Big Blue - Return of the Blegh (S1E52)
The United Current Junior Cadets pay a visit to the calypso, but all they care about is their devices. Lettie does her best to impress them.
| Air Date | 2022-06-18 |
|---|---|
| Genres | Animation, Family |
| TV Rating | TV-Y7 |
| Network(s) | CBC Television |
Storyline
In this episode, the United Current Junior Cadets arrive aboard the Calypso for what should be an exciting visit. However, the young cadets are completely absorbed in their personal devices, paying little attention to the submarine, its crew, or the unique underwater world around them. Their distraction creates a challenge for the Calypso crew, who had hoped to share their adventures and experiences with these visiting young explorers.
Lettie takes it upon herself to try to engage the Junior Cadets and make a positive impression. She works hard to capture their attention and show them what makes life aboard the Calypso special, attempting various approaches to break through their screen-focused behavior. The episode explores the tension between digital distraction and real-world engagement as Lettie navigates her desire to connect with visitors who seem more interested in their virtual worlds than the remarkable submarine environment surrounding them.
What kids learn
This episode offers children a thoughtful look at how technology can sometimes pull us away from meaningful experiences and interactions. Through the Junior Cadets' behavior, young viewers can see how being constantly absorbed in devices means missing out on new adventures, learning opportunities, and the chance to connect with others. The episode encourages kids to recognize when screens are getting in the way of real-world engagement.
Lettie's efforts to impress the visitors demonstrate persistence and creativity in the face of discouragement. Children can learn about taking initiative and trying different approaches when initial attempts don't succeed. Her determination to share what she values, even when others seem uninterested, models resilience and belief in the importance of genuine connection.
The episode also touches on hospitality and making guests feel welcome. Kids can observe how the Calypso crew prepares for visitors and wants to share their world, teaching the value of being present and appreciative when someone is trying to show you something meaningful. It subtly encourages children to be engaged guests and to show interest in what others want to share with them.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is this episode preachy about screen time? | The episode presents the situation through story rather than lecturing. The Junior Cadets' device absorption is shown through their behavior and its natural consequences—missing out on an interesting experience—rather than through adult characters delivering messages about screen time. Lettie's attempts to engage them provide the narrative tension, allowing children to draw their own conclusions about what the visitors are missing. |
| How does Lettie try to get the Junior Cadets' attention? | Lettie takes an active, creative approach to engaging the distracted visitors, trying various methods to spark their interest in the Calypso and its underwater adventures. Her efforts showcase problem-solving and persistence, demonstrating how she values sharing her world with others even when they initially seem uninterested. Her character-driven attempts form the heart of the episode's action. |
| Will my child understand the message about device distraction? | The episode makes the concept accessible by showing the Junior Cadets missing out on something genuinely interesting because they're focused on their screens. Young viewers can see the contrast between what's happening around the visitors and what they're actually experiencing. This visual storytelling helps children recognize similar patterns in their own lives without requiring abstract thinking about technology use. |
| Does the episode show any positive uses of technology? | The episode's focus is primarily on the Junior Cadets' distraction and Lettie's efforts to engage them, examining the specific situation where device use prevents real-world connection and exploration. The narrative centers on the tension between screen absorption and the unique experiences available aboard the Calypso, using this particular visit to explore themes of presence and engagement. |
| How can I use this episode to talk with my child about screen balance? | After watching, you might ask your child what they noticed about what the Junior Cadets were missing while on their devices, or how they think Lettie felt trying to share something she cared about. You could discuss times when being present for an experience felt more rewarding than being on a screen, or talk about how to balance technology with real-world adventures and interactions. |
Writing
Directing
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | The Calypso Crew is called in to clean up some mysterious ooze, but the job may be more dangerous than they bargained for. |
| 1 | 2 | Krill and Plink find themselves in an urgent situation and need The Calypso Crew to save them. |
| 1 | 3 | Mira and Lettie get themselves into a sticky situation while constantly competing with one another as to who is better than the other. |
| 1 | 4 | When the crew finds out their ship is about to be inspected, Lemo wants to help but unknowingly creates a bigger problem than expected. |
| 1 | 5 | Bacon Berry feels left out when the crew must take care of a rescue creature that has no parents. |
| 1 | 6 | Glacial city residents are being terrorized by a giant sea spider and Phil must face his deepest fears to save the Calypso Crew. |
| 1 | 7 | An unexpected power outage on the Calypso leads the crew to investigate a mysterious glowing orb on the sea floor. |
| 1 | 8 | When Bacon Berry takes something that doesn't belong to her, Lettie and Lemo secretly attempt to return it to its rightful owner. |
