Bojack Horseman is my favourite show ever, and the more I analyze it, the more I continue to think it is the best show ever made.
I first watched it at a point in my life when I was at the lowest point I'd ever been in. I never felt good, and I felt like I'd never ever be okay. I'd been going to therapy for about 3-4 years at that point, but everything about my life felt completely negative and bad, like I could never be good. I started watching Bojack after finishing some other cartoons like futurama and Rick and Morty. And I genuinely felt like it was a show made for me specifically.
Without even going into any of the themes present in the show, it is beautifully constructed. It is completely consistent with itself, and never leaves any loose threads. Even when you think it will, it doesn't. The storytelling techniques are incredible and ever changing. Fish Out of Water and Free Churro are great examples of how the show can shine beautifully in completely different ways, one being completely without dialogue, and the other as a monologue, taking place in one location. But really, pretty much any episode could be taken and used as an example of how to build an amazing episode of television.
The animation, writing, acting, and sound design is incredible. Obviosuly, one of the worst self sabotaging things Bojack ever did was in New Mexico. The build up to that point, though showing his self sabotaging behaviour in the past makes this scene so believable. Despite pretty much the entire New Mexico storyline being in one 20 minute episode, the guitar sting which represent it are still absolutely haunting, years after I first watched the episode. The impact of this storyline, or Sarah Lynn's significance in Bojack's life shows how amazing the writing is on the show.
Not only is it a beautiful show, but it's also really funny. The jokes and timing are fantastic, and the ability of the show to balance genuine good comedy with some of the most tragic scenes I've seen in my entire life shows the versatility of each and every creative involved.
In terms of the themes of the show, I cant properly express how fantastic they are. It is often talked about how great the representation of mental illness is, but it goes a lot farther than that. Bojack is a bad person. He has ruined lives, both before the show and during. His behaviour is completely terrible. The show doesn't try and tell you he's a good person, deep down, but there are so many moments throughout the show where he is truthful and honest with himself, and you see his goodness shine through. The show itself tells you not to root for Bojack, but rather watch him grow. His journey is a slow, drawn out one. Throughout the series, he slowly progresses from being in denial about the fact that he's messed up, to finally be willing to actually change and take accountability for his actions, though this never ever makes him seem like a good person, but instead you see how bad he can actually be. Bojack Horseman shows the affect mental illness and addiction can have on you and the people you care about.
It also shows lots of different representations of mental illness and life. While Bojack is the main character, he isn't always the most important person in the show. Princess Carolyn, Diane, Mr Peanutbutter, and Todd are all treated in the show with as much respect as Bojack, and their storylines are strong independently of their intersection with Bojack's, which feels very true to real life, where everyone is doing their own thing. The struggles of all the main cast are important, whether mentally, emotionally, professionally, or otherwise. In a lot of ways, these characters demonstrate the realities of just being a person who exists in this world, and that's pretty cool.
In the end though, the show is about growth, plain and simple. It's not overcomplicated, but it shows the complexity of acceptance. The show's main principles are simple; being a good person is harder than it looks, but more important than anything else, and sometimes you need help getting there. The show examines this through so many different lenses, and the intricacies of all the different ways in which Bojack addresses this main issue are endless. Bojack Horseman doesn't over burden itself with too many pointless ideas or threads, but rather it focuses on something important and sees it through.
Like I said, part of me actually believes that Bojack Horseman was a show made for me specifically, because I think it's perfect. I'm incredible excited for the end of it. I generally don't trust creators to give me what I want, but at this point I don't even know what I want. That being said, I'm sure whatever it is will be made, as it always has so far. And I will be heartbroken if it doesn't. That's not the point though. I wholeheartedly believe that Bojack Horseman is a perfect show. It means the world to me.
