Morality and BoJack Horseman

[@Johnny2Cellos]

Wow this is the best BoJack video on KZbin, amazing work.

[@SloanStowe]

www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ivdh8yk7hyq61nu2gxc4v/j2hkcly5xc781.webp?rlkey=nyy9spho9uss295ghbzu03vvu&dl=0

[@RetroHoodie25]

Oh cool, Johnny is here🔥

[@shamanite]

@@SloanStowe lmao

[@GhostRider-on6bz]

Oh no, the day I betray Johnny and watch another Bojack creator, he’s there way ahead of me!

[@ceccesailormoon]

Johnny being here makes this full circle

[@laurayeghz]

When I was first getting sober, still detoxing from alcoholism, I watched all of BoJack Horseman. And it was hard. I identified with BoJack immediately and that scared me witless. It felt like life holding a giant mirror up to me, forcing me to look at myself, and saying "Look! This is how *YOU* look. BoJack's an asshole but he acts like *YOU* . This is how *YOU* treat people and how they feel. Your friends aren't talking to you right now because *YOU* hurt them. *YOU* did this to yourself. Get better." It was absolutely crushing. And I think it was crucial in my early sobriety. I still look back fondly on BoJack, but I'm happy to say that after 3 years, I no longer identify fully with him. I still totally get his thought patterns, because he's a well-written addict/alcoholic. But I don't do the same things he does. And that distance feels nice.

[@joyflameball]

That's genuinely amazing my god

[@catlady8256]

Hey I’m proud of you dude :D

[@lifeisadrag7705]

Keep it up dude, I'm proud of you

[@its.zarstxr]

congrats on your sobriety! awesome work :) very proud uve come so far!!

[@DoodleBugAnimates]

so proud of you. im a child of alcoholism, and i promise your friends, family , etc are so proud, as am I

[@10Gpixels]

I love how the message of "life has peaks and valleys" is accentuated by the show's seasonal format. The idea that Bojack rapidly swings from redeemable to irredeemable from season to season, makes the finale hit that much harder.

[@itshel2677]

the finale always messes me up for days. Can't believe how good it is

[@LeoDBW]

What I also love about the show is that ALL of the character's actions have consequences, positive or negative, even seasons later. Like when Bojack hooked up with Sarah Lynn back in season 1, and it is brought up again a few time, and then slammed back into his face in the final season. I appreciate that it is not only good continuity, but it also shows that everything matter, every words or actions matter, it wasn't a joke, it was f*cked up and the consequences are there.

[@itshel2677]

@@LeoDBWIn other words: the WRITING has consequences, which goes to show how serious they took it. I guess you could say the writers weren't horsin' around! eh? eh?

[@DuelaDent52]

@@LeoDBWI don’t know, it feels like the only ones to ever actually face consequences are Bojack Mr. Peanutbutter. Everybody else gets off largely Scott-free (especially Todd).

[@Sylvatic98]

I subscribed to you two years ago, and somehow still remember you, even though I don't remember why I subscribed in the first place. Guess that's kind of funny.

[@Mu-vm4ij]

The fact so many people miss the point bojack is so unreal to me. The show is VERY explicit in its theming. It is extremely on the nose. The characters tell you how they are feeling, and It’s done in a very engaging and thought provoking way.

[@katcel16]

Agreed. The subreddit for example is unbearable to read because it seems like it’s just full of people missing *explicitly stated* or at least heavily implied points. Mostly people going on about how Bojack is all around bad and irredeemable and doesn’t deserve any kind of happy ending or improvement and nothing he does to better himself matters because of everything bad hes done, saying “The View From Halfway Down” should’ve been the end and Bojack should’ve died (completely missing what Diane straight up says at the end of the last episode and also refusing to acknowledge how that ending would’ve destroyed Diane given he called her), and ignoring how literally every character is a shitty person in some ways and well meaning in others and that Bojack isn’t the only one who’s done a lot of bad things and hurt a lot of people (cause, ya know, that’s the point, like Diane, again, explicitly states, nobody’s all good or all bad), all while dismissing how anyone other than his parents has hurt Bojack (usually because “he deserves it” or something similar). It’s bizarre seeing people miss the point so majorly when the entire show is “all these characters are complex people with their own issues that end up hurting others and they try to be better but still screw up because that’s how people are: complex and flawed and needing to continuously work to improve and almost certainly going to slip up while improving (if they do improve)”. Of course that’s not the entire message of the show, but it’s a pretty major one, and yet for some reason it seems to have gone over so many people’s heads and/or they just don’t like it and so pretend that’s not the point.

[@hellNo116]

people mocks literary analysis about the curtains been blue meaning something and then fail to understand a show in which the subject is often said explicitly as text in many scenes

[@mirrepoix]

@@katcel16 great point. i think people 'dehumanize' bojack too much (or de-horse-ize?), and by doing so, they miss a very important aspect of abuse. we didn't see beatrice's backstory because it was fun lore, for example. we saw the start of a terrible cycle, and for all those seasons it was hard to understand her as a complete individual, just as this cartoonishly evil abusive mother who started out shitty and died shitty. we see how the neglect and abuse she experienced in her own childhood led her to make mistakes that ruined her life and her child's. it's a good parallel to what we've actually witnessed from bojack over the seasons, this feeling of conflict because you can suddenly recognize someone as a whole being, and that means they have reasons for their behavior, however unjustified. as a result, this mentality of cartoonish evil helps trap abuse victims who remember "the good times" and are still figuring out how to come to terms with the abuse ("is your abuser really that abusive? she has her reasons, you should try to understand her"). it also helps us disassociate ourselves from the possibility of ever becoming abusive, because we know we're not born evil, so if abusers are just unabashedly evil, then there's no way anyone who isn't irredeemably evil start-to-finish could be abusive. it's not just missing the point to disregard how the show humanizes the bad characters; it's actively harmful, in my opinion, and speaks to a larger misunderstanding of abuse in general. abusers are people. recognizing that doesn't redeem them, it puts their behavior into proper perspective. it makes it clear that they choose to keep walking a bad path, they weren't just born walking it; people get abused every day and don't turn into creeps or predators or abusers themselves. it is an active choice, which means that you can *stop choosing it*. you can decide to be better, and that doesn't redeem you either, but it's better than staying worse. it's better than going out with a bang that ruins everyone around you for the very last time. to decide to change is the only reasonable ending for bojack after all of these seasons of fighting with himself and his toxic coping mechanisms. otherwise what was the point? abusers can't ever change their ways, so unless they die or end up in prison forever we just have to accept their presence and expect nothing better? if abusers are born evil and irredeemable, how can anyone expect anything but abuse from them? lions kill things, often painfully. we recognize that this is part of their nature and we don't expect them to suddenly learn a human concept like "killing is wrong". so how can we expect a born-abuser to learn that abusing is wrong? this is incorrect because they are people, as capable of realizing their actions as you and i. it doesn't matter if they "deserve to get better" - getting better is not about them, it's about the people who suffer at their hands. it's not redemption, it's harm reduction. we are here to stop people from being abused, not pat ourselves on the back for feeling morally superior. that is one of the many important points the show makes.

