Less than a year ago, the first season of "BoJack Horseman" premiered on Netflix. My initial thought prior to watching it was that it was some droll comedy about an anthropomorphic horse living in a human’s world, something I could not foresee myself enjoying. Little did I know just how good it was, and not only the show's story structure, but also the incredibly stacked cast. Taking place in the present day as well as flashing back to the early 1990’s, it tells the very fictional tale of a parallel universe in which humans and animals coexist, work and live together, and intermarry. The overlying premise is about BoJack, a literal horseman, who in the 1990’s was an incredibly successful television actor, but now lives in an extreme self-depreciative state. Along with his roommate and best friend Todd, his rival and frenemy Mr. Peanut Butter and wife Diane, and his agent Princess Carolyn, BoJack seeks to share his story to the world in the form of an autobiography and then later a movie. What makes this show so fantastic is that it is comparable to the lifestyles of the rich and famous in our own real universe, and how power and fortune can corrupt and lead to great personal sadness. Coupled with these undertones though are jokes of an unprecedented nature, jokes that involve personified animals and character traits no other show can currently perfect.
Three of the five main characters are animals, BoJack being a horse, Princess Carolyn being a cat, and Mr. Peanut Butter a dog. On occasion, their character and personality trait(s) mimic that of their real life counterpart’s actions, but sometimes these jokes are so subtle that being able to catch them can add a whole new element to the show. BoJack, being a horse, will from time to time discuss how he loves eating, which would mirror real life because horses are massive creatures with huge appetites. Princess Carolyn sports a green dress with a fish pattern, alluding to her being a natural predator to and enjoying seafood. In one particular scene in the first season, she climbs up a very tall fence and sits atop it just all while having a phone conversation with someone. Then there is Mr. Peanut Butter, who we will call Mr. PB. Mr. PB is very easily excitable, and always has a smile on his face with his tongue hanging out. He is constantly looking on the bright side of things, which does annoy many of his friends, and at times he will relish in the fact that his wife Diane offers to take him to the park later in the day. Todd and Diane are both humans, but interact with the other three on a completely normal level. Throughout the two seasons many other animal-people are shown performing certain actions resembling their actual selves, with my personal favorite being animals with wings flapping their arms and flying. On top of the amazing cast, which includes Aaron Paul, Will Arnett, Allison Brie, Amy Sedaris, and Paul Thompkins are a slew of other guest cameos, such as Henry Winkler, Daniel Radcliffe, and Michael J Fox as a personified fox.
Of course, what is Hollywoo (BoJack steals the D from Hollywood at one point) without drama? Over the course of the show, one of the most present themes is self-displeasure, often leading to sadness. In the case of BoJack, he sees himself as a dried up old man, loathing the present day and what he has become. He turns to alcohol and hard drugs, as did one of his former co-stars from his glory days on television, but these only make matters much worse. BoJack’s life is eerily reminiscent of what has happened to some real life celebrities that are constantly on the news for the bad decisions they have made. As each of the two seasons progress, we find the lives of those around BoJack getting better, as he is making an effort to turn his own life around, but his selfishness and spiteful attitude generate lasting effects.
BoJack Horseman has some of the smartest written episodes of television I have ever seen, perhaps comparable to "The Office" or "Arrested Development" in terms of long running jokes, while also still tugging at your heartstrings during crucial moments. A clear cut showing of how celebrity life is not all it is chalked up to be, it showcases how even famous people have a lot of problems making them not so different from you or I. It is truly an enjoyable show, and will leave you unable to wait for season 3 to be released.
