"Man, this princess is hard to rescue." ― Radley Heeler[source]
Radley "Rad" Heeler is a secondary character that appeared in multiple episodes of Bluey. He is the elder brother of Bandit and Stripe, the uncle of Bluey and Bingo, and the husband of Frisky.
Bluey.tv Description
Uncle Rad is Frisky’s husband, the wild and woolly older brother of Bandit and Stripe, and Bluey and Bingo’s Uncle.
He used to work on an oil rig far away from the Heelers’ home, so he didn’t get to visit his family as often as he’d like. When he did he drop by, he’d make up for lost time by telling them amazing stories and taking part in wild, playful and fun games. Nowadays, he’s a family man who’s staying put in Brisbane.
When Bandit arranged for his brother to babysit, Uncle Rad met Bluey’s godmother, Frisky, who had also been enlisted to look after the kids.
The two discovered they had a few things in common, their love of nut-based hair products seems to have bonded them forever, as Rad eventually asked Frisky to be his wife.
As a promotion for the release of first block of 2024 minisodes, several character biographies were presented in the style of Letter.
Ankle Rad is the browther of Bandit and Strip, hoseband of Frisky and the ankle of Blooooey and Bingo. He loaves playing fotty for fun but sometimes he gets shorted at by his dad when he plays fotty.
He yused to work fah away from the Heller’s hose, and didn’t come ovah as often as he’d lick. When he came ovah, he’d tell starys and play gams.
When he babysit for his browther, Rad met Blueys Goodmum Frisky who was also there.
The two fel in loave with shampoo and Rad asked Frisky to be his wif.
Uncle "Rad" is the wild and woolly older brother of Bandit and Stripe and Bluey and Bingo's Uncle.
He works on an oil rig far away from the Heelers' home, so he doesn’t get to visit his family as often as he’d like. However, when he does drop by, he makes up for lost time by telling them amazing stories and taking part in wild, playful and fun games.
When Bandit arranged for his brother to babysit, Uncle Rad met Bluey's godmother, Frisky, who had also been enlisted to look after the kids.
The two discovered they had a few things in common, like washing their magnificent hair exclusively with almond milk shampoo. Together Uncle Rad and Frisky spent the night getting to know Bluey and Bingo in a game of double babysitter.
Biography
When Rad was young, he used to be on a football team. Bob would shout at him whenever he played on a match.[2]
While on a holiday during the 80s, Rad became fed up with Bandit’s merciless teasing of Stripe while all three were riding bikes. He managed to jinx Bandit, leaving his brother unable to speak until someone said his name. Rad and Stripe made the most of this, ordering food for him that he didn't like and accusing him of eating all their mini-cereals. The two also enjoyed some fun not at their brother’s expense, such as yelling really loudly. However, this annoyed their dad, who expressed teasingly that he wished that he could make all three of his sons stop talking.[3]
As boys, Rad and his brothers buried their favourite toy and made a map leading to it on the back of a photo of the three of them. They then split the map into three pieces, each brother taking one. This was done because their dad, Bob, threatened to take the toy away. The boys often fought over who got to play with it, with Rad or Bandit usually winning. The boys meant to recover the toy eventually, but never did so, since they got new toys for Christmas.[4]
Rad was one of the guests at Bandit and Chilli’s wedding, during which he “probably” fell in the pool. As a result of working on an oil rig, Rad rarely saw his nieces, usually visiting only at Christmas.[5] He is known to have posed for at least one family photo, with his parents and brothers, along with the latter’s wives and children.[6]
During one of his visits, Rad agreed to babysit Bluey and Bingo while their parents went out for the night. Though this would require putting the pair to bed, Rad had no objections, and playfully sneaked into the house after ringing the doorbell. He surprised an excited Bingo by grabbing her from behind, and then called her Bluey before saying that Bluey is a boy due to being blue. While Bingo was thrilled to have Rad taking care of them, Bluey wasn't pleased with the prospect of a babysitter putdown.
Unfazed, Rad tried to get Bluey excited about the idea, asking who could be better to handle a babysitter putdown. At that moment, Bluey’s godmother Frisky walked in, and Rad seemed to be stunned at the sight of her. The pair was introduced, with Frisky recalling seeing Rad at the wedding, asking if he was the one who fell into the pool. Rad agrees, and said that he probably did. After Chilli apologised to Frisky, the latter prepared to leave, having not gotten a message from Chilli about canceling her babysitting duties for the night. Bingo objected, wanting Frisky to join Rad in babysitting them, and Rad agreed readily to the unusual arrangement.
