Who would’ve known that one of the greatest animated series of our time would be about an anthropomorphic horse in the fictional town of "Hollywoo" in one of the greatest Netflix Original series to date? I did not think I would like "Bojack Horseman" one bit when the first season aired on Netflix a few years back, but after the first 6 episodes or so it was clear that it was much more than a silly animated show with crude adult humor. "Bojack Horseman" has consistently delivered amazing background jokes, stellar character development, and perfect voice acting. This show goes to dramatic depths that most comedies wouldn’t dare go near. There are moments of this show where it seems like a full-on tragedy, stripped of jokes. It’s crazy how seamlessly "Bojack Horseman" goes from insanely smart comedy to well-performed drama, the series is so well-paced that it makes for a perfect, yet somber Netflix binge.
On the weekend of September 8th, the 4th season of "Bojack Horseman" was made available for streaming and it didn’t disappoint. Each season of "Bojack Horseman" is known for its various puns, tongue twisters, and visual gags along with a few very sad, heartbreaking episodes near the end. In each of the 3 previous seasons, there’s at least one episode you can point out as “the one that really hit you hard” and it usually falls on the penultimate episode of the season. While the 4th season’s penultimate episode is very intense and serious, that tone seeps into many episodes during the fourth season. There’s not really one “moment” that sells the drama this season, it’s always present...the pain and the regret that seep into these character's personalities never really do fade, which makes sense for a show well into its 4th season.
Notable episodes of this season include episode 2 “The Old Sugarman Place” which gives a heartbreaking backstory to Beatrice Sugarman, Bojack’s mother who has made a few appearances already in past seasons. Getting a glimpse into her childhood makes her character much more defined and her actions are immediately understandable. The flashbacks are also perfectly blended in with scenes of Bojack in the present visiting his mother’s old home and trying to fix it up with the help of the neighbor dragonfly named Eddie. The 6th episode, “Stupid Piece of Sh*t,” gives a really intense look into Bojack’s inner voice that causes him to make horrible decisions in his life and with the people he’s close to. The last bit of dialogue in this episode hits so hard that I had to take a break before watching the rest of the season.
The voice acting is amazing as always, Will Arnett plays the perfect struggling actor and he brings such an intensity to Bojack’s character. Everyone nails their jokes, utilizing perfect comedic timing. Amy Sedaris, who plays the character Princess Carolyn, an agent known for her quick-Hollywood style speak delivers some of the best-written dialogue in the show yet. One excellent example of her alliteration, assonance and clever rhymes (a term I'm coining 'freestyle alliteration') includes this bit of dialogue surrounding fictional actress “Courtney Portnoy.”
"You know Courtney Portnoy? She portrayed the formerly portly consort in the seaport resort. Courtly roles like the formerly portly consort are Courtney Portnoy's forte.This was supposed to be Courtney's crossover coronation. But that's sorta been thwarted unfortunately 'cause Courtney's purportedly falling short of shoring up fourth quadrant support."
Try saying any of those sentences 3 times fast. I can watch the clips of Amy Sedaris delivering these lines a million times and not get sick of it. it’s almost like there was a feud between the writers and her which caused them to give her the most complex tongue-twisters each season. These delightful play on words aren't limited to just her character though, Keith Olbermann voices Tom Jumbo-Grumbo, a large humpback whale who is "Hollywoo's" chief news correspondent. Olbermann delivers great lines in his natural "breaking news" type of tone and is also challenged with "Bojack Horseman's" famous wordplay: one example being:
"There is nothing the least bit funny about stealing a meal from Neil McBeal the Navy seal."
Yeah, the Navy seal is an actual seal. There are tons of more jokes in this style sprinkled throughout the 4 seasons.
Alison Brie who plays Diane in the show really drives home a monologue in the last episode of Season 4 that is sure to stick with you. Diane isn't necessarily one of my favorite characters in the show but that's not taking away from Alison Brie's delivery. She brings a lot of emotion and hesitance during scenes where she has to confront herself and her relationship with her husband.
At first glance this show doesn’t look like it takes itself seriously, I’ve heard people say it looks like some weird "Family Guy"-type project and start to dismiss it. This bugs me because it’s incredibly far from that. This show is filled with such style that comparing it to "Family Guy" could be thought of as an insult. There is so much craft and detail put into every shot, every line of dialogue and every moment that it gives the show instant rewatch value. For the majority of the episodes, you might have to watch it 2-3 times to really get every joke packed into the background and even within the dialogue itself.
Might be an 'edgy" joke to point out but the balloon Mr. Peanutbutter carries throughout one episode of Season 3 has me in stitches each time.
It's definitely not going to be worth it if you just jump into Season 4 without watching the first 3 seasons. There are individual stories that can standalone by themselves but the overarching story surrounding Bojack's life and those around him really starts to pay off here. If you haven't already, check out "Bojack Horseman" on Netflix, you won't regret it.
