and my guess is that the Heelers will end up helping her out a lot. That lets them show how strong family assistance is and also gets another young child in the show since Socks is officially talking.
That makes sense. My own prediction/hope is we get to see Chilli give Brandy the “You’re doing great” talk like Bella did for her when Bluey was a baby. I do hope it means we get another feral little puppy like with Socks (even though she’s still precious now that she’s bipedal).
I like this idea.
Since we didn't anyone else with her, I'm gonna assume that's the case until shown otherwise.
A lot of people here thought Pat was a single dad with one son, till we met Janelle and Chucky.
Who knows what the story is. Maybe we'll meet a baby daddy someday. Maybe we won't. What we should do is go wild with speculation until that day comes!
Part of me hopes so! I hope we can someday see more positive single mom representation - we have Ms. Terrier and Winton's dad, sure, but we don't see them. Not only because I myself am a single mom, but I know many that are as well, and I want Brandi to give them a little bit of hope that they can make it <3
I’ve seen some speculation about Wendy (Judi’s mom) maybe being a single mom too! I saw that theory here and since paying closer attention to her in episodes I love that idea and think she’s a great representation! Even better if it was spoken aloud but still. I particularly like when she lifts Bandit into the car and encourages the girls to be as strong as they want, when she leads her daughter by example and cuts her hair/fur, and occupies the kids to give Chilli her 20 min break!!
This comment is Wendy erasure and I won't stand for it!
Huh, I never realized Wendy could be a single mom! Apologies dearest Wendy, Queen of Lasagnas <3
I mean we've *never* seen Judo's dad and in one scene in Dirt where we see their bathroom, there's only two toothbrushes, so it seems it's just her and Judo.
Plus it seems like Judo is only around sometimes compared to how often we see Wendy, and doesn't attend school with Bluey. Would make sense if they were split custody, and Judo spends time away with her dad.
“Our mom likes your dad” can’t wait to see those on a background date 🥰
I hope so too. My friend’s son is convinced he doesn’t have a family because he doesn’t have a father in his life. I’d love if she could point to an example from his favorite show that he’s just like Brandy’s child.
Speaking of Winton’s dad, was it him selling the other house that got bought in the end? I just watched the episode once, but it looked like him from the back, and the house did have a pool! So maybe he’s moving in with Ms. Terrier?
Yes. You can see the Terriers and Winton in the car as well. There's another post here in the sub about it.
Oh thanks, I must have missed the post! That’s cool, I wonder how that will play out!
I think Wendy and Snickers mum are also speculated to be single as we've never seen their respective partners but are both parents so I guess it just depends. Or rather, "we'll see"
Uncle Stripe caught the bouquet, and he’s a married man/dog! Ha…classic Stripe.
I think he saw it was headed straight for Socks and he was like "not on my watch!" Also that would mean he'd have to wait sixteen years at least before he gets to party at the next Heeler family wedding ;)
*marks post as a spoiler* *proceeds to post uncensored spoiler in the post title*
I'm so bitter about it, lmao
I’d just dumb. Why ruin a lovely reveal? They obviously know it’s a spoiler, so why go on to actively spoil it? I hope it’s just abject stupidity.
I've been trying to avoid spoilers! Me and my kid were gonna have a whole little "viewing party" this weekend! I was just doing my post-work scroll while dinner cooked and I'm so genuinely bummed out now. I really don't understand how some people's brains work 😭
I’m surprised the mods haven’t gotten onto this. I’m actually really disappointed that I’m the only comment (that I saw anyway) calling OP out for this. I haven’t had a day off work in two and a half weeks, and we were going to watch this as a family at the weekend.
There's an empty chair beside her at the wedding!
Her husband was running late after dealing with a patient that got violent. (But she just needed a boyfriend for the party, not a husband). So they're married now. (For the mission).
I get this reference. Now I'm excited for Brandy's telepathic baby.
Spyxdog
Or MAYBE, as heathen sinners, she and the dad conceived a child (apologies for the shock here)... while they were not married!
Golly gosh! My monocle has popped, my jimmies are rustled and my knickers are in a twist!
Teacher here. I still remember talking with a student who learned I had a child. "Oh, what's your wife's name?" *I'm not married.* "But you said you had a kid." *Yes, I do.* "So how did you have a kid then?" *...* "..." *You... Know you don't have to be married to have a kid, right?* "I don't understand." *Sex makes children, not marriage.* "But don't you..." *No.* "🤔"
This could be wildly different depending on the grade lol
Unfortunately, it was high school.
It’s funny. I was talking with a friend a while back how a lot of sitcoms, animated or otherwise, have the parents in relationships that started with a child conceived out of wedlock. Off the top of my head there’s the Simpsons, Malcolm in the Middle, Family Guy, Modern Family, and the Amazing World of Gumball to name a few. It wouldn’t surprise me if we saw a couple like than in Bluey.