[@mirrepoix]

when the show was still airing i was terrified that they would have a bad mentality around abuse, as an abuse victim. i don't know how many people here have been watching since it first started, but pre-philbert, a lot of fans genuinely idolized bojack. the showrunners came back with a vengeance and slapped diane's monologue at the premiere into our faces, letting us know that they knew exactly who bojack was. this was necessary at the time, as the fans were definitely going the rick sanchez blind idolization route before that. after the whole show has aired though, and the writers have said everything they want to say, it's pretty clear that they showed us bojack being funny and relatable for a reason. people went from one bad media literacy take to the complete opposite one, i think.

[@mightybatillo]

@@katcel16 Saying that the show should have ended in "The view from halfway down" doesnt mean you didnt understand the show. It made a lot of sense with all the message the show tried to say all the seasons. Shit happens, and it doesnt matter if you are "good" or "bad" or trying to improve yourself. Real life is full of examples like Elvis Presley, Jim Morrison, Heath Ledger, Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse etc.. Bojack getting drunk and dying in a pool was in character and it was perfect. But they didnt have the courage to fully commit to it.

[@rainedrop277]

I love Diane a lot because she makes me so uncomfortable to watch. I relate to her but it was never in an excusable way. Her personality makes me feel affirmed, seen, and called out. So she will always be one of my favorites.

[@Rellumennaoj]

I couldn't agree more!

[@TuskyBaby]

Her breaking down wondering if she's "busted" always got to me for this very reason.

[@annaleena1975]

Same! I've struggled with depression and as an artist, her worrying that her damage isn't "good damage" in season 6 was something I related a little too hard with.

[@PrettyPrincess9609]

Same. My personality is similar to Diane and I also struggled with depression as well. She’s my favorite character in the show as well.

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@annaleena1975saaaame. Good Damage might be my favourite episode of the whole show

[@Matty002]

wow. hearing people say they look up to bojack is like hearing people look up to rick from rick and morty: theyre meant to warn you not be idolized

[@BratzRockAngels]

They're really just outing themselves as red flags, cause there's no reason ANY person should look up to Bojack unless they're conflicting people themselves.

[@jahlisabrown2432]

Right?! Or when people look up to Homelander from The Boys. He’s meant to be a hated character. People completely miss the point with him.

[@compassrose1466]

@@BratzRockAngelsit’s not that they’re red flags it’s that these characters are seen as main characters and typically a main character isn’t seen as bad. We’re taught the main character has to be good by the end. Even so, it is wrong for them to see them as idols, but the people who often see them as idols are often mentally ill. That’s not me being mean but being genuine. It’s often easy to do that. As someone who’s mentally ill I felt awful for Bojack and wanted him to get with one of the other women and be happy…it wasn’t till I got therapy I realized I idealized abusive relationships due to what I was used to in life and past relationships I’ve had. These people who idolize Bojack, the joker, or even Rick get to a point where they don’t listen to the message when the message is for them to try and make them realize the path they’re on. It’s genuinely sad for those who don’t want to change too.

[@BratzRockAngels]

@compassrose1466 That's understandable, and it's true that mental unwellness also plays a part in it. Mentally ill people can still be red flags or toxic though, what you said is 100% true but some people can still be toxic in their relatibility to characters like Bojack, like some of the people who defend his actions against Penny or even blame Penny for the entire situation, saying she "seduced" him, just straight toxicity. Also, as another person who is healing from mental illness, I could definitely see Bojack's struggles with being happy and doing better and such.

[@iatemycat5320]

I've seen people defend Bojack when it comes to Sarah Lynn's death. Like, it really makes you think that they're idiots or smth

[@ZabaTheFrog]

Best character analysis of pc ive ever seen! No one really talks abour her selfishness and manipulation

[@carmina-solis]

completely! i honestly would have fired her too and i LIKE princess carolyn!

[@noahmclaughlin7921]

Yeah, I think it’s important to acknowledge that PC is both a caring, hardworking, and helpful person who does a lot for the people in her life, and a seflish, cutthroat businesswoman who will defend, enable, and even do abhorrent things for the sake of personal gain.

[@yukarilolz]

I mean Schafrillas Products talk about disliking PC for this reason, but sloan def goes into a better analysis into it.

[@Plooper3]

I mean a good bit of people do but they do it in a way that competently villanizes her. This show does character nuance so well and this video’s nuance with pc as a character is very impressive to me

[@tsunderelict]

she appears selfless bc she expects to gain

[@dougthedonkey1805]

I think making Penny a deer was genius character design, since though she isn’t entirely spotted she has prominent freckles, reminding the audience that she is still definitely a child, visually condemning Bojack in a way a different design wouldn’t

[@seeleunit2000]

I wouldn't go that far. Penny was 17-years-old during the incident. And Bojack definitely shouldn't have tried to sleep with her, most people forget that Bojack didn't have an interest in Penny until her mother rejected him after he & Charlotte kissed. Yet no one brings up the fact that Charlotte committed adultery with Bojack. Not to mention before all of that Bojack left alcohol poisoned teenage girl at the hospital with her boyfriend taking the fall. And no one else speaks about that either. But almost sleeping with Penny is the thing that upsets the audience the most ?

[@dougthedonkey1805]

@@seeleunit2000 17 years old is a child man what the fuck are you talking about

[@harrisonjohnson137]

Yes. Cheating on your spouse and giving alcohol to kids are bad, but the power gulf (she’s 17; he’s a movie star in his mid-50s) makes it fundamentally predatory. Bojack sets himself up firmly as a guardian figure before trying to take advantage of her. Looking at everything he’s done, his s3 interaction with Sarah Lynn is the only thing that comes close - and he commits more or less the same sin shortly before that, the only difference being that since she’s also a celebrity, the power gulf of him being a role model in her life isn’t quite as blaring. That’s the only thing people overlook imo

[@IplayTeemoasaWard]

@@seeleunit2000 "Oh Bojack didnt have an interesnt in her until her mom rejected him" that makes it worse, my guy

[@Ava-gu5ci]

@@seeleunit2000​​⁠ probably because what he did was creepy and nearly illegal? and she is a child. there was a whole point made about bojack stating the age of consent was 17 to defend himself because he KNEW it was wrong and that in itself is entirely predatory. he was 50 years old and Penny was absolutely not mature enough to commit “adultery” with an almost senior man. He was the superior and should have said NO. And he took interest in Penny after Charlotte rejected him to live out a fantasy that he could never have.

[@psiphre]

bojack in a nutshell: "you will inherit your parents' trauma, but you will not understand it." great video.

[@eileensnow6153]

“Therapy? I inherited this from my _grandmother,_ thank you very much” 😂

[@junipermoss4537]

quick fact check from a bojack lore enthusiast; none of the season finales could have been the last season. bojack horseman actually did get a special exemption, where netflix agreed to let them know if a season would be they started working on said season. rumor has it that bojack was the current CEO's favorite netflix original show, so this may have been the reason for special treatment.

