i just finished season 3 and need a place to process my DEEP EMOTIONAL PAIN. it hurts. so basically Bojack Horseman is a Netflix cartoon about version of Hollywoo(d) with anthropomorphic animals, whose main character was a sitcom star (think Full House but he's a horse) from the 90s who is now washed up and depressed. shenanigans ensue. i watched the first season with my roommates on a whim one evening, and at first we thought it was just a generic hollywood satire with animal people that was okay but not great. and then we kept watching. and it kept getting better/worse, and then the season finale happened and we were all literally dumbstruck at the end of it, looking at each other like, "did that just happen?" and then season two came out and was basically perfect, and then season three just happened and now i'm emotionally compromised. it's also one of the few shows i've seen that really gets depression right- two of the main characters could arguably be diagnosed but they're not just mopey and stereotypically depressed. they have lives and relationships and jobs, and sometimes they're happy, or trying to be. but a lot of the time they're not, or they're worried that they're not doing it right. and it's hard, but it feels really real. season 3 is also notable for featuring an abortion plotline where nobody whose involved in the relationship agonizes about the decision to get an abortion, instead both agreeing pretty much immediately that it's the right thing for them. instead most of the drama comes from the unfair things the character has to go through to get her abortion, and also the pop star dolphin she writes tweets for having a fake abortion to sell more records. yeah. if you like cartoons, shows that experiment with/challenge conventional storytelling tropes, animal people, or wacky puns, and would like show that both features both a ride-sharing service named Cabra Cadbra whose slogan is "We're Gonna Reach Out and Grab You" and deep existential crises/six-week long drug benders, i highly recommend it
resurrects my own dang thread because SEASON 4 HAS MANAGED TO SOMEHOW BE EVEN MORE BEAUTIFULLY DARKLY COMICALLY TRAGIC AND I NEED TO KNOW SOMEONE ELSE HERE WATCHES IT, SO WE CAN SCREAM ABOUT OUR FEELINGS TOGETHER Spoiler: vague s4 related spoiler ranting this show is so good it's stupid, and this season especially- i love all the experimental episodes. we got a glimpse of the brilliance last season with the underwater episode, that the writers are capable of creating truly unique art, and it's like they know they can do it now, so they're having fun & showing off. god, everything to do with bojack's mom, and the painful visual representation of what dementia looks like in her head, and all of bojack's incredibly vicious inner monologue during Piece of Sh*t and, like, i can't?!?!?! and ace!todd continues to be both canon, and wonderfully written, and i want nothing but the best for my sweet cinnamonroll son. AND HOLLYHOCK AND HER 8 WONDERFUL GAY DADS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO COPE WITH ANY OF THIS?!?!?!??!!?!?!
Spoiler: spoiler 4 spoiler ranting RIGHT?? I have probably watched ep 2 at least 6 times? I'm in love with the concurrent overlays in that episode and the way it lays out the interwoven and causal neuroses??? and the bit in PoS after Bojack makes his mom cry was 2 REAL and literally everything about Hollyhock is so good, just, ugh. I'm siblings about these two learning to be siblings.
Spoiler: S4 Like damn the differented art style sequences are super great and I hope they keep those up because damn Plus the interesting ways they split the 2 plots in the eps like wow! I was like super fascinated the way they pulled that off Hurgh the lobotomy event was so awful fuck Beatrice's dad forreal Sad thing about relationships here :(( Dianne and Mr PB just have really bad communication and it's either they get a couples therapy or they go their separate ways or work things out. They like having fun together and being goofy but those two can't really *talk* to each other :/ I wonder if Bojack might see his mom sometimes or just leave her hm. Because his pain is super understandable. He might avoid her tho most likely Pretty sad that bj parents, their eloping while they were hopefully like they really didn't know each other. Too bad they weren't able to divorce, those two were miserable together and unprepared to be parents Todd tho is my super fav I love him I want PC to be happy tho she deserves happiness :< also pls bring back Judah he's a good and kind man.
*whispers* if u want someone to scream at in real time i am always available for sad horse show rewatches. (but also tread carefully bc triggering content is in abundance, i suggest making sure at least one of your load bearing friends be available to contact if you accidentally trigger a spiral)
i don't really have triggers as such but i appreciate the warning! and that'd be neat, i have trouble watching shows unless i'm watching them with someone else bc i don't have any attention span
Oh my God Bojack Horseman is just so artistically well-done, especially this season with how it intermingled past with present repeatedly but in different ways, contexts, and downward spirals in mind.
I've been depressed lately and have been avoiding watching S4 for my own safety, but I love this show. Really wanna cosplay Sarah Lynn someday--I think she's my fave, and her entire arc wrecked me. Spoiler: should i tag s3 spoilers? Her death was one of the most heartwrenching scenes in the series, IMO. "I wanna be an architect."
Omg four seasons already, I'm so behind. Will have to start on season two this weekend. Does Will Arnett still do Bojack's voice? Because he's *perfect*.
He still does. I believe the one character whose voice actor changes between seasons is Todd, but I could be wrong.
I don't think Aaron Paul left the show? I mean he's still in the credits. I'm so glad there's a thread for this show. I don't think any work of fiction has made me feel more feels than this silly horse cartoon. Also: asexual axolotl!
Is it just me or has anyone felt particularly moved that while this season is delivering hard punches more frequently and most of the main cast's lives are falling apart, this season somehow ends up giving me a sense of renewed optimism, particularly for the characters whose lives are improving? Like, there was a ton of aknowledgement of pain and suffering and how it runs through generations and environments and just plain happenstances. But for those who were actively trying, and letting themselves make mistakes, whether consciously known or not, and not trying to take easy ways out, things ended up better for them overall, even if bad shit happened to them along the way.
This show really understands what it feels like to be a giant black hole for validation while simultaneously sabotaging yourself for fear of disappointing people. "I need you to tell me that I'm good." Holy shit.
Spoiler Oh i saw posts after season 4 came out and i read the reddit but didn't strongly realize til now but like ppl are disliking diane and calling her a bad part of the season? I dunno like I dunno I mean i can perhaps see what they mean But like, shrugs, i guess i don't agree
