BoJack Horseman is a horse. And a man. He is also the former star of Horsin’ around, a popular, yet critically scorned 90’s TV-show. He has been offered a life of comfort and a C-list celebrity status. He has it all.
Still, he keeps feeling there is something missing there. His past success is not remotely sufficient to fill the void in his life. He is endlessly pondering on what would make his life worth living. A climb-to-A-list career move? A hit movie or -why not- an Oscar perhaps? Or maybe a juicy tabloid relationship with a popular celebrity? Or is there something more that’s missing? Something lying in the human psyche?
Before he can sit back and soul search, his manager, a cat named Princess Carolyn, books him a new TV appearance. Or he has to bail out his friend and former roommate, Todd. Or he will be consumed by a “frienemy” relationship with his fellow actor Mr. Peanutbutter, the Golden Retriever. There is always something going on in the boring yet hectic life of BoJack.
Admittedly, BoJack Horseman is a strange series trying to dig up some skeletons of the celebrity lifestyle. It’s a comedy but then, not really. In reality, in his own charming ways, BoJack underlines the surreal day-to-day reality of Hollywood along with the culture of modern fame. How little sense does this all make in the real world. His selfish and vain nature reminds viewers of the real issue here; that having genuine relations with one another is far more important than fame or money.
He is thinking about his legacy now. That’s what he answers to an avant-garde spider-artist as to why he wants an Oscar now. “I want to do things that are connected to people, things that matter, things that last.” “But that’s the whole point”, replies the spider, “nothing lasts”.
BoJack is rated for an adult audience, and Netflix has a point there. During his endless existential crisis, he flings himself into reckless sex, drinking, drug abuse, crime. He is accused of murdering a stripper in the third season (no spoilers). In the fourth season, we bear witness to a drunk grandmother forcing an underage daughter and an abusive (ok, just a little spoiler right there) mother to drive them home. Although the language would, in any other case, unsettle and annoy viewers, here it comes off as very colorful. Dirty words seem to fit perfectly in a society that is slowly disintegrating.
With the fifth season already airing since September 14th and a sixth one confirmed for next year, BoJack has definitely a lot more to say and do. Line after line and joke after joke, he will continue to brighten us up. Could this fun atmosphere be molded by the bitter realization that those who have it all suffer the most?
