Can someone please give me a run down on why everyone seems to love this show? I know nothing about it, coming from a corner of genuine ignorance here.
Because it's less a show aimed at children, and more aimed at their parents - especially millennial parents of youngish children. It's clever, it's earnest, it's trying to teach it's underlying philosophy but not in the ham-fisted "what did we learn today kids" format that most kids TV takes. It's full of in-jokes, references and callbacks that most kids aren't going to pick up on, and does a fantastic job at characterisation for all it's supporting characters.
See if you can find the episodes "stickbird" and "baby race" - if those don't land, then the show probably isn't for you.
I would also add "Onesies", really hit too close home for a lot of us. And I loved to see Brandy back on this last episode.
Edit: mention to the last episode S03E49.
Could you give some examples on how it appeals to adults? I have 2 children with autism and I'm looking to find something safe for them that doesn't get obnoxious
I'd say the best way for you to be judge is to take a look yourself if you can. The previously mentioned episodes 'stickbird' and 'baby race' are excellent examples of how the show appeals to adults as well as children.
It's not overt in trying to appeal to parents with cringey side-jokes or too advanced themes.
It's more situational - for example in baby race, bluey's mum Chilli recounts comparing baby Bluey's progress against the other babies at playgroup - a situation many (all?) parents can relate to. She (SPOILER) gets advice from a friend and learns to 'run her own race' - the concept that Chilli is trying to teach Bluey when she compared to her younger sister Bingo.
The whole show really is a masterpiece. I particularly like the music, and the fact that it's set in my home town 🙂