| 1 | 9 | When too much weight on the Calypso slows them down on a mission, Lettie insists that Lemo gets rid of what is weighing them down. |
| 1 | 10 | Lemo's pet sea pig causes chaos on the Calypso and Lettie wants him to take it back to where it belongs in the Midnight Zone. |
| 1 | 11 | The Calypso Crew have entered the Coral Circuit Race for the first time and they are determined to play fair to the finish. |
| 1 | 12 | The Calypso Crew are in strife when their mission reward cake mysteriously disappears and they each blame one another for keeping it for themselves. |
| 1 | 13 | Freddie has a difficult time when the crew decides to replace Engie with a new and improved engine for the Calypso. |
| 1 | 14 | Lemo is thrilled when he is called to join United Current Head Quarters and asked to apply his fun brand of science to headquarters staff. |
| 1 | 15 | After the Seahorse King's scepter is almost stolen, the Calypso crew is tasked with keeping watch for the thief at the Seahorse Celebration. |
| 1 | 16 | Calypso Crew set out on a mission to find out what is causing all the ruptures in the sea bed. |
| 1 | 17 | In a rush to catch the mail ship, Lemo accidentally sends Lettie's diary to headquarters instead of her Captain's Log. |
| 1 | 18 | When Lettie becomes frustrated with the crew's work ethic, she decides she would be better off doing everything on her own. |
| 1 | 19 | Lemo believes that the Crying Dutchman exists and has taken Bacon Berry's favorite toy. |
| 1 | 20 | The Calypso Crew is uneasy when Phil makes a new best friend and brings him onboard to stay. |
| 1 | 21 | The Calypso Crew must protect the Golden Anchor of Atlantis from thieves until they can safely deliver it to the United Current Museum of History. |
| 1 | 22 | The Black Ooze escapes and makes plans to restore chaos in the Big Blue and destroy The Guardian. |
| 1 | 23 | When Phil discovers how safe and secure he feels after Freddie lets him borrow his shell, he suddenly thinks he is indestructible. |
| 1 | 24 | It's Bacon Berry's birthday and the crew is excited to celebrate but their spirits are dampened when they realize that Phil bought the wrong gift for the occasion. |
| 1 | 25 | Lettie has so much work to do as the Captain of the Calypso that she can't join in the fun with the rest of the crew, so Lemo comes up with an invention to help. |
| 1 | 26 | Lemo and Lettie are fighting over everything, irritating the entire crew. |
| 1 | 27 | When the crew declares Captain Lettie is no fun, she finds a way to make the ordinary, extra-ordinary. |
| 1 | 28 | When Lettie lets Mira Clearwater get under her skin, she makes a decision she comes to regret and must do damage control to make things right again. |
| 1 | 29 | After The Calypso Crew win a dance competition, they receive a special delivery and must share a captain's chair that does everything. |
| 1 | 30 | Lemo tries to work on a science experiment when he should be watching Bacon Berry and discovers a very unexpected outcome. |
| 1 | 31 | Lemo meets a fellow scientist and they decide to work together on an entry to the United Current Science fair. |
| 1 | 32 | Lettie obsesses about how to take a perfect Crew of The Year photo, creating a series of disasters in the process. |
| 1 | 33 | Lettie tries to cover up a mistake she made by withholding the truth about what really happened. |
| 1 | 34 | Lemo makes a discovery about Freddie's past and insists that he revisit that part of his life, even though Freddie isn't interested. |
| 1 | 35 | Lettie becomes jealous when Bacon Berry develops a bond with her archenemy, Mira Clearwater. |
| 1 | 36 | Lettie must train famous celebrity Lea to become a captain for an upcoming role. |
| 1 | 37 | Lettie arrives nine hours early to accept her punctuality award but Lemo's antics might make them miss the ceremony altogether. |
| 1 | 38 | The Calypso Crew think that Freddie's mission-based ideas are weird and not suitable to use for missions. |
| 1 | 39 | Lemo decides to create the ultimate gaming system wired to the ship when the crew cancels game night. |
| 1 | 40 | Lettie must take her Level 10 piloting test and leaves Lemo in charge while she is away. |
| 1 | 41 | When the Calypso Crew gets an invitation to a formal dinner party, Lettie must teach them manners and how to be fancy. |
| 1 | 42 | Lettie loses sight of what is important when she tries to find a replacement for her broken collectible doll. |
| 1 | 43 | ira and Lettie are invited to a girls night out with Commander Plink. |
| 1 | 44 | MLemo secretly uses Bacon Berry's super powers to do rescues and ends up becoming a famous hero because of it. |
| 1 | 45 | Lemo and Phil are not getting along so Lettie sends them to run an errand together so they can work on their differences. |
| 1 | 46 | When Phil gets injured on a mission, he is sent to bed rest while the crew takes care of him. |
| 1 | 47 | Determined to win the latest Lea production with a unique performance, Lemo takes things to extremes to get noticed by the audience. |
| 1 | 48 | Lemo celebrates his 10th birthday but when everyone is still treating him like a baby, Lemo tries his best to prove that he is all grown up. |
| 1 | 49 | The Calypso Crew is on a mission to find Dr. McGuirk, a renowned archeologist who went missing in an abandoned shopping mall. Lemo and Phil get separated from the rest of the team and face some spooky encounters. |
| 1 | 50 | Lettie surprises Phil with a visit from his parents. But there's just one problem, Phil… |
| 1 | 51 | The future of the Big Blue is in jeopardy and Bacon Berry is determined to protect her family at all costs. It's all hands on deck for this dangerous mission. |
| 1 | 52 | The United Current Junior Cadets pay a visit to the calypso, but all they care about is their devices. Lettie does her best to impress them. |
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