After waving goodbye to Bandit and Chilli, Rad suggested that the girls get to know him and Frisky by playing twenty questions. As the girls asked about Rad's life, he questioned whether his job might not be the reason not only for the rare number of times he’s seen them, but also for his single status. He turned the game towards Frisky, and the pair learned that they have a few things in common. After Frisky mentioned the recent end of her relationship with Bosco, however, Rad spared her further embarrassment by suggesting that they play a game in the backyard.
Rad proved to be unfamiliar with any of Bandit or Chilli's games, but Frisky came to the rescue by proposing torch mouse. The adults took on the role of cats, and Frisky eventually tackled Rad. Later, the two helped Bluey and Bingo brush their teeth, and Rad noticed that Bluey still seems unhappy. He suggested that she give the new experience a chance, in the hopes that she might get used to and like it. Rad illustrated his point by holding her upside down, allowing her to stand and even sit on the ceiling. Frisky also joined in, and held Bingo upside down, but the latter was too heavy for her to lift.
Afterwards, Frisky and Rad told the girls a story, with Rad playing the role of a prince who defeats a dragon with a punch. However, “Princess” Frisky was uninterested in being rescued, much to the amusement of the girls. Following some banter and the girls’ pleading, though, Frisky agreed that the prince and princess can get married, much to Rad’s pleasure. The adults settled the girls down for bed, with Bingo falling asleep before Rad has even realised it.
However, Bluey was still hesitant, and with some questions Rad and Frisky discovered the cause: it seemed that Bluey’s last babysitter putdown with Rad's mother went poorly, due to Chris' failing hearing. Her loud late night TV watching woke up Bluey, who was scared by Chris’ choice of programming. With kind words, Rad and Frisky encouraged her to give the experience another chance, settling on the floor between her and Bingo’s beds as they wait for her to fall asleep. Afterwards, the two talked quietly on the porch outside, not noticing when Bluey woke up briefly, observed their conversation with a smile, and then returning to sleep.[5]
Rad and Frisky soon became romantically involved, and they went on a trip around Christmas. This caused them to be away during the family Christmas party the rest of the Heelers had on Christmas Day. Rad and Frisky made a video call to their family and friends, with Rad questioning Stripe’s abilities as a cook. Muffin broke in to show Rad one of her presents, and Chris expressed the wish that Rad and Frisky could be at the party, which Rad reciprocated.
Later, Rad left and leaped into the pool he and Frisky were visiting. This occurred while Frisky was chatting with Bluey and her new toy, Bartleby, who according to Bluey is having a rough first Christmas with the Heelers. Frisky used Rad’s performance, which he accompanied with a shout, to prove her point that the Heelers “are a bit crazy.” Rad playfully objected to this statement. He later rejoined Frisky at the bar, pulling her into a one-armed hug as he did so.[7]
During an unusual visit to Bandit's family one April, Rad brought Bluey and Bingo his piece of the brothers' childhood map. He also brought their (late) Christmas present: the latest version of Chattermax, much to Bandit and Chilli's chagrin. Rad soon learned that he had made a mistake, as the toy began causing even more havoc than one Bluey and Bingo had previously received. This included "eating" Rad's wallet, complete with his piece of the map. When Rad attempted to seize the wayward toy, it ended up injuring his leg.[4]
Some time after that, Radley proposed to Frisky, who accepted. However, while setting up the wedding, she overheard that Radley wanted her to move west with him, causing her to call off the wedding and drive off. After a call with Chilli, Radley realizes she knows about his plans, and went to find her. He heads to the lookout, where they manage to make up with each other.
At the reception, Rad and Frisky revealed that they'll be staying in the city to be close with the family, much to everyone's happiness and Chilli and Bandit's shock. Bandit asks what he'll do in terms of a job, with Rad saying he'll find a new one. When Bandit asks if he's doing the right thing, Rad told him he worries too much and patted him on the back.[8]
Appearance
Rad is a Red and Blue Heeler mix. The upper half of his body down to his chest, his shoulders, ears, back and tail have the color of a Red Heeler and his forearms, stomach and legs have the color of a Blue Heeler. He has long hair on the right side of his head. He also has white dots on his chest (or chest hair) on his stomach on the beige-colored row.
