The Case for Watching BoJack Horseman by Izzy Peterson

BoJack Horseman Spoilers! 

BoJack Horseman is an adult cartoon television show. It follows the storyline of BoJack Horseman and his relationship with Diane Nguyen, a ghost writer. The first episode explores their first “remembered” meeting and ends with the pair on a rooftop when BoJack says, “wouldn’t it be funny if this was the last time we ever talked.”  

Both Diane and BoJack battle depression and are in search of genuine happiness. The show, although quite disturbing at times, has a self-aware humor and witty commentary on today’s celebrity culture and postmodern capitalism. It speaks to the absurdities of show business with a unique irony that touches on money, power, and strength.  

The show's diverse cast— from Princess Caroline (a cat woman) to actress Margo Martindale— creates a fantastical fantasy world where humans and animal-human hybrids live harmoniously. The show features several human-animal relationships which adds to the show’s funny, often outlandish humor.  

BoJack Horseman is a washed-up actor from the 70s. The show begins when he is 50 and ends when he’s 57. The opening scene shows watchers who he is from the beginning–a selfish, self-centered, drunk, numbing, cruel, and aggressively blunt horse. Although BoJack is like this, he has a crew of people that do genuinely care about him. From his ex-girlfriend, Princess Caroline, to Todd, his couch surfer he picked up one day, to even Diane, it is clear there are people who care about him. However, BoJack's abusive childhood consistently interferes with his ability to recognize his friends' care for him.  

One great thing about this show is all the character arcs. From Todd's self-realization about his asexuality, to Mr. Peanutbutter’s self-actualization about growing up, the arcs are intelligent and unrushed which makes them feel genuine throughout each season.  

BoJack isn’t much different from the typical anti-hero of other television shows. His more distasteful traits are tools he uses to run from incredible self-loathing, and they manifest in different ways. The watcher and even his friends give him free passes or excessive understanding for why he is the way he is. There is no obvious way through for either BoJack or the people in his life. Their care about him puts them in either emotional or physical danger, yet they often do it anyway.  

Largely this show is about BoJack but it goes in depth to many other characters' lives and how they intertwine with his, such as Sara Lynn and her rise to fame going from a side character on a 70s sitcom she was on with BoJack to a pop star, or Herb and how his identity got him removed from the producing side of the show and how BoJack's lack of loyalty changed the direction of his life forever. 

BoJack makes steps throughout the series to become “better” and “happier.” Ultimately, he does fit the arc of an anti-hero finding reform.  

But the best thing about this show is its ability to capture very intricate nuances about identity, self-perception, relationships, and awareness, while still holding true to its ironic and clever tone throughout the course of the show.  

Watching this show has brought light to some of the nuances and absurdities in my world. If you give it a watch, I’m sure it’ll do the same for you.