Spoilers!

Imagine our *surprise* when not only did we get a Bluey episode beyond the 28-minute ‘The Sign,’ but we also got a peek into the future of the Heelers!  (And possibly a peek into the future direction of the show?)

I knew adults like discussing their Bluey theories, but it wasn’t until I hopped online after this one that I realized just how invested the Bluey audience truly is.  Wow…  Uh, wow.

I think the biggest point I’d like to stress in the world of these Bluey theories (or ones of any book, movie, TV show, art, music lyric, etc) is that I love when a creator includes enough to give their audience meaning without giving a definitive answer or explanation.  And whatever thought or feeling or theory resonates with someone and gives them connection and meaning – that’s what matters.  To me, that’s true art.

If the Bluey audience wants it to just be a fun kids’ show – great.  If they want to fully dive into a complex analysis of each moment or close-up of the show – great.  The important dichotomy to remember is not only are these just theories, but they are also sometimes deeply meaningful to people.  The amount of self-righteousness and put-downs was eye-opening, for sure.  (I guess I haven’t spent a lot of time on forums…).  But, yes, like so many out there, I have my own thoughts on this final 4-second flash of a giggling child at the end of Bluey’s ‘Surprise’ episode.  So, with no podcast, YouTube, or forum desires, I’ll share them here – to my 10s of readers.

Theory #1 – (The one I least agree with, but the one that seems to be sending waves through the Internet)
The kid outside the door is Bluey’s.

Mackenzie’s or Jean Luc’s?  People went so wild guessing the father of this child, that it didn’t seem like much thought was actually given to the mother.  Again, just my opinion here, but I really don’t think this is Bluey’s kid.  But here are some arguments for and against:

Supporting this theory:
Bluey begins the episode by asking what it’s like to have kids.
-It’s the central question and it’s raised by Bluey, so I can see the line of reasoning – sort of (see ‘against’ thoughts)

Bluey is the one ringing the doorbell.
-Bluey is outside and just arriving and the kid is outside.

Bluey has been playing with the blaster and with Bandit during the episode, and we see a similar mischievous quality in the kid outside.

One person claimed, so I’ll put it here, that the ‘surprise’ was that Bluey didn’t seem likely to be the one to have kids and Bingo did, but it’s the reverse – surprise!

Ok, against this theory:
Bluey gets to see what it’s like to have kids during the episode, and from what I know about Bluey, it doesn’t seem likely that seeing her dad tumble to the floor, grasping at children, curled into the fetal position while being shot at would be a selling point on the whole parenting gig.

Bluey arrives unexpectedly (surprise!), but Chilli doesn’t ask Bluey about the whereabouts of a grandchild?
-I could see Chilli going along with a grandchild sneakily waiting for Bandit, for sure, but Chilli is genuinely surprised to see Bluey.  And this show has never shied away from little *wink* *wink* moments or ways of talking, which would probably have been the case.  I bet she’d want to at least get in a little hug or wink with her grandbaby.

Although Bluey is older, and people can have babies at different times of course, there is no evidence that Bluey is at a stage in life where she’d be having kids.
-The moving photos on the wall show a photo of Bluey’s graduation (from high school?)  My guess is that Bluey, the college student, is just swinging by to say Hello.

*Also, may I just add – As much as it’s cute to think about childhood friends having a future romance, I also think there’s too much emphasis on pairing kids up for their futures.  Let kids be friends without that added baggage.  It also makes many assumptions about gender and orientations before letting kids figure this all out on their own.  (And, I think this kid looks all heeler anyway.)

Theory #2 – (The one I was leaning towards in the beginning but have since changed my mind about…)
The kid outside the door is Bingo’s.

Supporting this theory:
Bingo is the one nurturing babies during the episode.
-We see throughout the whole episode that Bingo is the one who is caring for babies.  This is her focus and how she plays.

Bingo is already there.
-Whether Bingo lives at home or is also visiting, it would make sense that her kid would be there too.

