Just launched: free lifetime premium for the first 1,000 members to activate their account.

Log in Start free

Super Sticky Situation

Good

Recommended age Unlock

Co-watching from age 2

Balanced

Exact score locked

Watch on

Apple TV+

BBC

Save

Super Sticky Situation

See the exact scores

The review is yours to read. Create a free account to reveal the exact SlowScreen score and every pillar score.

Create free account

This program is well-balanced. It remains mostly easy to follow and process. It is a good fit for the recommended age. The pacing is fast. Images follow each other quickly, leaving little time to pause and take in what is happening. The sound is clearly present and regularly draws attention. The visuals are calm and well-organized.

There is one clear storyline that is easy to follow: Lou is stranded on a lily pad while Kiri looks for him, and the two threads come together at the end. Events unfold in a logical order with a recognisable beginning, middle and end, and each scene introduces very little new information, which keeps the thread simple for a young child. Cause and effect are easy to track, for example Kiri asks the other creatures, follows their directions, and reaches Lou. The only wobble is how Lou drifts from the grumpy creature's belly to the middle of the lake, which is skipped over, but the overall arc stays coherent.

Emotional safety is the heart of this episode. When Lou panics about being alone, his Calm Inner Voice reassures him with lines like 'everything will be okay' and 'I am here when you need me', modelling how to settle big feelings. Distress never escalates into anything frightening, and every worried moment is followed by comfort or resolution, including Kiri's relief when she finally finds her friend. One light note is a grumpy creature calling Lou 'an irritating little creature with a trunk', a mild jab in an otherwise warm and supportive tone.

This pillar is mixed. The episode encourages Lou to rely on himself, with his Calm Inner Voice saying 'you're a very clever creature' and 'you'll think of something', and we do see him try to come up with an idea. What holds the score down is that Lou never works through a concrete, step-by-step solution: the situation is resolved when Kiri finds him, not by his own plan. Kiri shows more initiative, asking around and searching the whole lake, but the central problem is solved from the outside rather than through Lou's own reasoning.

The language is clear and purposeful. Sentences are mostly short and easy to understand ('Keep calm', 'Who said that?', 'Thank you'), the speech is crisp, and repeated phrases like 'super sticky situation' and 'calm inner voice' reinforce the episode's message rather than filling space. A few terms reach a little beyond this age, such as 'a very special species' and the made-up name 'Pellagesis', and the dialogue leans on expressive exclamations like 'Oh dear' and 'Oh no', but most of the talk carries real meaning.

The developmental value is mixed. The strongest thread is recognisable social and emotional life: worrying about a missing friend, feeling panicked when alone, and learning to soothe yourself are all experiences a young child knows, and the strategy of a calm inner voice can carry over into real situations. What holds the score down is the fully fantastical world of talking prehistoric creatures, a floating lily-pad predicament and an imagined underwater daydream, none of which map onto everyday activities a child could copy. There are also no concrete, step-by-step real-world tasks to follow along with.

More information

Kiri and Lou tells its story through a small cast of prehistoric creatures rather than people, so the familiar markers of human diversity (ethnicity, family forms, ages, body types) are not shown, which keeps the visible breadth limited. Where the show is strong is in how its characters behave: the brave, take-charge lead is a girl (Kiri) and the gentle, openly anxious lead is a boy (Lou), which turns common gender clichés on their head. Both express a full range of feelings, from panic to relief, and they work together as equal friends, with the episode centring a male character learning to calm himself. The result is modest on visible diversity but thoughtful and free in how it hands out roles and emotions.

Kiri and Lou unfolds in an invented natural world of small, gentle talking creatures, so it leans more on imagination than on a child's everyday surroundings. What carries the story is grounded and real: Lou gets separated from his friend, feels scared, and calms himself with the help of a 'calm inner voice' before the two reunite. There is no villain anywhere, and the only tension comes from being lost rather than from any bad character. For a 3-year-old this is a warm, low-stakes blend of light fantasy and very real feelings.

This is an easy show for a parent to sit through, and in places a genuinely rewarding one. The handmade, painterly look and the understated music give it real craft, the gentle voices keep it pleasant in the background, and the small story of a lost friend has a clear beginning and a satisfying reunion. The standout for adults is Lou meeting his own 'calm inner voice', a quietly witty idea about managing worry. It leans soft and slow rather than being packed with grown-up jokes, but there is enough here to hold an adult's attention.

Themes

Emotional regulation

Central

Lou's Calm Inner Voice repeats 'Keep calm' and helps him settle when he panics about being stranded.

Being lost

Central

Lou wakes stranded on a lily pad crying 'What am I doing out here?' while Kiri cannot find him anywhere.

Big feelings

Lou meets his Calm Inner Voice who helps him keep calm and manage his overwhelming panic in a 'super sticky situation'.

Friendship

Kiri searches all the way around the lake for her friend Lou and says 'I was starting to worry' when she finds him.

Imagination

Lou pictures a dreamy underwater scene of swimming creatures as he tries to think of an idea.

Nature

The story unfolds in a forest and lake filled with native trees, ferns and prehistoric creatures.

Activities

Singing

The episode opens with a sung title tune and features the 'Calm Inner Voice' song.

Sleeping

Lou is fast asleep at the start, and the grumpy creature complains 'He fell on me. Fast asleep.'

Emotions

Fear

Lou panics when he wakes alone on the lily pad, repeating 'Oh dear!' and 'Oh no!'

Calm

The Calm Inner Voice speaks slowly and softly, telling Lou 'everything will be okay'.