Different ages
- In the 80's, his appearance has minor changes, as of the whiskers on the left side of his face removed, is slightly shorter and has a thicker outline. He has a slim body, akin to Digger's.
Personality
Radley is shown to be a laid-back and chill person, though he's sometimes shown to be absent-minded.[5] Radley is shown to look out for his family; for example, during his childhood, he jinxed Bandit, who was bullying his younger brother Stripe, so he would stop.[9] He isn't above a bit of good-natured teasing, though.[7]
Rad is rather particular about his grooming, and only likes to use almond milk shampoo, which he has in common with Frisky.[5] When he came to give Bluey and Bingo his map piece, he was reluctant to run through running sprinklers due to having just had a blowout for his hair. He also noted that part of his reason for keeping his fragment of the map was because of how his hair looked in the photograph on the other side.[4]
Trivia
- Rad was the last Heeler to appear on the show. He was first shown in photographs early in Season 2, and appears in person in Double Babysitter, episode thirty-nine of season two.
- He is one of the few characters depicted with a humanlike hairstyle, including Dusty, his wife Frisky, Indy, Indy's Mum, Digger, and Rusty's mum.
- Much like Dusty, Frisky, Rusty's Mum, and Indy's Mum, he has blonde hair, sharing the same hair colour as Dusty and Rusty's mum.
- In Double Babysitter, he is shown to be a reckless driver, by him parking his ute messily on the Heeler's front yard, having apparently driven on the wrong side of the street. The same episode reveals that he uses almond milk shampoo, and that he wants to have children.
- It's possible that he is sort of absentminded frequently. Examples include him mistaking Bingo for Bluey, calling Bluey a boy (her having to correct him that she is a girl), and him saying, "Go where?" when Bingo and Bluey want to play "Come here and go away".
- Unlike his younger brothers, he is clean shaven and does not have whiskers.
- As of Christmas Swim, Rad and Frisky are not married, though their wedding was the main plot point of Season 3 episode The Sign. In an interview with Gotta Be Done[12], Joe Brumm stated:
"A wedding hasn't happened between Rad and Frisky. But, I think, Christmas Swim, yeah, the idea is that the relationship's started, maybe they're engaged. And I love the idea of caricaturing an Australian wedding from the kid's point of view. [...] I'd like to try that.”
- Rad's partially-red coloring is unique among his siblings and mother. It appears to be his natural coloring, as he is shown with the same pattern in the 80s. No reason has been given in the show or creator interviews, however its is possible he has inherited his red coloring is from his father.
- Rad is the first Red Heeler (or part-Red Heeler) to not be from Chilli's side.
- As Bandit's older brother, Rad is likely in his mid to late 40s.
- However, if we consider the time the series first aired, it's possible that Rad is in his early to mid 40s.
- Rad used to work on an oil rig located at the western side of Australia. After the wedding, he intended for Frisky to move there with him, but, after she disagreed with him on that to the point of considering calling off the wedding, Rad decided to move back to Queensland instead and find a new job there.
Appearances
- S02E03 - Featherwand (cameo, pictured)
- S02E11 - Charades (debut, pictured)
- S02E39 - Double Babysitter (true debut)
- S02E52 - Christmas Swim
- S03E10 - Magic (pictured)
- S03E13 - Housework (pictured)
- S03E14 - Perfect (pictured)
- S03E26 - Fairytale (younger version depicted)
- S03E35 - Smoochy Kiss (pictured)
- S03E49 - The Sign
- S03E50 - Surprise! (pictured)
- Bluey: The Videogame
Gallery
References
- ↑ https://www.bluey.tv/characters/uncle-rad/
- ↑ Letter
- ↑ As revealed in Fairytale
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 As revealed in Bluey: The Videogame
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 As revealed in Double Babysitter
- ↑ As revealed in Charades
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 As revealed in Christmas Swim
- ↑ As revealed in The Sign
- ↑ Fairytale
- ↑ https://twitter.com/CosmicGl0w/status/1324502229106126850
- ↑ https://x.com/CosmicGl0w/status/1751506777152336305
- ↑ https://www.blueypod.com/e/bonus-ep-aka-joe-brumm-in-2021/ (relevant section begins at 13:00