Bluey: 11 Easter Eggs, References & Cameos In "The Sign" Special

April 16, 2024, 11:15 a.m.

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Bluey: 11 Easter Eggs, References & Cameos In "The Sign" Special

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Summary Bluey's season 3 finale, "The Sign," is packed with clever details and resolves fan theories for a satisfying conclusion.

Easter eggs like Winton's dad finding love, Aunt Brandy's pregnancy, and hidden long dogs add depth to the episode.

Moments like Nana and Grandpa flossing, Greeny the balloon, and Chilli's emotional references make "The Sign" a standout Bluey episode.

“The Sign,” Bluey season 3’s finale episode, has fans of the beloved children’s series not only clamoring for more, but in awe — yet again — of its eye to detail. Most episodes of Bluey are packed with fascinating details. While some are more tongue-in-cheek references that only adults will truly understand, others are fun callbacks to seemingly insignificant moments or throwaway lines from previous installments. Although Bluey season 4 seems like it will happen after a bit of a break, there’s no denying how conclusive “The Sign” felt — even by season finale standards.

The title references the “For Sale” sign that’s cropped up outside the beloved Heeler family homestead. In a throwback to “Stickbird,” which sees the Heeler family trekking to the beach, “The Sign” hints at what was bugging Bandit in the earlier season-three outing: a new job offer is prompting a family move. That’s just one of the many sly bits of plotting that pans out in “The Sign” — an entry that will definitely go down as one of the best Bluey episodes of all time. Some of the episode’s references even resolve wild (and mild) Bluey fan theories.

In addition to grappling with the impending sale of their home, the Heelers — Chilli, Bandit, Bluey, and Bingo — are headed to the wedding of Bandit’s brother, Radley. While Rad’s marriage to Frisky certainly offers up a more joyful, celebratory moment amid the not-so-happy feelings about moving, it’s clear that the Heeler brood is stuck thinking about the past just as much as their future. While “The Sign” isn’t the big goodbye, Bluey’s season 3 finale does close some chapters — often in unexpected ways.

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11 In A Bluey Callback, Winton’s Dad Finds Love

The New Couple Evens Moves In Together

One of Bluey's school friends is the English bulldog Winton. While Winton has appeared in previous outings, it's the character's dad who takes center-stage in one of the best Easter eggs from "The Sign." Winton's dad, known to the adults as Cornelius, has been looking for love for quite some time. In an earlier episode, eagle-eyed viewers can spot a family decal on Cornelius' car with the mother figure scratched off. The subplot has figured into the background moments in other Bluey episodes, including a key moment in "TV Shop," where he has a promising meeting with the Terrier triplets' mom.

In "The Sign," Winton says his father seems lonely, which prompts one of the Terriers to suggest that won't be the case for long: Their mom seems to like Cornelius very much. Toward the end of the Bluey season 3 finale, Cornelius and the Terriers' mom put the former's house on the market — Winton had previously mentioned his father's pool, which the house in question boasts. Meanwhile, Winton and the Terriers hang out in the same car. The cute blink-and-you-miss-it moment indicates that Winton's dad has finally found a lasting romantic partner.

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10 Bluey's Aunt Brandy Is Pregnant

The Show Gives Brandy's Infertility Struggles A Happy Ending

One of Bluey's most devastating subplots revolved around Aunt Brandy, Chilli's sister. For years, Brandy grappled with infertility, which made it hard for her to visit Chilli and the girls, especially after Bingo was born. Unlike Bluey, Bingo takes after the Cattle side of the family and is, essentially, a mini version of Brandy. In "Onesies," Brandy visits the Heelers, prompting Chilli to explain to Bluey that sometimes her aunt feels sad because Brandy wants something she can't have. Toward the end of "The Sign," a montage shows a rather pregnant Brandy chatting with Chilli, indicating that Brandy has finally begun the journey she so deeply desired.

9 "Long Dogs" Can Be Spotted Throughout "The Sign"

Bluey's Hidden Sausage Dogs Are A Fan-Favorite Touch

The team behind Bluey knows that its audience loves a good hidden detail, especially considering so much unfolds in the background of Bluey scenes. The so-called long dog Easter egg is a recurring visual motif that reportedly crops up in every episode of the show. A long dog is a dachshund — or, as the breed is colloquially known in Australia, a sausage dog. In "The Sign," which clocks in at a whopping 28 minutes, artists incorporated at least two instances of the long dog. First, a toy that takes the form of a sausage dog can be seen in the Heeler's car, while a second long dog appears on the wedding DJ's laptop.

Related 13 Times Bluey's Bandit & Chilli Were The Most Relatable Parents On TV Part of what makes Bluey special is how it appeals to all audiences, and Bandit and Chilli have become some of the most relatable parents on TV.

8 Nana & Grandpa Floss At The Wedding

A Callback To Bluey's Granny Game

In the now-iconic "Grannies" episode of Bluey, Bingo and Bluey's fun game of pretend turns into something of an argument when they wonder if Grannies are able to floss. To find out, they ring their Nana Heeler, and Bluey explains the mechanics of the dance movie over the video call. While Bluey and Bingo floss all the time, "The Sign" adds a fun Easter egg when Nana Heeler and Grandpa Bob head to the dance floor during Rad's wedding. Without any hesitations, the couple floss, proving once and for all that Grannies are capable of the move.

