Bojack Horseman

Why you need to show BoJack Horseman some love.

Fans of this animated tragicomedy would have been very pleased with the news that a 6th season was picked up last month. Now after 5 very strong seasons there should never have been in question about a new season but I get why it's not everyone's cup of tea. BoJack Horseman is one of Netflix's outstanding original series but it deals with very difficult subject matter.

On the face of it, it is a satire on Hollywood/ show business but the meat of the episodes deal with self destructive tendencies. These self destructive tendencies are a consequence of various factors from trauma, anxiety/depression and addiction but what I've really come to like about this show is how it does not treat these conditions in isolation. A person could be going through these many conditions at varying degrees. I believe that the art style fits in perfectly with this tone and it has been known to turn people of from the show but I think there is an intention behind it. It's what you'd maybe see if you were handing a kid a few crayons. A kid with a talent for art of course. Kids see things like it's a blur and the same applies to people who suffering from the conditions I mentioned earlier.

Now, I'd like to highlight an episode in particular that is probably my favourite in the series so far. Season 3 as a whole in my opinion was probably the strongest so far but  Season 3 Epiosde 4 : Fish out of Water really stood out for me. It was BoJack's version of 'Lost in Translation', maybe throwing it back to old 'Buster Keaton' a little as well. While you could watch this episode in isolation even if you haven't watched any of the episodes before, I
believe it's important to know the context. It's a silent episode, which naturally shifts the viewers attention to the sound ( or lack of it in this case ) and visuals ; and for large parts it is absolutely mesmerising. It also deals with one of BoJack's most important themes of childhood trauma due to an upbringing in a dysfunctional family.

BoJack is at his worst when he's depending on
others to fill the void of a family and surprisingly at his best when he takes responsibility. This is a theme we see in later seasons but I believe this episode showcased the first signs of this void and his efforts to fill it. It also has a very poignant moment at the end of episode but just when you think BoJack has redeemed himself to an extent with his little adventure under water, the viewer is reminded that BoJack is his own worst enemy ( in line with the self destructive theme. mentioned earlier ).

The bits that really carry this show are the conversations between BoJack and Diane, the ghost writer of his autobiography. It's interesting that she's the only main character who's actually human. She is a Vietnamese-American intellectual and feminist. She holds this show together a bit like she does BoJack ( well there's only so much anyone can do with Bojack). I think it's a little unfair to call her the Asian Daria, but even Creator : Raphael Bob-Waksberg hasn't hidden the fact that Daria was one of his many influences when developing the show. I've failed to mention the bits of comedy in tragicomedy but the visual animal puns always get me ( penguin publsihers/the birth of venus portrait at the restaurant etc). They're just so so clever.


I find it quite interesting that Dan Harmon's 'Rick and Morty' has become extremely popular while BoJack hasn't received the same love from the masses. I'll be the first one to state how much I adore Rick and Morty but that series deals difficult subject matter. Everyone episode leaves you wondering about the futility of your existence yet there would've been riots had the rumours about it's cancellation been true. Anyway, I hope I've made a case for this gem of a series hiding in plain sight.