Thanksgiving Special | Blue’s Clues – Thankful Review

Plot: Steve and Blue celebrate what they’re thankful for with a big feast. To tie together the day, Steve collects examples of everything everyone is thankful for in his Thankful Book.

Breakdown: Blue’s Clues was one of my favorite shows as a young child. I got very much into the lore, so to speak, of the show when I was younger, and I was heartbroken when Steve left. Yes, sadly, this is another show I abandoned because the cast changed. I’m sure Joe did a good enough job, but I just couldn’t get past it.

I mean, it was probably time for me to move on anyway. I was basically a teenager when the hosts shifted. Doesn’t mean it didn’t sting, though.

Still, the show has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, earning a movie on Paramount+ (with Steve and Joe joining the new host, Josh, for a decent chunk of it), a spin-off, another spin-off, and even appearing in 2019-22’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade with Steve, Joe, and Josh appearing together on the 25^th anniversary float in 2021. Sadly, the franchise is at another standstill at the moment since the newest iteration, Blue’s Clues & You got canceled last year in the middle of production.

However, that doesn’t mean the Blue’s Clues spirit is dead.

Steve Burns has returned to the public eye, giving his now-adult audience some much-needed and welcome pep talks, discussions, and a new podcast where he discusses various important topics with his guests. Let me just say that when videos of him started appearing online talking to his audience like he used to do on Blue’s Clues but with the acknowledgement that this an adult conversation (He even swears sometimes in his podcast) I got pretty damn emotional.

I really think Steve Burns and anyone who manages to be like him are what the world really needs right now. I hope he has a long, long, happy life continuing to spread chill vibes, knowledge, kindness, and positivity all throughout the world. Seriously, look him up on Youtube. It’ll brighten your day a little.

But enough about all that. What of the first Blue’s Clues Thanksgiving (even though they don’t say that word – it’s obvious that’s what this is) special?

I think it’s really good. Not mentioning Thanksgiving and instead just focusing on the thankfulness aspect while peppering in the meal stuff was a good idea to give it mass appeal to as many countries as possible.

Steve having a Thankful Book and collecting what people are thankful for was neat. It showed kids that there are numerous things you can be thankful for, and probably gave them an idea or two if their families did that thing where you go around the table asking everyone what you’re thankful for.

It was really sweet that Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper were thankful for their daughter, Paprika, and vice versa. By the way, I knew Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper had two kids, Paprika and then Cinnamon, but apparently they later also had twins, Sage and Ginger…..I’ve never seen a couple have more kids over the course of an animated TV series for children, toddlers no less, than this pair of salt and pepper shakers.

Damn, they get it on, and I don’t want to ever imagine what that looks like ever.

The mystery of the episode is “What is Blue thankful for?” And that part of the episode is fine. It was at just the right difficultly level for this show’s audience.

They include other educational bits like sharing and what foods correspond to what types of flavors (sweet, salty, sour).

The jokes also land pretty well, even to adult ears. Not busting a gut laughing or anything, but they made me smile.

By the way, man, were my nostalgic heartstrings being plucked when the songs came on. They’re not the most complex songs in the world, some use the same melody as others, but they’re catchy, and they’re so dear to my heart. I was in a pretty depressed headspace going into this, but I plowed right through the episode and this review as I started it up because it was actually managing to cheer me up.

Granted, it was a bittersweet feeling because, even though it was warm and nostalgic, there’s always a tinge of sadness because those days are gone, and now you’re an adult, and things are just awful. Especially with stuff for a much younger audience where you also miss being able to fully get into that mindset of immersing yourself in this innocent, happy, and bright world where everyone just wants to be friends and get along.

……*sigh* But I still had a good time with it. Check it out yourself for some holiday warm fuzzies.

Honestly, now I wanna rewatch the series and maybe even watch the Joe and Josh days. If not for some escapism then some general good vibes.

Well, Happy Thanksgiving to anyone in the States, and have a wonderful day to anyone outside the USA. Remember, I’m always thankful for each and every one of you.

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