[@chris_freaky305]

That's actually so cool of a fact, dang

[@CaulkMongler]

I love “Bojack lore enthusiast” as a title

[@junipermoss4537]

@@CaulkMongler if I'm gonna spend months of my life obsessing over this show I might as well claim a cool title for it lol

[@junipermoss4537]

@@chris_freaky305 you can sorta tell with how they foreshadow some plot points. they mostly only foreshadowed things that would happen next season, as that's all they knew they would get.

[@ebrdsht]

This is cool but it makes me wish they would just do that with all their shows, it clearly produces better television

[@davidmilivojevic1930]

okay ill rewatch bojack again

[@emo1ife]

Real

[@silangmera3806]

for the 4th time

[@itshel2677]

Rewatching Bojack always means a lot of mental prep work for me

[@_naco1070]

I love the show so much I just can't watch it episode through episode like the first time, I just can't 🥲

[@thorCast]

Wait you guys stopped rewatching bojack?

[@satyasyasatyasya5746]

honestly, media literacy is at an all time low. people don't so much miss the point but don't even think there IS one anymore, that 'points' are somehow cringe or cumbersome. I don't get it myself, all kinds of media where people just don't take anything away or take the total opposite thing away. Yes, sometimes there's taste and preference and interpretation but frankly modern media is so on the nose, i don't think thats even an excuse.

[@notthefbi7015]

I would say the internet has been terrible for media literacy

[@honeytteoki]

I agree, especially because those who weren't around to grow up using the internet were left with a lot of confusion surround how to be literate online. Thats why older generations fall victim to scams so easily. @@notthefbi7015

[@honeytteoki]

*surrounding.... damnit. That's ironic.

[@terpsidance.]

I dunno if I agree with this analysis. I think media literacy has always been low, and possibly has improved over time, but we live in an age where we can easily hear the opinions of everyone who ultimately didn't see the authors intended message, and we interpret our subjective experience as an objective proof.

[@espinita.]

​@@notthefbi7015the internet made me learn alot

[@sunnyanarchy8611]

Bojack horseman literally changed my life, it made me realize I didn’t like myself and that it didn’t have to be that way, idk how but it dragged me out of my 3 year depression and made me want to be a better person

[@acespades2387]

I think that that's beautiful, man

[@conordempsey8854]

Me too. The concept and reinforcement of "you have to be responsible for your own happiness" really changed my life.

[@AnotheraccountonYT]

Yea it really helps contextualise your own life

[@Jeremy-hx7zj]

​@@conordempsey8854how can you possibly be responsible for your own happiness. You don't get to choose whether or not you're happy.

[@conordempsey8854]

@@Jeremy-hx7zj a lot to dig into for one KZbin comment 😂 Google "BoJack Horseman responsible for own happiness" and you'll see lots of discussion on this idea. In essence, it's not about choosing to be happy, it's about taking control of your life and acknowledging that you have the power to change.

[@inesrv4761]

I really wished there was a section about Todd. He is presented as a goofy, sweet guy, and the fact that Bojack messes with him and his rock opera further establishes this conception of the character as the start. But as the series went on I noticed he will hang on to any type of excuse to avoid any type of responsability. He does nice things by chance and we want to like him, so he seems like a good person... and then he does awful stuff which can be avoided and it's just like "whoops silly me". He keeps avoiding the consecuences, and even one of the assistants shouts at him he just gets to get everything without doing anything because of the people who enable him. I think the writers had some intention when writing Todd and his lack of agency, so it would be great to hear more about it!

[@khaduopha2640]

I feel Todd suffered from the show being cut short. They clearly wanted to add depth to his character with his visiting parents plotline, but one heartfelt conversation with his dad after his mom got hospitalized due to some wacky hijinks ain't doing it for me.

[@DuelaDent52]

And it’s all sacrificed for a “lol Todd has white privilege” joke.

[@tinki2856]

I agree. Although I want to defend Todd a little bit. He is patronized by Bojack and since the series is mostly his view, his lack of responsibility might just be because of that patronizing. In the episode about Todd we clearly see his thought process, and how -even when it doesn’t seem like it, he thinks about other people, he tries to act morally and he tries to give advice to people on how to make other people feel better (fashion show). Also, after the year where Bojack was away, he sets clear boundaries and overall becomes more responsible. I really love this arc and I don’t really know how to describe it, but Todd is a lovable, complex, great character.

[@egg_bun_]

Aww I'm at the beginning, and that sucks

[@MegamanStarforce2010]

todd represents being happy and allowing yourself to be happy being yourself. the reason he's never condemned or given some elaborate depth is because that's what he really is at his core. he's just a genuinely good happy dude, the least broken person in the entire series.

[@Fizzy.subliminals]

i know a lot of people don’t like the characters for their negative traits but that’s something i love about them, it helps us relate, it makes them more real and less static, nobody is perfect and it shows that

[@cdogthehedgehog6923]

Blahblahblah

[@Fizzy.subliminals]

@@cdogthehedgehog6923 did i say to much?

[@NicoleFlores-hq5nh]

​@@Fizzy.subliminalsnah you're fine, the other is being an ass

[@Vooblebooble]

Absolutely. Bojack has always been the thing to uplift me through my own depression and anxiety cause it's so firmly against hopelessness, and even what we see as our worst selves are capable of getting better. "Life's a bitch, then you keep on living."

[@Torpedophile-k9e]

The comment section makes the series sound like it was made for losers with depression and addiction. Guess I'll pass. Am not a sadboy so might not relate lol.

[@moveimjay3401]

theres a quote somewhere along the lines of “tragedy is more optimistic than comedy because it implies the hope of change/inspires people to change” and i think that relates to how you said the scenes that make us think bojack may change are what makes the show have that hopeful undertone

[@prince5233]

I have always felt Bo Jack is relatable, and not in a good way. I knew he represented all the parts I honestly do hate about myself. All the bad things I’ve done to the people I loved the most. All the self sabotage and loathing. His mom- I always felt the purpose of the show is pretty much as you said it. A cautionary tale. To never let yourself become the bad things you’ve done. To forgive those people, remember what you have done and take true accountability for it, and move forward being the best person you can try to possibly be. Don’t excuse yourself, don’t let things happen to you, you have to be the light in your own life, or this could happen to you.

[@meodrac]

I'm sure there's a lot of viewers who thought they were more of a Todd only to find out they are more of a Bojack I just hope most of us escape the tar

[@Jeremy-hx7zj]

How do you take true accountability? What does that mean?

[@prince5233]

@@Jeremy-hx7zj plenty of people, an example being Bo Jack, feel that saying sorry and ‘accepting’ you did a bad thing is enough to have people forgive you, when i believe it takes a lot more than that. Beyond saying sorry, you have to actually feel it. You take what you did and actually learn from it, and try to show the people you’ve hurt you do not want to do that to them again. The biggest example in the show I believe would be when Bo Jack and Sarah Lynn go on their apology tour. They take little account for the people they’ve hurt, and just want to make themselves feel better, sloppily apologizing to people they’ve genuinely wronged.

