Like a lot of people, I didn't really know what to do with Bojack Horseman when it first came out. It's an adult cartoon about a depressed talking horse trying to revitalise his failed acting career? That's cool... I guess? To be fair, its a show that does take a while to find its feet, but when it gets the hang of things in the second season, it really started to become a firm favourite. I guess I should start this one with a bit of background. I love animation and always have, but I kind of struggle to connect with a lot of the big adult cartoons. You know, the ones where the jokes are crass cheap shots and the animation is basic and hard to look at? Yeah, those ones. The funny thing about Bojack's first season is that it was obvious that it was something else, it just wasn't really clear what that was exactly. But if you know this show, you kind of know the rest. It's a beautiful, nuanced take on metal health and the toxic entertainment industry with some of the best wordplay in the game, right?
Short answer? Yes, but there's more here too. Bojack has rightly been lauded for how it tackles its themes, and rightfully so. Its exploration of depression, addiction and self-sabotage is real and heartfelt, and the show excels at bringing these, difficult, incredibly moving moments to life. This is made all the better by the fact that every season feels very much like its own complete chapter, each one a different chunk of Bojack's life that dissects the challenges that stand in the way of his redemption. The show never makes excuses for Bojack's behavior or even expects you to like him most of the time, but it always ensures that the viewer understands where he's coming from at all times. It's a tricky balance, especially when dealing with some of the subject matter that it discusses, but the show is fearless and gentle, always staying honest even when the conversation gets difficult
It's also just one of the best TV comedies in recent memory. I feel like that's an aspect of the show that doesn't get discussed as much as it should, because it might not feel as impressive as its excellent grasp on the dark subject matter but it's honestly just as good. From the constant barrage of sight gags to the ace puns and whole episode jokes (the surprise party where everyone stays hidden the whole time is incredible), Bojack always knows how to deliver the goods. The show always knows how to keep the creativity flowing too, with a real knowledge of the value of individual episodes that makes every step of the journey always feel really exciting
From lauded underwater odysseys and whole-episode eulogies to slightly trickier concepts like two dueling stories restricted by confidentiality agreements, or the frankly terrifying episode that takes place almost entirely underground, the show's grasp on its world is impossibly strong, putting far more effort into the details and the inner workings of Hollywoo than most of its contemporaries do with shaping their settings. It's the most dynamic and alive setting for an adult cartoon since Springfield, with gradual changes occurring over time making the town feel much more real, while masking the horrible poison underneath. It's a venomous takedown of L.A. that always feels vibrant and vital. It's clichéd to say that the setting is another character but honestly, that couldn't be more true here, especially as the tone darkens and the streets of Hollywoo start to feel more cynical and sour while staying deceptively colourful and zany
That manifests itself in some of the angriest and funniest satire of the entertainment industry I've ever seen. The Cosby episode is often singled out and rightly so: it's a bold, intelligent half hour of television that aims its fury at a system that routinely lets terrible men away with heinous acts. That becomes even more apparent with the fifth season's incredible analysis of the #MeToo movement that's never anything less than honest and essential. It's a show that excels at navigating controversy, including those leveled against it. The casting of Alison Brie as Diane was a decision that most shows would have ardently and misguidedly defended but Bojack addresses its own mistakes, refusing to place itself above the criticisms it directs at others and providing an emotional and nuanced take on cultural identity and the feeling of constantly being an outsider. Its that kind of inward thinking that makes this show special. After all, why make a show about troubled characters learning to change if you're not willing to follow their lead?
But the heart of this show is the cast of characters. Obviously Bojack is an incredibly written, frustratingly human figure but the rest are just as strong. Princess Caroline and Todd are my two absolute favourites but I could really take any of the main or side characters and hold them up for praise. Everyone is empathetic, everyone's on a journey, and everyone is multi-faceted and deeply flawed. For a show full of talking animals, Bojack is one of the best studies of the human condition put to television, that also just happens to be one of the most fantastically creative expressions of its key ideas. The episode concepts are constantly going outside the box, but they work because all of their experimentations are tied back to what makes these characters tick. It's weird and intelligent, but always rooted in the familiar feelings of failure and frustration
It's a show routinely lauded as one of the best cartoons of all time, and while it's not quite my favourite animated show, it's hard to deny how extraordinary Bojack Horseman truly is. It's a show that catches you off guard and continues to raise the bar in unexpected way, always funny, always clever, and always absolutely heartbreaking. It's Bojack Horseman, and if you haven't seen it yet, you owe it to yourself to experience the wonderful and horrifying world of Hollywoo
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