Against this theory:
Chilli specifically tells Bluey where Bingo is but doesn’t mention Bluey’s niece?/nephew?

Bingo is out back.  I think she’s a teenager and hasn’t left home.
-I still think we’re at an earlier stage of “grown-up” Bluey and Bingo than people are theorizing.  Not that this doesn’t mean either could have a child, but I really think Bluey is a college kid popping in for a surprise visit.

In the rotating photos on the wall, Bingo looks like she’s on an adventure on Easter Island.
-Could have been at a different point in life, but doesn’t seem like she’s in mamahood stage.

Theory #3 – (Far-fetched, perhaps? but the one I’m gravitating towards the most)
The kid outside the door is Bluey and Bingo’s sibling!

Sounds a bit crazy, but here goes.  And, yes, I was ‘looking’ for moments to support this.

Supporting this theory:
Bluey surprises her dad during their play by popping out of the beanbag!
-Far-fetched perhaps, but felt very much like a surprise birth.  If fans are going to see the balloon-popping moment as a miscarriage, I don’t think this is that different.

Bandit keeps getting handed more and more ‘babies.’

At one point, Bandit brings 2 babies back to Bingo, and she points out he forgot one.  (On the beanbag! -see above)

While Bandit is falling through the air in the kitchen and Chilli is pointing out that THAT is what parenthood is like, Bandit is carrying 3 babies.

When Bandit is outside talking to one of the ‘babies’ about its siblings, Bluey connects to that and comes out of hiding.
-Bluey full-on says, “I’m her sister!”  (If this kid really is Bandit and Chilli’s 3rd kid, the answer is right there in the script!)

A ‘caboose’ baby would be quite a ‘surprise’ baby for Bandit and Chilli!

The long dog shown in the front hall right before the last scene is a similar coloring to the dog waiting outside.
-Foreshadow of a new main character??

*Since the 3rd baby forgotten by Bandit is named Copernicus (whose theory states that the planets rotate the sun) could it be a son??)

Against this theory:
While we don’t see all the rotating photos on the wall, there would probably be some of the new kid, right?

Even if Bluey had seen her sibling hiding outside, Chilli wouldn’t have known this and would have mentioned, ‘Bingo is out back and (your other sibling) is around here somewhere.’

My kids pointed out that the house looks too neat to have a child living there.
-But perhaps with only one young one and a teen, things are easier to keep tidy?

Bandit and Chilli would be older parents.
-If this scene takes place when Bluey is in college and Bingo hasn’t left home, it’s maybe 12 years into the future?  The kid is maybe 4 or 5?  Bandit and Chilli were supposed to be in their early 40s during the show’s regular timeline?  So, definitely not impossible, but this would be a late 40s pregnancy.

Chilli has glasses in the photo of Bluey’s graduation but different ones in the scene.

Theories #4,5,6, etc.
Perhaps the kid outside is someone else’s entirely.

-One of the cousins’ kids?
-A neighbor kid?
-Another of Brandy’s kids?
and on and on

The child does look VERY related to the family though.

My biggest guessing game is wondering whether this is the new direction of the show.  Will we be seeing Bandit and Chilli as they parent teens/young adults?  That would be interesting, but definitely not give the audience the same fun and make-believe elements.  Obviously, the new kid would provide a lot of that too, but would that be too risky for the fan-base?  Would we then see a lot of flashback episodes of different stages of childhood and parenting?  Are the voice actors playing Bluey, Bingo, and friends ‘aging out?’

Time will tell!  I’m almost positive my theories will change as a rewatch this and other episodes, but it was sure fun to search for clues to support or discount different guesses!

Other thoughts:
I do like that Bandit is straddling two very different parenting games in the episode – that of calm, gentle caretaker and that of fun, energetic, playful parent.  Interesting.

Ok, maybe those are gray hairs on Bluey and this is farther along than I’ve been trying to argue for?