[@r0ckmom]

@@prince5233An apology is only real if you actually mean it. You have to mean it, because if you don’t it shows you don’t regret hurting them, just that you regret the consequences you faced. Whether or not they believe you is still up to them, but if you only feel bad after you see consequences you’re not really all that sorry and they know that.

[@ninakrishnamurthy6674]

I've heard this particular bit many times, but I don't know who said it: "True humility isn't thinking less of yourself; it's thinking of yourself less." Many people (I myself used to be one of them) equate humility with self-loathing. And that just isn't the case. People like BoJack who hate themselves but aren't humble will gladly acknowledge their flaws and moan about how "I'm such a terrible person; oh, woe is me!" but won't actually put in the work to be better. They can't, because self-loathing is just as selfish as excessive self love. In order to be truly humble, you have to accept that not everything is about you. You should accept responsibility when you do something wrong but instead of wallowing in guilt and self-pity, you must strive to improve yourself for the sake of your loved ones. You don't do it to gain sympathy points; you don't even really do it because you want to feel better about yourself (although that is a welcome perk of genuine growth); you do it because you want to stop hurting the people you love. And to be clear, I'm not saying you should never think about your own well-being and needs. Excessive humility can be just as toxic. Basically, life is a delicate balance that I'm still trying to figure out (I'm almost 26 and sometimes I still feel like I have the mindset of a teenager). One of the first and most difficult things I had to "get" when I started adulting was the concept of nuance.

[@apollodraper]

this is the first time ive seen "criticism" (if you could call it that) of diane's character that wasn't just blatant misogyny. THANK YOU! i relate to her a lot and find it hard to criticize her actions, but your point of view made it very easy to see. i feel like now i know what to work on fixing about myself lol

[@alyssapinon9670]

I found it easy to spot Diane’s shortcomings because honestly I could recognize them in myself. I always had trouble articulating it without being lumped in the Diane-hating, Bojack apologists. So I’m also pretty grateful to have Diane’s faults laid out in plain terms, just like all the other characters.

[@Laura-jx7il]

I am like you and totally identify with diane, but i still dont totally get criticism. Could u elaborate what u wanna work on fixing about yourself?

[@JuliaYoung-pr8ys]

@@Laura-jx7il same here I feel like that in itself is saying something to me

[@Laura-jx7il]

@@JuliaYoung-pr8ys i‘ve been thinking about it lately and one thing that came to mind is how diane (allegedly) always holds others around her to impossible standards. She ignores reality for the sake of principle. I get annoyed with friends when they dont separate the trash, buy too much clothing and talk about superficial topics or dont engage in politics enough (which i wouldnt exactly know, but assume when they rarely bring it up or dont have anything to say on a topic). Sometimes i wanna say something about it, like scold them so they will change and be up to my standards. But i’m myself not perfect and i did buy a lot of clothing for a period of time (made from plastic), i dont inform and act enough on politics as i would like and i am superficial at times too. I dont do the same things they do, but who’s to say i’m better because of what i can see them doing? Its hypocritical of me to think so harshly of others, although i know i dont or cant fulfill my own standards. A contra argument i have against this position tho is that social pressure works 😬 like if people speak up about you having to educate yourself more on politics and living sustainable, it raises the standard in a group. Or at least the topic gets attention and is being discussed. But what i know is that i tend to get angry or annoyed ramdomly when for example a friend just puts all trash together and i wanna scold them, which isnt a nice way to do that (very nit picky…) and also not good for our relationship lol.

[@JuliaYoung-pr8ys]

@@Laura-jx7il THANK YOU SO MUCH I just needed it in words now I know what to do omg thank you so much, I do the same thing its horrible Im gonna fix it, thank you sm

[@caydenaltizer7369]

I have never seen a better analysis of princess carolyn

[@truanalain4266]

seriously. I'm a big fan of Schafrillas Productions, and he is openly not a fan of PC because she does morally wrong things and never seems to be addressed directly about it--I think this author did a great job of explaining why that's unnecessary and not important to her character while also outlining why someone might expect it to be since Bojack and Diane are going through it and they're our main characters.

[@knifewife4390]

@@truanalain4266 I don’t trust a damn thing that comes out of that guy’s mouth anymore bc his season 2 analysis was SO bad. “Wanda’s coma has no plot relevance and is unimportant.” Or something very similar. Like how the hell do you fail to comprehend that? Also not liking PC is a pretty big deal breaker, but that’s just me.

[@truanalain4266]

@@knifewife4390 I don't know exactly what part you're talking about, so I can't comment on that. Keep in mind, he was just praising a series--not going into a deep dive on everything. The things he said are his opinions and hardly any of them, except for dianne telling penny's story, are even criticisms of what the show should have done. You don't have to agree that he dislikes PC, but what is this trust? He's just a YT reviewer, not someone trying to make convincing arguments

[@artlover5060]

@@knifewife4390 PC is very apparent in her personal motivations being worryingly devoid of any true moral impact and this video was very clear in that, yet you still somehow think not liking PC is a deal breaker which I think is in turn a much bigger deal breaker. It's fine to like PC because she's a fun and spunky character, but that's where I personally would draw the line. If you like her because you think she's a great person, then I think that's a problem.

[@knifewife4390]

@@truanalain4266 fair enough. I guess what I mean to say is misunderstanding such a fundamental part of why Wanda and Bojack got together in the first place just really doesn’t sit well with me. So even though it was a review and not an analysis, it’s still blatantly wrong. There are plenty of valid points he makes, like as you said abt Penny, I just keep getting stuck on the other stuff 😅

[@PrettyPrincess9609]

As someone who suffers from anxiety and depression from past trauma, Bojack Horseman made me realize that I can’t be rude to others and emotionally hurt them then justify it because of my mental illness. I have to get help for my past trauma and work towards becoming a better person. I also can’t judge others when I myself have been rude to people. Yeah I didn’t physically harm people but I did say hurtful things to people. People did physically and verbally harm me in the past. I was abused by my mother, touched by my mom’s bf, and I was a victim of SA by a guy I thought was my friend. I was also bullied for years but that doesn’t make it ok for me to be mean to those closest to me. To this day, I regret some of the things I said to those closest to me. They just wanted what was best for me. In a sense, I did relate to Diane battling depression, caring about what’s right, speaking out against abuse, being quick to judge other people, realizing that I suffer from anxiety and depression and need help, and not realizing how my words can harm others.