Anxiety

Kiri tells another creature 'No one's seen him' and admits she was 'starting to worry'.

Joy

Lou sighs 'Phew. Thank you.' once his Calm Inner Voice reassures him.

Behaviour

Self regulation

When Lou starts to panic, his Calm Inner Voice says 'Keep calm' and he takes a breath and settles down.

Helping

Kiri asks every creature around the lake whether they have seen Lou.

Self reflection

Lou reminds himself 'I'm a Pellagesis' and that he is clever enough to think of something.

Problem solving

Lou says 'Think of some things' and tries to work out how to get off the lily pad.

Social lessons

Friendship

Kiri's search for Lou and their happy reunion show two friends who look out for each other.

Empathy

Kiri worries about Lou's wellbeing and keeps looking until she finds him.

Independence

Lou is encouraged to think for himself, with the Calm Inner Voice saying 'you'll think of something'.

Danger

Lou is stranded alone in the middle of a lake and is told 'Am I gonna be rescued? No, I'm afraid not', which a sensitive child may find briefly worrying.

Lou, a purple creature with a long neck and a trunk, wakes to find himself stranded on a lily pad in the middle of a forest lake. He panics, then meets his Calm Inner Voice, who helps him stay calm and reminds him he is clever enough to think of something. Meanwhile his friend Kiri, a bold little dinosaur, searches all around the lake asking the other creatures for help. The episode ends when Kiri finds Lou and tells him she was starting to worry.

Season 1

5 episodes

Kiri & Lou

Kiri & Lou

Yum Yum Baronies

recommended age co-watching from 2

Kiri, a small creature with a red crest, and her purple friend Lou plan to share a feast of their favorite fruit, the yum yum baronies, in their forest home. While Kiri is up a tree, Lou cannot resist and eats every single one, then admits he wasn't thinking. Kiri is hurt that the feast and Lou's promise are both gone, and a drawn-out muddle follows over whether Lou has properly said sorry, briefly involving a passing creature whose name happens to be 'Sorry.' The two friends finally apologize to each other and make up, then set off to look for another tree.

Kiri & Lou

Kiri & Lou

Refreshing

recommended age co-watching from 2

Kiri, a bold little dinosaur, and Lou, a gentle purple creature, are best friends who decide to go swimming in their forest. The water turns out to be too cold for Lou, and when Kiri splashes him and laughs, his feelings are hurt and he quietly goes off on his own. A trio of birds sings while Kiri realises she has upset her friend and feels bad about it. She finds Lou, apologises for being mean, and the two make up.

Kiri & Lou

Kiri & Lou

Imaginary Friend

recommended age co-watching from 2

Kiri, a small dinosaur, learns that her friend Lou has an imaginary friend named Dalvanius and begins to feel left out. Alone in the forest, she sings a 'Lonely Song' about having no one to play with, and her forest friends gather to comfort her and remind her she is not alone. After asking for some space, Kiri tries imagining her own friend and is delighted when the pretend play feels real. The episode ends as Lou invites her to come and play, and she rushes off to join in.

Kiri & Lou

Kiri & Lou

Super Sticky Situation

recommended age co-watching from 2

Lou, a purple creature with a long neck and a trunk, wakes to find himself stranded on a lily pad in the middle of a forest lake. He panics, then meets his Calm Inner Voice, who helps him stay calm and reminds him he is clever enough to think of something. Meanwhile his friend Kiri, a bold little dinosaur, searches all around the lake asking the other creatures for help. The episode ends when Kiri finds Lou and tells him she was starting to worry.

Kiri & Lou

Kiri & Lou

Amazing Ears

recommended age co-watching from 2

Kiri, a small dinosaur, and Lou, a gentle purple creature, set out to meet Dalvanius, a shy friend who is so good at camouflage that he seems invisible. In a green prehistoric forest they coax him out, and when he finally reveals his very large ears they celebrate them with a song called 'Amazing Ears.' When other creatures laugh at his ears, Dalvanius is hurt and hides again, so Kiri and Lou tell them off, explaining that being different is no reason to laugh at someone. The episode closes on a brief, comic scuffle as the friends take Dalvanius's side.

Related media

Other series that fit this age group

Puffin Rock

Puffin Rock

recommended age co-watching from 4

Puffin Rock follows young puffin Una and her baby brother Baba exploring a quiet Irish island full of animals. The tone is calm and gentle, for young preschoolers, teaching nature facts and helping others.

Jessica's Big Little World

Jessica's Big Little World

recommended age co-watching from 2

Jessica's Big Little World follows a young girl eager to do things herself, with her family and toys at home and around town. Warm and playful for preschoolers, with gentle lessons in independence and perseverance.

Sago Mini Friends

Sago Mini Friends

recommended age co-watching from 2

Sago Mini Friends follows Harvey the dog and his animal friends through everyday adventures in a bright cartoon town. The tone is calm and warm, made for toddlers, with gentle lessons in kindness.

Eureka!

Eureka!

recommended age co-watching from 2

Eureka follows a young inventor in a colourful prehistoric town, where she builds machines to solve everyday problems. The tone is upbeat and encouraging, aimed at preschoolers, with gentle lessons in creativity and curiosity.

Explore more

From this series Kiri & Lou

By age 3 years

By platform Apple TV+

By theme Disagreements Friendship Imagination Nature Sadness Understanding others

Just launched: free lifetime premium for the first 1,000 members to activate their account.

Create your account

We use functional cookies and Google Analytics to improve our site. Learn more