Bojack Horseman (Netflix – 2014-Present)
When it first premiered back in 2014, the Netflix original series Bojack Horseman appeared to be akin to Family Guy — at least after the initial few episodes. An animated comedy about an alcoholic, has been actor from the ’90s? It seemed something that would be nice for a few laughs and nothing else.
However, as the series heads in its final chapter in 2020, Bojack Horseman has grown into so much more. From a beautifully animated, almost dialogue-free episode to one entirely comprised of a heartbreaking eulogy dictated by the show’s titular character, the show continually changes how the story of our deeply flawed protagonist is told. The more we learn about Bojack, the more we connect to his struggle and the more we desperately want him to succeed and finally end up happy.
Besides being a realistic take on depression and mental health, Bojack Horseman also excellently lampoons the current entertainment scene and topical events at every turn, jumping from playful (and increasingly difficult) tongue twisters to blunt truths with such ease even with its frantic pace. It’s remarkable that the show could deal with topics like depression, abortion, gun violence, generational trauma, and dozens more while still being laugh out loud funny.
With its final eight episodes scheduled to premiere at the end of January, the character of Bojack Horseman has left a lasting impression on viewers and the show has clearly shown again and again that a colorfully animated world could reflect some of our most complex realities. When the series comes to a close in January, viewers can only hope Bojack finds some solace at the end of his journey just as the show gave a sense of comfort to so many.
-Tyler Zucker