[@liamking5142]

Damn, I saw the section labelled "Diane's worst act" and immediately thought of the scene you talk about, how it was the catalyst for Bojack losing his grip on the line between himself and his public image, because Diane as his biographer and best friend was always his intermediary between the two, and her spitefully turning the incredible power of fact and fiction she held over him, against him, was the sandbag-kick that caused the big Philbert balloon to float away and bring the violence of his fictional character into reality (helped by the drug addiction that stepped in to replace her friendship). But you're right, it would have had an equally if not more devastating effect on Penny, I honestly didn't think of that any more than she did. I remember in season 6, wanting her to be directly confronted by the consequences of her actions, and being frustrated that she seemed to keep gliding through in a haze of self righteousness. But in hindsight, I like how her arc ends, basically finding peace admitting she's a hack and surrendering her grandiose trauma-inspired responsibilities, Bojack included.

[@DuelaDent52]

That ticked me off so much that not only did she never face any repercussions for it but we never saw how it affected Penny. Like, the show makes sure Bojack always faces retribution whether it’s from himself, his friends or the God’s eye view, but it never does the same to any of the other cast despite them doing stuff either nearly or just as bad.

[@rennythespaceguy7285]

Yeah, that's the worst part of the show for me. It makes me think that the writer's didn't realise the impact of what she did there, the way that episode ends with her just making a snarky one liner about it makes it read to me as the show's biggest oversight, we're meant to be satisfied in how she punishes BoJack and leave it at that and it's a shame

[@alpacas8863]

@liamking5142 I agree and disagree on this take. I agree that this was the worst thing Diane did, solely bc it could have affected penny. It would be horrific to watch a show and see the man who preyed on you basically recounting the exact thing he did to you. But I still think bojacks actions are his own. Diane knows he takes drugs and has issues with his past so it was wrong of her to do that, but bojack could have been going to rehab the whole time entire show. He would just make excuses for himself in order to not. Bojack was the one who lost his mind and didn’t ask for help. We could say that Diane caused him to do that, but that could also mean bojacks actions caused him to do that, since he’s the one that did it in the first place and is actively doing drugs. I feel Diane needs accountability for this but so does bojack

[@acebee46]

This was perfect. Too many "video essays" are just people stating the obvious without a point or analysis. This gave so much amazing insight, I hoped it would never end

[@anormalguy9320]

"Too many video essays are just people stating the obvious without a point or analysis" Those videos really annoy me. It's all just pretentious style-over-substance fluff to make the youtuber look smarter than they actually are.

[@k-onlegacy]

@@anormalguy9320 And they'll have rlly interesting titles too 💔

[@po3alily]

right i pushed play and couldn’t stop its so insightful

[@RickJaeger]

Wdym? Princess Carolyn never dated a child. I think you made some kind of mistake out of confusion or something, cuz you showed Vincent Adultman, who is definitely an important employed grownup that works in Business.

[@st4rlive294]

Nobody laughed😭😭

[@RickJaeger]

Laughed? Wdym?

[@st4rlive294]

@@RickJaeger she dated a child

[@RickJaeger]

@@st4rlive294 I literally already explained this. 🤨 Why are you insisting so hard on something so creepy? Is there something wrong with you?

[@st4rlive294]

@@RickJaeger she dated a child stop trying to be funny nb thinks u are💀💀

[@livvyy8808]

I love how seamlessly you transition from talking about one character to the next. I found myself thinking “when is it Diane’s turn to be picked apart” and realized u already started. I really enjoyed that

[@SloanStowe]

Thank you so much!! 💖

[@forestgrump4723]

I am really grateful for bojack horseman, specifically for the poem “the view from halfway down”. I’ve struggled with depression a lot, and anytime I’m down the well and thinking about how much easier it would be to not be here anymore I listen to the view from halfway down. It reminds me that as long as I’m still on the bridge there’s an opportunity for things to get better. Once I’m halfway down I can’t take that back and it will never get any better. And I remember the people in my life and think about “my sister is dead, and everything is worse now.” Or “daughter”. And I don’t do it. At least, so far. I might lose the fight someday, but it’s a tool in my arsenal, and I don’t have a lot of them so I’m grateful to the writers for giving me that one.

[@chloeorr9880]

Don’t stop fighting. It’s not easy, but the world is a better place with you in it. Do you volunteer at all? One of the things that helped me out was serving others. It helped me realize I had a lot more to be grateful for than I thought.

[@Garrulous_Charlatan]

That last exchange of "Life's a bitch and then you die" ' to "Life's a bitch and then you keep on living" legitimately changed my outlook on life. I'm excited to see more of your videos!

[@hellNo116]

i don't care to count how many years it has been the line: it gets easier. everyday it gets a little easier, but you have to do it everyday that is the hard part, makes me want to cry. it changed me. it spoke to me in ways i will never fully understand. bojack horseman (obviously) is a great series. and yet it is a series that i can't return to watch again. it hurts. everything hurts when i watch it now. i watch video analysis sometimes. that is the max i can do with this series. just to remind me that i learned something from it.

[@alexeyman7301]

I have friends who were addicts, I've been an addict, I've started working out and eating healthier, so have they. We told ourselves and eachother that line almost constantly. I'm almost certain they never saw Bojack and that I'm the one who introduced the line to my friends without any context It's just that powerful. It's just that true. It's just so flexible.

[@invisi-bullexploration2374]

This show sure could take you down the depths of despair. Diane's story arc was even more devastating than Bojack's because for the most part she WAS a good person. She wanted to make the world a little better and each time 'Team Sociopath' just smiled in condescending amusement as she swung at things she couldn't put a dent in. 'The man' wasn't afraid of her coming in and changing anything one little bit.

[@уронить]

No you’ve missed the point entirely. None of Diane’s actions were genuinely inherently selfless, but rather an attempt to make herself feel better. Her friendship with Bojack is half of his problem, as throughout the entire series he essentially idolizes her as a moral authority, to both of their destructions. For Bojack putting a label like that on someone who clearly thinks and acts very similar to him and has a similarly defeatist, self centered view of the world would only serve to justify his own actions, thus contributing to an infinite loop of cognitive dissonance. Same with Diane, but the opposite. Having other people constantly take her petty, vindictive criticisms so seriously as if they had any constructive element at all would ultimately lead her to believe that her moral position is infallible, and that’s how she’s generally construed, but a more careful viewer would not have a hard time noticing the dozens of times when she excused selfish actions on the basis of broader morality. Ultimately, I think the ending and the schism in their relationship is meant to show that two people who are mentally ill in the same way won’t help each other be better.

[@alpacas8863]

@уронить imo I feel like Diane actually wanted to help the world, but she was hypocritical about it. Her friendship with bojack is one of the things I can think of. the question is this even if she wanted to change the world for the better out of pure selfishness, wouldn’t it still be making the world better, the same as someone who wanted to help people nonselfishly. If someone gives to charity to feel better about themselves does that make them worse, even if the action of giving to charity is still taken?

