I have recently had the joy of publishing an academic article and piece for The Conversation analysing the religious imagination of Bluey. The bone-dry Aussie humour, colourful animation, superb music, and charming writing accompany some of the most reflective and smart storytelling in contemporary children’s TV. One episode in particular has something to say to us as Christians during this Easter season.
Series 2 episode “Easter” parallels the Easter narrative to tell us a moving story about how God sees his people. Throughout the episode Bluey and Bingo are worried that the Easter Bunny has forgotten them. Chilli and Bandit point out that the Easter Bunny has already explained that he would come back on Easter Sunday. That morning, the girls find empty egg buckets and must follow a trail of clues but become worried when they can’t find the chocolate eggs quickly. Especially when they need to be brave or suffer (going into Dad’s toilet). They worry that they might be too forgettable, or even too naughty, for the Easter Bunny to like them. This parallels how Jesus’ disciples thought that God had forgotten them after the crucifixion, despite the promise that Jesus had given them that he would come back after three days. It reflects the worry that many folks feel that they are maybe too insignificant for God to care about, or even too sinful.
The episode ends with the girls rolling an exercise ball (stone) away from a desk cavity (tomb) to find that the Easter Bunny had remembered and cared about them, and came back to give them a wonderful gift of chocolate eggs (eternal life). Through the slant telling of the Easter story from the disciples’ perspective, children are encouraged to trust that they are loved in the promises made to them, even when it seems like they’re small, forgettable, or naughty. In God’s eyes, everyone is “rememberable” and loved.
words by Dr Sarah Lawson
Adjunct Lecturer, Tabor
