Somebody once told me they tried to watch Bojack Horseman, but it was too depressing for them. Which to be fair, they're not wrong about how dark the show can be.
But if we refuse to watch something just because it makes us think about the unhappier parts of life, then we are refusing to better understand these emotions and confront them when bad things happen in our own lives. This show exists to make us think, not to be something that's on in the background.
Netflix recently dropped the trailer for Part 1 of the final season (which is set to be released on October 25, 2019). Here's a list of 6 reasons that will hopefully convince you to binge the first five seasons before this premiere.
It's Absolutely Hilarious
Obliviously, a good comedy has to make you laugh. The jokes on the show range from light-hearted puns to moments that make you ask if you're allowed to laugh at that.
By appealing to all types of humor, the show is designed to satisfy all types of audiences.
It's Beautiful Animation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOGxOQxXjdo
There are some shots in this show that belong in an art museum. Honestly, the episode "Fish Out of Water" in season 3 is the best evidence to support my point. It features almost no dialogue and yet the animation alone tells a compelling story.
There's No Lack of Strong Women
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE_wuidUzzM&list=PLvahqwMqN4M3cb_vrBLgyH1fZ8znWny9r&index=4
The two female leads in the show, Diane Nguyen and Princess Caroline, are introduced through their connection to the titular character Bojack but they almost immediately diverge from his storyline in order to have their own.
Both women vary in terms of values, but both remain focused on achieving their goals no matter the challenges they face.
It's Giving Us Relevent Commentary on Hollywood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW3T7GEHs_8&list=PLvahqwMqN4M3cb_vrBLgyH1fZ8znWny9r&index=3
What is an Oscar campaign really like? What's the difference between an agent and a manager? What happens when a character you grow to love has a Me Too related scandal?
All of these and more questions about the entertainment industry are tackled by the show with no reservations.
Honestly, It's Giving Us Relevent Commentary on Society In General
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8Uy4r7-jPQ&list=PLvahqwMqN4M3cb_vrBLgyH1fZ8znWny9r&index=11
Nothing is safe from the satirical grasp of Bojack Horseman, whether it be depression, gun control, abortion, feminism, marriage, or parenthood. This show utilizes its platform to start discussions on these important issues, and isn't that the point of art?
Finally, It Makes Us Think About What Art Is For
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW3T7GEHs_8&list=PLvahqwMqN4M3cb_vrBLgyH1fZ8znWny9r&index=3
A constant struggle for Bojack is the one between creating something successful or creating something meaningful. The show that launches him into the spotlight is a 90s sitcom that was finically successful, but to him, it wasn't enough.
He's continuing to search for the project that is supposed to be real art. The problem with that, however, is that there's no such thing as real art.
Art exists to make us think, but sometimes art makes us think about the good things in life just like a 90's sitcom that can solve a problem in less than 30 minutes.
Bojack Horseman isn't a show that wants to distract us from the issues facing our society but rather display them to us in perfect detail. So instead of staying in your comfort zone and rewatching The Office again, try a couple of episodes of Bojack Horseman.