[@уронить]

@@alpacas8863 the point of Diane’s character is that even though she wants to help ultimately her narcissistic tendencies prevent her from ever doing any real good. She’s so focused on herself and what she should do and be she rarely externalizes her environment and as a result fails to properly connect and understand with the people who actually need help. Like the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The will to do good as you see it is not enough, because in the end not everyone wants you to help them in the way you want to help them. The important part of Diane’s character is recognizing that our own views of helping others and the help that they actually need can be very different, and when we’re so focused on ourselves and what we think people need it’s rare for us to actually notice others needs. That’s why throughout the series Diane always comes off as so tone deaf and self justified, and that was a very intentional choice that the writers took to explain how being preachy and constantly focused on your moral compass is its own type of narcissism

[@carolkoski4875]

but that'a precisely why her story ended the way she did. She couldn't change the world, sure, but she could change herself, and she could still cause meaningful change - the times they mentioned how her middle grade books actually had the effect she wanted her big trauma book to have are proof of it and that's why they're such heartfelt moments. Diane is the most realistic character of the bunch, to me, and I enjoy how she showcases an optimistic future - maybe change won't come as you expected, but it can still come, and still be good or even better than you thought, like Sloan said.

[@JunkRatt1985]

BoJack Horseman helped me become a better person *because* I saw a lot of me in BoJack. I wanted to purge myself of the bad shit and I like to think I did. I don't think I'd have the friends I have now if I hadn't and I'm overall happier with myself I think that's why I like the show and get a little defensive over it. Cause it's not supposed to make you feel good or anything, and you're not really supposed to forgive everything every character does but recognise that they can or could still grow. I was just lucky enough, I guess, to have watched this show at a young enough age where I still had that kind of time to really put in the effort to be better and not go "full BoJack" 😅 video essays like these kinda just help reassure my sentiment on it cause this show gets so much shit for supposedly glamourising or romanticising abusive behaviour, when really it's a commentary, like most media is.

[@kyaksachan502]

Yeah, I don't know what season if pre-philibert or post-philbert but Bojack taught me to really look into justifying shitty behaviour due to mental illness and incompentenze. I am forever grateful for this show for not allowing me to pull the wool over my eyes. My aunt, god bless her soul, cared but she enable a bad looping fallacy of thought. Just because one is sick doesn't excuse them of their actions or inactions. The thing I love about this show, is the undeniable nuancense. Fufflkins talk about the happiness vs Diana's Responsability to said happiness of others. It's annoying when people put these characters into a small black and white box, refusing to see the humanity reflected about ourself. Bojack defenders remind me of those who hated (and fully blame) Skylar because they refuse to acknowledge BB Main character was obviously not a good man. Skylar is far from likeable but she had every right to be upset. I'm so grateful for this show as it taught a certain self-reflection that's hard to swallow.

[@RaspberryPastry]

It's actually crazy how the show portrays the anger and spite you can feel after surviving neglect and abuse as a child. Dedicating your formative years to recognizing abuse and taking action to defend yourself might blind you to the patterns you're holding onto from that time. Diane felt totally justified trying to ruin Bojacks career by putting an exposé into the show where he'd be acting that out while completely missing the fact that a detailed depiction of what happened would invariably cause harm to Penny, a kid who was just trying to move on with her life afterwards, is like... So fucking heavy. Her main focus being justice before healing is her stumbling block throughout her life in how she writes and her relationships and even her resistance to help through medication. Literally everyone in this show is following the same logic they internalized through their struggles in the worst ways, and it's an ugly but human experience not a lot of shows can cast a spotlight on easily

[@flamevix]

I can't believe there are people who didn't understand it. These characters aren't meant to be idolized. They're meant to be, ironically and not, *human*. They're imperfect, and they make choices, which actually have consequences. There are no heros or villains. Even the main character is not a hero. He's practically a villain in his own story. And that's part of what makes it so intriguing to watch. On a side note, this show is actually one of the main reasons I quit drinking. Its frequent messages, showing the consequences of the characters' actions, and how everyone was effected really gave perspective. Anyway, this show surprised me, and was honestly one of the most intelligent series I've ever seen. It definitely deserved its run.

[@user-qw3nk2ke8h]

I think there is also the other side of "misunderstanding". Many people seem to wish bojack would have died at the end, deeming him to be unredeemable. I think this is a fundamental misunderstanding of what the show is about aswell.

[@CoachJohnMcGuirk]

Bojack is my hero.

[@genericname2747]

@@CoachJohnMcGuirk The suicide helpline is 988. Just so you know.

[@KasperHviid]

"Bojack's worst acts are so terrible that when he goes through a whole season without permanently traumatizing someone, he automatically looks like a saint."

[@knifewife4390]

Hands down the best analysis of the show I’ve read/seen. It’s so easy to fall into good or bad, and how something can’t be both. You explained that nuance really, really well, in a way I haven’t seen from anyone else. Excellent work. Makes me wish you included Mr. Chocolate Hazelnut Spread, who seems to be the opposite of Bojack’s “bad person who does some good things,” and is instead, “good person who does some bad thing.” Hard to explain lmao. But awesome work.

[@gastounmanar9814]

Honestly saying that "good and bad peaple doesn't exist, we are all human" kind of justify peaple bad action in some way, since "we are all complicated human being so it's ok to act like a dick". I think it's better to work on ourselve and be a better person rather then justify our bad action because "we are complicated".

[@Dryskle]

​@@gastounmanar9814 so you didn't watch the video I guess

[@hithere7080]

@@gastounmanar9814being bad is part of humanity, dehumanizing doing bad often leads to dehumanizing ‘bad’ people, which a lot of people use to justify abusing those ‘bad people’

[@lordfreerealestate8302]

@@gastounmanar9814 I think this can be true in some cases. Trying to find the good in abusers and such can lead to them being enabled.

[@geraltbiaywilk1788]

@@lordfreerealestate8302 the reason is exactly not to give abusers the leeway when they abuse people. Its important to find the good in them, and help them pursue that, but at the same time the only way for them to change is to hold them accountable for the shitty things they do, and showing them they can be good, if they do not give up on themselves. That being bad is a choice, a choice they can always stop making. Some people will never like them, and thats something they have to live with, but they have to choose, and if they keep choosing to do bad things, they are responsible for that.

[@agsmashups]

The fact is I know men in my life who say bojack is their favourite show and they “get it” how he’s awful - yet commit the same crimes and bad deeds and self pity or absolve themselves of blame and continue to act that way. Yikes.

[@seeleunit2000]

And yet they don't understand that with the character Bojack he tries to be better. Unless you try to be a better you'll still be in the same rut. Change is exhausting and time consuming, not to mention you find yourself falling back and a bad habits, however it's worth it.

[@LeoDBW]

​@@seeleunit2000Also, from the beginning we see that Bojack could be better, but the very environment he's in is toxic and sparks some of his toxic behaviour but running away isn't the solution either. I think the final was saying that; that Bojack needed to stay away from Hollywood, from his acting career, maybe even leave his friends. He needs to start anew and face the consequences of his actions. That is indeed a huge change, but it's how he can really start healing.

