This Bluey Theory Reveals A Devastating Breakup Is Coming – And I’m Very Scared It’s Right

Spoilers are ahead for Bluey season 3, “The Sign.”

While Bluey’s season 3 finale, “The Sign,” provided an emotionally satisfying conclusion to the Heeler family’s would-be move to a new home, it was also packed with hidden details and references. Many of Bluey’s “The Sign” Easter eggs and cameos were callbacks to previous seasons, but a few blink-and-you-miss-it moments have prompted viewers to spin theories about future Bluey plot lines, including one that centers on a devastating breakup between two key members of the Heeler family tree. If the theory is correct, it would continue the trend of Bluey tackling serious topics, and making them accessible to children.

For a time, Bluey season 4 didn’t seem like a guarantee. With the most emotional moments in Bluey’s “The Sign” pointing toward a series finale, viewers of all ages feared the anthropomorphic cattle dog’s animated adventures were ending. However, despite its impending between-season break, Ludo Studio dropped another new Bluey episode, the aptly-titled “Surprise,” a week after “The Sign.” With all signs pointing toward future Bluey season 4 installments on the horizon, the fan speculation about the season 3 special’s background moments is only growing, especially where Bluey’s Uncle Stripe and Aunt Tricia are concerned.

Bluey May Be Setting Up Uncle Stripe & Aunt Trixie’s Divorce In Season 4

Bluey Has Tackled The Topic Before With Side Characters

Since he was introduced, Bandit’s younger brother, Stripe, has been something of a wild card. A go-with-the-flow dog, Stripe also has a habit of getting carried away, especially when he’s at a party. This is particularly clear in “Stumpfest” — a season 2 episode that sees Stripe, Bandit, and Pat ripping a stump out of the Heelers’ yard. Despite his often childish behavior, Stripe is a loving father to Muffin and Socks, Bluey’s cousins, across all three seasons of the show. However, several key moments in “The Sign” have prompted viewers to wonder about the state of Stripe and Trixie’s marriage.

In episodes like “Faceytalk,” Trixie and Stripe get into arguments over their kids, with Stripe claiming that Trixie is “hogging all the parenting.” While the couple usually reconcile, their at-odds dynamic stands out in comparison to Bandit and Chilli’s more collaborative parenting efforts. Not to mention, Trixie is often portrayed as needing a break from her family — particularly her husband. Bluey has tackled the subject of divorce in more subtle ways, as seen in episodes with Judo’s mom. One of the key subplots in “The Sign” even revolves around Cornelius finding love again with the Terriers’ unnamed mom.

Stripe & Trixie Are Constantly Fighting In The Background Of “The Sign”

Stripe Gets More Belligerent Throughout The Wedding

Although Bluey has referenced and quietly featured divorced parents or families with non-nuclear compositions, an episode — or multi-episode arc — tackling core characters’ marital issues would be landmark for the series. The reason viewers have speculated about Stripe and Trixie’s contentious relationship boils down to a few telling moments — most of which happen in the background, and Bluey has become notorious for making blink-and-you-miss-it moments vital later on. Early on in “The Sign,” Trixie and Stripe argue in the background of a scene. The exasperated pair appear in these background moments several times, but viewers never learn what’s causing their arguments.

At Rad and Frisky’s wedding, Stripe becomes noticeably more belligerent as the evening continues. In more than one shot, he’s shown holding a glass of something that looks more like whiskey than water. He laughs loudly, jumps in front of a crowd to snatch the bride’s tossed bouquet, and is the first to suggest the real partying commence. This prompts another background argument between Stripe and Trixie, with his wife walking away in frustration. However, the couple share a dance together afterward. The next morning, Stripe crawls out of the neighbor’s bushes, totally hungover and wondering how much time has passed since the wedding.

A Crucial Socks Scene Adds To The Theory That Stripe & Trixie Will Divorce

Stripe & Trixie’s Arguments Seem Like A Regular Thing

Given Stripe’s behavior at Rad’s wedding, it’s possible his and Trixie’s background arguments center on his behavior — and potential drinking habit. While Stripe waking up in Judo’s mom’s yard is played for laughs, it’s also a pretty concerning situation. Moreover, a crucial scene with Socks hammers home the couple’s larger, potentially ongoing issues. As Stripe and Trixie argue pre-dance, Socks, Bluey’s cousin who doesn’t talk much, plays with the wedding cake toppers. Seemingly, Socks is acting out the argument her parents are having just behind her, which indicates that Stripe and Trixie’s fights are a regular occurrence.

Instead of feeling upset by her parents’ argument, the young Socks takes it in stride. To her, their behavior is normal. Aside from the frequency of Stripe and Trixie’s heated discussions and Stripe’s over-the-top behavior, Socks’ reaction to her parents is the strongest piece of evidence in “The Sign” for the fan theory that posits Stripe and Trixie’s future divorce. Bluey has an impressive habit of planting small seeds that grow into future plot points. Although it would be sad, Stripe and Trixie’s divorce is exactly the kind of relatable and challenging storyline that Bluey season 4 would tackle.