HIS LAST EPISODE ON BLUE’S CLUES
“Thanks again for all your help.” These were the last words before our beloved Steve left for college. He wasn’t just looking at a camera, he was looking at us directly–his friends.
Since the first airing of Blue’s Clues on September 8, 1998, Steve Burns, who shares the same name as his character, has been guiding millennials on adventures with Blue the dog. Almost 6 years into the show’s run, Steve bid farewell as he heads off to college. In a way, it was figurative of one’s growth out of innocence–seeing someone, who we used to play games with, enter adulthood.
STEVE’S IMPACT ON KIDS
The intro always starts with entering the house where Blue, Steve, and all their friends live. Steve always welcomed viewers with the same undying enthusiasm, inviting them to play, learn, and embark on new adventures. Through every episode, the host would educate children on concepts such as friendship, feelings, and knowing right from wrong. Steve’s overall personality built trust and comfort with the viewers, which made his departure from the show a lot more sincere.
With how much of a relationship has been established between the children and Steve, the show respected and treated his leave with great consideration. For many impressionable kids, Steve’s goodbye was done sensitively as this would introduce them to feelings of loss and change.
“WE JUST GOT A LETTER” FROM STEVE
With TikTok being a popular platform for Generation Z and Millennials, Steve Burns surprised us with a heartwarming video asking viewers, “How are you?” Responding to a simple question that bore so much weight, people commented on his video with tear-jerking life updates:
“Hi steve. I’m still alive. I stayed.”
“I made it, Steve. I stayed. I didn’t leave this Earth. I have a wonderful Husband and two beautiful Children that watch Blues Clues. I am sad tho.”
“I’m sober Steve”
“Hi Steve! My 10 year cancer free anniversary is in 3 days so I’m really excited about that!”
“It’s hard out here steve”
“Steve, I think being an adult is fun, but after I grow up like now, I feel like I want to go back to the way I used to watch Blues Clues.”
HE NEVER FORGOT ABOUT US
For many, Steve became an inspiration because he lived out his character. He brought the same Steve he was known for on the show and into real life. What made this nostalgic encounter tug on our heartstrings was how the kids from the 90s continued to see Steve as a dependable confidant, with whom they felt safe to open up about their real-world challenges and triumphs.
It’s true that friends go their separate ways as time passes. Several years after his departure from the show, watching Steve again was an unexpected reunion that reopened a safe space for adults alike to let out everything–their hardships, frustrations, and tears.
Steve talking to us was like having our childhood innocence rekindled, and wanting to go back to a carefree time where the only problems we had were finding Blue’s Clues.