[@stoodmuffinpersonal3144]

​@seeleunit2000 he ends up in the same rut anyway. And, his trying to change doesn't always work. I get what you're saying. But he doesn't actually succeed. And some folks try to be better, but end up the same way. It's. Frustrating to watch. It's harder to live.

[@AnotheraccountonYT]

I love Bojack bcs he’s such a flawed, terrible and in some ways relatable character but he is NOT to be idolised

[@pinkieslefthoof]

I would run so far away from those ppl icl 😭

[@melpomegranate]

Another layer to Diane using the direct words from his recording to hurt him is that if Penny did try to come forward, his recorded confession could be written off as him practicing lines from his show. She basically made the tape unusable for either blackmail OR justice.

[@ElliottWalker-y5p]

Dang that’s a good point.

[@EscapeReality123]

I feel like the point of this show is to make you question your own morality, since the show won't tell you who to root for - you have to decide on your own. I think that it's also important to note, that Bojack is the main character. Which means, that we see most of the story through his perspective, we know his tragic childhood, generational family trauma, sometimes we can even hear his thoughts. It's basic psychology, that it is easier to sympathies with someone that we know story of. It's easier to justify his actions, regardless how shitty they are. Doesn't change the fact, that they are absolutely shitty and gross. You are not "supposed" to like or hate Bojack. You are here to witness and understand. Everything else is up to you

[@klamacz47]

Not really. Show is very direct with who you should root for and from 5 season it becomes so obvious, that it start to look like a lesson in kid's show

[@geministrial950]

​@@klamacz47 I don't think we watched the same show

[@bigtimetimmyjim6486]

When Bojack confesses his crimes on air at the end of the series instead of covering them up, I felt that he finally took the first step towards bettering himself; he would have gotten away with covering everything up and he had people around him who were more than happy to help him do it, but he finally put his "hoof" down and said "enough is enough". Every action before this was him denying his problems, kicking the can down the road and using his lifestyle to try to justify his tarnished existence, and this transpired over the course of 5+ long seasons. I think it is asinine that people glorify Bojack's actions because even he knows by the end of the series that his actions were reprehensible, but his actions at the very end do instill hope that he can be become a better person in the future. I also think that the other season finales do not compare to the series finale because of one important distinction: even if Bojack did commit to "bettering himself" at the end of each season, it was done in private and allowed him to keep his celebrity status in the public eye. Everything was laid bare at the end of the series, and I think it is really powerful that this was done at the behest of Bojack himself, despite having the opportunity to sweep everything under the rug once again.

[@mothbaroldsen7581]

it was such a relief to watch this video and see someone talk about ALL of the dimensions of these characters. Your points on the morality and motivations of Princess Carolyn and Diane were especially poignant. This show has a special place for me as someone who relates heavily to Diane. And, honestly, even as her good traits made me feel seen, her emotional dependence on Bojack and her at-times reckless actions forced me to look at myself and my life a lot more closely. I think your video did an especially good job at that-- it was like hearing a description of my college self read aloud, hypocrisy on full display. I had a long-time friend (and former abuser) who was "my Bojack," and I compulsively re-watched the show to try to understand him and our relationship. Now, years later, I ended up going on the path of Diane at the end of season 6: I am no longer in contact with him, I am medicated, and I am moving to a new state with my boyfriend, away from the toxicity of our formerly shared town + friend group. The ethos of the show actively fights against black-and-white thinking, and redemption through self-flagellation, and I think that that is a major part of why it continues to affect so many people so deeply. It demands that you look at your actions, and the actions of these characters, rather than just the motivations-- while still believing in improvement and redemption. The fact that people watch the show and skim by with a "sad = good" or "relatable = okay" mentality boggles the mind. There is just so much to sink your teeth into.

[@DuelaDent52]

Best of luck everything goes well for you!

[@JosephY29]

I love how much todd grew throughout the show, his "then you will get sober again" after bojack kept insisting that he was going to be a drunk or a bad person again.

[@serperiorandtheanimator9216]

If there’s anyone I looked up to at least in one aspect, it’s Todd. No matter what happened to him, no matter what he went through, he always managed to stay positive and goofy, but he also learned to hold his ground. I couldn’t be more proud of him.

[@heyfella5217]

From a writers perspective its just amazing how fleshed out these characters are. Somw good writing advice I've heard is to write every single character as if THEYRE the main character in the story. Their decisions and personality will appear more sensible and authentic, not at the whims of the plot. But ugh Bojack Horseman is just SO GOOD. How did they do it?

[@Bartholomule01]

Really great point about how Diane fucked up putting that scene in the show. Like she could make a scene like that, but with Bojack playing the character, that ain't it.

[@FloorMaassen]

Isnt it also a bit like Hollyhock drugging Todd and Bojack, Todd committing genocide and PC dating a child? Because the series is clearly not directing us at all into the victims perspective. We could judge her for emotionally lashing out at Bojack, but this argument of what its like for the victim is taking it quite farther than the series meant I believe.

[@DuelaDent52]

And the show *never calls her out on it*.

[@rowan-priince1860]

When I first watched the scene I viewed it as Diane covering for Bojack by making the recording sound like he was running lines.

[@monroe7532]

@@FloorMaassenTodd committed genocide?! When?!

[@reginarodriguez-martin4928]

@@monroe7532when he changes places with the Cordovian Prince. Someone asks him if they should go ahead with what they talked about (not specifying what they had talked about) and Todd guesses “Yes.” Apparently that causes genocide.

[@wildfirefox1]

I've NEVER considered that Penny would see that scene. Holy shit that's such an obvious thought but it never crossed my mind.

[@sussusamogus4714]

I remember watching that episode and feeling so frustrated that it was never even brought up! For all her feminism, Diane had plenty of moments in the show where she didn't acknowledge how her actions would impact vulnerable women around her, not only regarding Penny but also Peanutbutter's girlfriend.

[@EnanoPancracio]

I don't think Penny was sitting down for Bojack's new show. It's still extremely irresponsible, just not because Penny might see it.

[@raindeer9787]

​@@EnanoPancracio The video listed how many ways Penny could find out about the scene without "sitting down for it" and it was a very likely chance that she would discover it, it wasn't touched on in the show though. It's not a possibility easily ruled out.

[@Hel1mutt]

18:31 love this quote, and its a nigh impossible thing for any showrunner or writer to thread that needle of likability and disgust for a character. It reminds me of someone who has been in an abusive relationship. There will be good times yes, but a lot of bad, but it gets all confusing and you cant see what's right in front of you, that this person in your life is hurting you. Its an apt metaphor for Bojack's character i think. For people who havent been in an abusive relationship its hard to understand and maybe thats why its so easy to misunderstand Bojack as a bad guy but still have good qualities, or to love him despite his flaws.

[@lostandfound9524]

When i first watched BoJack, I was addicted to a multitude of hard drugs. Heroin controlled my life and I elated to Sarah Lynn the most because god did I desperately want to die. I just wanted to feel okay from the expectations my parents put on me and when she died I craved the same release. I recently rewatched it, now almost 4 years sober. I'm a new person, a happier person. But days get hard and sometime's I till see that Sarah Lynn side of me. BoJack really helped me come to terms that addiction is okay if you heal. It will never leav you, but you keep pushing foward despite the past. This show was life changing.

