BoJack Horseman: How This Cartoon Talking Horse Stole Our Hearts
“I’m responsible for my own happiness? I can’t even be responsible for my own breakfast!”
-BoJack
It was a year ago today that the second half of the final season of BoJack Horseman was released to Netflix. The final episodes were savoured by fans throughout the world who knew they had experienced something truly special. But how did this show about a cartoon talking horse touch the lives of so many?
When BoJack Horseman first started in 2014, it appeared to be simply another animated adult comedy. The animation was striking, the jokes were clever and the voice acting was on point, with each cast member breathing life into their respective colourful characters. However, BoJack Horseman quickly set itself apart from other animated comedies. While The Simpsons had touched on serious subjects, BoJack Horseman dived into them head first, refusing to shy away from showing the ugly nature of the world and our heroes in it.
The titular character, BoJack Horseman, is a formerly successful TV star whose sitcom propelled him to fame in the ’90s and made him a father figure to a whole generation. However, overtime fame has corrupted him and he has become a washed up, out of touch alcoholic. The show chronicles BoJack’s attempts to rejuvenate his career as well as explores his relationships with his friends, family, work associates and even himself. BoJack’s poor decisions, lack of self control and general unpleasantness often finds him in humorous situations. However, it also often results in irreparable damage to people he cares about. The absurdity of an anthropomorphic horse in this situation is enjoyable to a point: the point where you realize this cartoon about a horse might just be the realest show on TV.
The show is packed full of endearing mediations on life as well soul crushing realizations. It doesn’t force you to ask the big questions about life, rather these questions are an inevitable consequence of getting to know these deeply layered characters. It is rare for a show to philosophize so authentically in a way that it doesn’t feel the slightest bit contrived. Its authenticity can perhaps be derived from the show’s unflinching realism in exploring serious issues like depression and addiction. BoJack frequently tries to overcome his past and his bad decisions in a quest for happiness but usually finds himself knocked back to square one, held back by his bad childhood but more importantly, by himself.
BoJack: I want to feel good about myself. And I don’t know how. I don’t know if I can.
At times watching BoJack’s self-destructive nature is like witnessing a car crash: difficult viewing but impossible to turn away from. Viewers develop a love/hate relationship for this charming albeit deeply flawed character. We love him for the good we could see in him but hate him for his actions, and perhaps hate him for how much of ourselves we see in him. In the end, BoJack’s inner turmoil represents a battle we all go through at some point in our lives, a clash between our mistakes and our regrets over them. BoJack Horseman explores these moral dilemmas and wonders are they enough.
BoJack: Well, do you think I’m a good person… deep down?
Diane: That’s the thing. I don’t think I believe in deep down. I kind of think all you are is just the thing things that you do.
BoJack’s toxic behaviour adds to the trials and tribulations already experienced by his friends and consequently damages his relationships with them. His negativity clashes with the positivity of Todd and Mr Peanutbutter and his self-destructive tendencies move against Princess Carolyn’s level headed nature and industriousness. Diane and BoJack have a strong friendship yet they also bring out the very worst in one another. The damage BoJack does to his relationships ultimately forces him to confront harsh realities about himself and about life. And we as the viewer confront them with him.
There have been few shows in the 21st century as ground breaking as BoJack Horseman. It has demonstrated that live action TV shows don’t have a monopoly on the exploration of themes like depression and addiction. The show has confronted a generation of people with cold hard truths about the world and the flawed people who reside in it. Instead of acting as a form of escapism, BoJack Horseman confronts us with narcissism, depression and addiction head on, helping us understand the world we live in and our place in it.
BoJack: Yeah, well, what are you gonna do?
Life’s a bitch and then you die, right?
Diane: Sometimes.
Sometimes life’s a bitch and then you keep on living.