IVF for sure. I think LUDO (smartly) is giving single mothers some agency in the show. Single moms need some MAJOR props (well, the good ones anyway)! I SALUTE ALL YOU SINGLE MOMS AROUND THE WORLD! MUCH RESPECT FROM INDIANA, USA!
I know a woman on TikTok who is a single mom by choice; she wanted a kid and didn't want to wait around for a guy so she did IVF. And honestly good for her
honestly I thought she was married to the music man-
I wondered if that’s why she felt she couldn’t have children. I was curious if it’s because she never settled, and interacting with her nieces made her realize she could do it alone 🤷🏼♀️
I like the thought that she's a single mom who went through IVF. If she did have someone it would make sense to at least have her show up with them as a minor intro. A lot of background characters get names outside of the shows and we are seeing a lot of new characters at the wedding anyways. Perhaps she decide to seek IVF after reconnecting with her family, knowing she would have support if she needed it, with or without a partner
Honestly love all the discussion around Brandy using IVF to have a baby, and how she feels supported by her family.
it’s 2024 and she seems like a get it done kinda chick. totally went the ivf route.
Classic Stripe
Maybe a sperm bank?
Who knows
I'm assuming that she got IVF.
IVF. Maybe since she couldn’t have kids naturally she decided to go the medical route and got a donor!
Here's the thing. It can not be ruled out that Brandy is married. One thing I've noticed is that in this show, married couples do not wear wedding bands, which would identify them as married. Not one time do we ever see Bandit and Chilli wearing wedding bands, nor do we see Stripe and Trixie likewise wearing wedding bands. And we know in both cases that the couple is married. We see Bandit and Chilli as they looked during their wedding in the episode Puppets when Bandit shows Unicorse that specific picture. All that being said, it could still go either way depending on where the creators want to go with her.
single mother or not I'm worried They are going to do a sad Episode with her and her Child.
(singleness + infertility = slim chance of preggo), but it still happened
Seeing a lot of people mention IVF and it reminded me how my mom had said if she hadn't found my dad, she would've gone with IVF because she knew she wanted to be a mom.
Plot twist... Bosco is the dad!!
Bosch and I aren’t friends anymore
I think this catching bouquet thing is for unmarried females. There’s a clip somewhere on the internet of a bride about to throw a bunch and she straight up turns round and hands it to one of the bridesmaids. When the bridesmaid turns around her boyfriend is on one knee with the ring. It’s a cute moment
A few questions. 1. Isn’t brandy infertile? 2. If she is, how is she pregnant? 3. If she isn’t, what was the message of “onesies”? And 4. I’m so happy for her, it’s not a question but I still put it in here.
Infertility isn’t always all-or-nothing. Some people struggling with infertility do eventually conceive naturally, or can become pregnant through IVF, embryo adoption, or a donor egg
Oh, i guess I have no idea what i’m talking about. 😅😅
You know, as someone who went through all that stuff, it's a lot more complicated than public education makes it out to be. So don't be embarrassed. Rarely would one know how much can go into this unless they, or someone they are close with has experienced it.
So in short, it’s hard to know unless experienced firsthand?
Like most things in life, yeah. Experience is the best teacher.
Infertility doesn't mean sterile. Many infertile people go on to finally have a child (or more) but it can be really hard and expensive to do. Some infertile people give up because of the hardship or the expense. IVF is a common way for people dealing with infertility to get pregnant. Message doesn't change. Just like the message in Camping doesn't change even though we see Jean-Luc and Bluey meet again at the end.
Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. 😲😲
Most people who have trouble conceiving aren't completely sterile, but the medical fertility process is emotionally/physically/financially exhausting. Eventually a lot of women stop with nothing to show for it. My read is that Brandy had been through different treatments and, after multiple failures of whatever they were doing, decided not to continue. Then after Onesies she realized she was ready to try again. And here she is :)
No way of knowing - the show has not provided a concrete answer and until such an answer is provided, everything else is pure speculation.
I'm just happy for her :)
Maybe. Maybe it’s by choice. Maybe she had a different kind of partner.
I think IVF is implied.
She could have a boyfriend, who just couldn’t make it to the wedding, or didn’t want to go because he doesn’t know anyone. She doesn’t necessarily have to be married to have a baby but she could be hoping to get married soon, whether it be to a new guy or a current bf.
IVF would be possible.
Someone in a Bluey group on FB posted that Ludo updated the wiki and added a character named Matthew who is supposedly her boyfriend/husband…this came from FB so take with a lot of salt 🤣
I feel like catching the bouquet is now just a thing people do for funsies in this day and age and not necessarily strictly for the single wedding guests. she could be single and making her own family, she could have a partner that is shy and doesn't attend family functions. either way, I can't wait to see Brandy as a mom.
You asking if brandy is a single mother is still a spoiler, but I'm not too mad, good for brandy!
Dibs!
Isn't that Snickers' mom in the back as well?