Why Bojack Horseman Was One of the Best TV Shows of the Decade
One of the most profound explorations of fame, depression, and the human condition on television.
What started out as just a raunchy cartoon show, starring anthropomorphized animals with low-brow humor, eventually turned into one of the most thoughtful and profound explorations of fame, depression, society, and the human condition.
Created by Raphael Matthew Bob-Waksberg and brought to life by the designs of his long-time friend Lisa Hanawalt, the show centers around a washed-up actor trying to find happiness amidst the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry.
It’s a shame that it took the tail end of the first season for the show to showcase its true brilliance. When the show reached its second season, it shed any comparison to its competitors and really began firing on all cylinders.
The writing was excellent, the jokes were clever, the animation was vibrant with hilarious details in each shot, the themes reached new depths, the characters evolved with each season, and the concepts grew more and more daring.
Everything seemed to have been turned up two or three notches. And for six seasons, Bojack Horseman has been one of the most impressive shows to ever grace our TV screens (or any streaming device, really). Here are the reasons why Bojack Horseman was one of the best TV shows of the decade.
A Major Player in the Era of Streaming
If there’s any major take away from the last decade (in terms of entertainment, at least), it’s the rise of streaming services, and none were more ubiquitous than the streaming giant known as Netflix.
The platform changed the landscape of the industry with its vast library of titles available for a modest subscription fee. Netflix was the home of many hit shows of the last decade, such as Stranger Things, House of Cards, Black Mirror, and so on. Bojack Horseman was the platform's first foray into adult animation and contributed to the binge-watching craze that dominated the 2010’s. It was a shining example of the viability of creating high-quality original content for the platform and helped legitimize it as an alternative for home entertainment.
It Pushed the Medium Forward
The show took risks. It constantly challenged itself by exploring new and creative ways to approach storytelling through animation. The episode “Free Churro” is a perfect example of this. Consisting of one extended eulogy that stretches throughout the entire episode, it received acclaim from fans and critics alike and is regarded as one of the most impressive episodes of a TV show in recent memory.
Another example is the underwater episode, “Fish Out of Water,” that completely removes the characters’ ability to speak, leaving only the visuals to tell the story, something completely unexpected for a show that relies so heavily on dialogue.
And let’s not forget the mind-bending episodes that are featured on the penultimate episode of each season. These episodes provide insight to the characters while also finding new ways to tell real, dramatic, human stories by taking complete advantage of the medium.
Culturally Relevant Social Commentary
Bojack goes beyond the jokes to explore real issues that we, as a society, deal with in everyday life. The show manages to use social satire to shine a light on topical issues, and in Hollywood, everybody seems to be on the pulse of current events.
From the 2016 elections to the gun violence in America and its flippant “thoughts and prayers” posts on social media; to the #metoo movement and the rise of cancel culture; to an episode focusing entirely on abortion and the constant criticism faced by women. Bojack Horseman has always been on top of relevant issues while also providing some insightful social commentary that’s incredibly valuable for viewers everywhere.
An Accurate Depiction of Depression
Never have I seen a show that tackles depression and self-loathing in such an honest, realistic, and consistent manner as much as Bojack Horseman. Throughout the show, Bojack tries to find something that will fix him, something that’ll make him feel better about himself — which only leads to sudden, irrational, and harmful behavior to himself and those around him.
Each season finds Bojack setting a new goal that would inevitably leave him in the same position or worse than he was before. Depression is no joke. Its looming presence is always around and can cripple you at any moment. Sometimes Bojack is able to distract himself with fleeting pleasures, but it seems like no matter what he does to try to hold on to something, sooner or later he ends up sinking back into the pit that is Bojack.
This accurate representation of depression is handled in such a raw and earnest manner without giving the typical, easy answers to overcome it. Because there are no easy answers. It’s a constant struggle for those who suffer from it and it’s good to know that it’s taken as seriously as it should be.
Accountability for Anti-heroes
In an era where anti-heroes' actions are usually glossed over because their complexity makes them more “interesting,” Bojack is always presented as someone that we shouldn’t admire. Though Bojack's upbringing was difficult and, in a lot of ways, made him into the person that he is today — he is still his own worst enemy.
His problematic behavior is never justified and as much as the audience wants him to get better, it’s really all up to him. The last season focused more on his past actions and how he has to take responsibility for the terrible things he’s done. And the first step is to seek help — to get better. The problem is, every time Bojack takes one step forward, it seems like he takes three steps back as well.
Like Bojack said, “you have to be consistent.” Things don’t get solved in half an hour just like that. It takes every single day to become a better person. And for Bojack, it seems like a never-ending struggle.
Those Moments that Got Way Too Real
The show just feels so real. I can’t count the number of times this show made me reflect on my own life (and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one, either). Some moments provide these beautifully articulated lines of dialogue that encapsulate exactly how everyone has felt at some point in their lives, while others just feel like a gut-punch, punctuated by the melancholic irony of the show’s theme song.
It’s this level of emotional intelligence that makes viewers really identify with Bojack (or any of the characters, for that matter) because they see a bit of themselves on the screen. Some moments seem heavy and almost too much to bear, but that’s just… life. We don’t really have it all figured out, and seeing how these characters are also struggling to find happiness is a good reminder that we’re not alone in these sentiments.
A Finale that Stuck the Landing
While other shows might like to tie every loose end and bring a satisfying conclusion for each storyline, Bojack Horseman decided to go in a different direction with its finale. It didn’t really feel like everything was solved and everybody lived happily ever after. It just felt like the end of a chapter in these people’s lives.
We don’t really know if Bojack will ever see any of his friends again (although Diane's feelings were pretty clear). Just like in real life, the show just seems to go on. It’s never really over (until it is), so it makes sense that the only real feeling of finality in the series comes from everyone’s decision to let go of Bojack and move on with their lives.
Bojack’s fate isn’t really defined. We don’t know if he’ll actually get better or just revert back to his old self (although we have 70+ episodes that tell us otherwise), and all we’re left with is one last shot of Diane and Bojack enjoying the last time they’ll ever be together. But, hey, it was fun while it lasted…