7 Greeny The Balloon Returns

The Moment Underscore's The Bluey Episode's Themes

During a season 2 episode called "Mum School," Chilli Heeler proves why she's a great mom by introducing Bluey to a brood of unruly balloons. While Bluey tries to parent the balloons, she discovers that motherhood is harder than it looks. One of Bluey's stand-out children is Greeny — a green balloon with a habit of drifting off. At the end of the episode, Greeny floats out of the house, but Chilli assures Bluey that Greeny will be okay because he had a great mom. In "The Sign," Greeny makes a brief appearance, drifting by after Bluey comforts Bingo.

6 Flappy the Butterfly Reappears

Bluey's Genius Use Of "The Butterfly Effect"

In a season 3 episode called "Slide," Bingo and Lila spend their day trying to save a caterpillar. Eventually, Bingo's caterpillar friend creates a cocoon and transforms into a butterfly. Flappy the butterfly lands briefly on Bingo's paw, which is supposedly a sign of good luck. Several times throughout "The Sign," Flappy crops up, often in the background of scenes. Notably, Flappy points Chilli and the kids in the direction of the lookout. There, they struggle to use the pay-to-look binoculars.

In turn, this struggle allows the Sheepdog family to look through the telescopic device free of charge. The result? The Sheepdogs spot a different house they want — one with a pool — thus turning the tides for the Heelers. Not only did the lucky butterfly do Bingo a solid in the end, but "The Sign" makes a very clever (and literal) use of the concept of the butterfly effect.

5 Real Estate Agent Bucky Dunstan

Bandit's Classmate Has A Cameo

First mentioned in "Dragon," Bucky Dunstan is a childhood classmate of Bandit's who made fun of the Heeler dad's drawings. This prompted a then-six-year-old Bandit to give up on art altogether. Clearly, he hasn't forgotten his childhood bully, even making an offhand remark about Bucky being a real estate agent in Brisbane. "The Sign" remembers this bit of plotting and introduces Bucky Dunstan as the smooth-talking real estate agent who attempts to sell the Heeler home. Although it's a small detail, it's nice to see Bluey making use of the references it sets into motion.

4 Actor Joel Edgerton Voices A Bluey Character

The German Shepherd Who Pulls Chilli Over Has A Famous Voice

Bluey certainly boasts its fair share of well-known voice actors. In fact, quite a few recognizable celebrities have Bluey cameos, from Rose Byrne, who plays Brandy, to Natalie Portman, who narrates a fictional documentary about whales. "The Sign" continues this fun tradition of having famous folks voice side characters. Most notably, the German Shepherd police dog who pulls Chilli over is voiced by actor and filmmaker Joel Edgerton (The Great Gatsby).

3 Socks Is Significantly Older

Socks Illustrates How Much Time Has Passed Since Bluey Season 1

When viewers are first introduced to Bluey and Bingo’s littlest cousin, Socks doesn't talk. In fact, Socks is still in her puppy phase, as evidenced by her occasional nipping and chewing. For the majority of the show, Socks walks on all fours, but slowly grows into an older pup as the seasons progress. By "The Sign," Socks isn't just walking around on two paws, but joining her sister and cousins on the dance floor. It's a small change, but Socks' growth also displays how much time has passed in the world of the series.

2 Trixie & Stripe Fight During The Wedding

The Couple May Face Divorce In Bluey Season 4

During Rad's wedding, Stripe takes things a little too far, becoming progressively more belligerent as the party continues. While it may seem like a funny Bluey detail that's meant for adult viewers, Stripe's behavior clearly rubs his wife, Trixie, the wrong way. While Stripe and Trixie have been at odds before, the two can be seen in the background of wedding sequences having disagreements. During one poignant moment, Socks is playing with the wedding cake toppers and making them act out an argument. A leading fan theory suggests that Stripe and Trixie's conflicts are so regular that they've influenced Socks.

Related 11 Bluey Episodes That Were Banned Or Censored & Why Bluey is an exceptional children's show full of important life lessons, but some Bluey episodes have been banned or censored.

1 Chilli References "Baby Race" Twice

The Emotional Callback Makes The Bluey Season Finale Even Better

"The Sign" proves that moving is challenging for anyone. While the kids feel taken aback, Chilli is equally upset about the prospect of saying goodbye. At one point, she mentions that Bluey took her first steps in the soon-to-be-sold house, and that it's wrenching to leave that memory in the past. Later, after the Heelers have emptied their home, Chilli stands alone in the kitchen, staring at the floor. In the now-iconic "Baby Race," which is all about baby Bluey's benchmarks, Bluey takes her first steps in the kitchen by scampering toward Chilli. Although "The Sign" isn't Bluey's final episode, moments like this help it feel incredibly complete.

Along with the rest of Bluey's three seasons, "The Sign" is streaming on Disney+ in the US.