[@keystonelyte]

One of the things that gets me is the whole, "If it made you feel good, it wasn't selfless" bit. Is helping others supposed to make me feel awful? Is it supposed to cost me dearly to be decent? It's a good thing that helping others feels good for the average person, or else society would have collapsed before it began.

[@Anunnamedtank]

yeah i agree. People have this idea that sacrifice needs to be made in order for a good act to be honorable, and that feels fallacious

[@stopweepin]

its not so much that you’re supposed to hate it or dislike it. its more so, if youre getting something out of it anyways, did you really do it for that person? obviously it doesnt apply to everything. you can buy two tickets, one for someone else and youre getting the same thing out of it? thats much different than, you really wanted to go to wendys and your moms there. youd have to pay for her too but youre willing to because you still want wendys. youre not doing it for your mom; youre doing it for you. does that make sense???

[@keystonelyte]

@@stopweepin yeah, except that's not the context of the statement in Bojack Horseman at all

[@stopweepin]

@@keystonelyte it is! i used different examples due to my horrible memory! i cant give you a specific scenario from bojack. but apply my examples to bojack and it will make sense

[@keystonelyte]

@stopweepin in Bojack, the guy says this for actions that had no tangible benefit for Princess Carolyn other than her feeling good about being helpful. That is the context of my comment because it was in response to the bit from the show.

[@Kwauhn.]

This is one of the best analyses of Bojack Horseman I've ever seen. Those clips featuring poignant voice-overs over top of cuts that prove the point are exquisite and purposeful editing. Really good video!

[@expunkstep7226]

When I first finished the show, I cried at the fact that relating to Bojack helped me realize my own toxic and self-destructive behaviors and to this day it's probably one of my favorite shows to binge through ever, even though I'm still working out of certain behavioral relapses. And after rewatching it as much as I have, I think what's important for people to keep in mind is that you don't (or at least you shouldn't) finish the show being proud of Bojack, not even accounting for how many times he doubles back into being toxic and self-destructive with the eventual aspiration of improving himself. In a darkly comical way, you're instead prouder of everyone else being able to grow and develop long-term goals with improving themselves with the common link of being associated with and eventually distancing themselves from Bojack in order to attain that, whether it was PC starting her own agency, Diane becoming a successful writer, or even just Todd being able to move out and not be dependent on living with him.

[@expunkstep7226]

As a side note, I've seen a lot of people compare this show to The Venture Bros (also fantastic, check it out if you haven't) and discuss how Rusty and most of the cast fit as better representations of the character roles of this show, Bojack especially and while I don't disagree as far as the technical purposes between two shows that discuss celebrity culture, generational trauma, and the concept of legacy, I think the comparison is just a bit unfair between how direct either is with what they satirize and how much they focus on the mentality of the main characters. Neither show is perfect, but just purely from observation of either's arcs, Rusty doesn't change his personality as much as he just learns to mature it, while conversely Bojack's personality is always changing but isn't consistent for long enough to mature the way it should.

[@luna_nova_09]

Idk how much this will mean coming from a stranger, but I’m glad you’re getting better. 😊

[@VideoEssayWatcher5484]

9:24 i hate how people portray this as a false dichotomy when it’s not anywhere near as simple as that, some people mostly do it because it’s good for others and some mostly do it for themselves, and sometimes people do it for both reasons.

[@ivanav.3136]

yeah, it's a false dichotomy. people are complex, foolish to simplify intentions & actions as either black & white tbh. but i suppose the basis for these judgements are based on who sees it and what consequences they take from it. outside of that person's judgment, there's still many other evaluations happening in other people. it's all mixed and the narrower it's viewed the simpler the answer/judgement.

[@sweetea742]

Raphael’s point at 38:55 really spoke to me because that’s very accurate to how I feel. I’m generally on the ‘doesn’t get affected’ group, and so I will often err on the side of “Let people enjoy things”, but I agree that it doesn’t mean that media doesn’t affect people. And that media can be a particularly influential medium since people will, as you said, be quicker to argue that it doesn’t affect people than not.

[@annacharest1958]

I was a toxic person myself when I binged bojack. I related to bojack, not looked up to him, but I found some of his lower moments relatable. So I started to really knuckle down in therapy, and I held myself responsible for my actions. I guess to me, my mental health journey was tied to bojack. I wanted him to get better because I wanted to get better. So in the end, when the bombshell about the seventeen minutes dropped, I was heartbroken. It’s like I succeeded in my journey while watching a struggling friend fail

[@gabrielolmiro]

And here was I finishing the video and going like “okay, let’s watch all the probable 80 other videos from this channel because I love her analysis and then THIS IS ONLY YOUR FOURTH VIDEO? That’s amazing, one of the best video essays I’ve seen, keep em coming

[@kikifromurdreams]

the most genius thing this show does is talk to/about itself in season 5. i don't see any precedent of a show having "self awareness" like this and it made it soooo much more profound and good

[@BigChungus-gz9vw]

This show changed me as a kid seeing it. I legitimately was moved to tears. It has stood the test of time and in my opinions has only gotten better

[@yulebones]

There's this idea - one that I think was especially prevalent during the 2010s - that it's easier and, in fact, morally correct to view people in terms of "completely good" and "completely bad," and that we should apply this with particular zealousness to people who abused us. While I think that was useful for me in finally severing myself from my family of origin, finally going fully no-contact at the age of 30, it didn't help me heal at all. Like, yeah, lopping your arm off might get rid of the nail in your hand, but it won't do anything about the bloody stump that's left, you know? BoJack Horseman was so freaking hard for me to watch because it was being made at the same time that I went NC with my parents. It took me a few watch-throughs to really let the messages sink in, but it ultimately helped me a great deal. I am able to recognize the nuance in why people are the way they are, and why that might inform how they treat those closest to them. While both of my parents were abusive, that sort of nuance helped me see that both of them did so for different reasons, and recognize that while I could still forgive one of them, that doesn't mean what either did was ok, and it doesn't mean I should ease off on my boundaries. Acknowledging the complexity in our relationships is incredibly vital for healing. It also helps with understanding that forgiveness doesn't mean you're removing someone's culpability for their actions. The one parent I can forgive is a lot like BoJack - he suffered and wasn't always bad, but he needs to take the steps to fix himself. The other parent is like Butterscotch - delighting in making people suffer, refusing to own any wrongdoing, no desire to ever be better. Like Diane says, we are all just *guys.* There are always reasons for who we are; but it's not an excuse. Raphael Bob-Waksberg is right in believing in the power of television to communicate with us. I'm really grateful for the impact BoJack had on how I have learned to navigate my life. We're all freaking messes and we need to both have compassion and hold each other accountable. Thanks, Raphael. (And thanks, Sloan!)

[@terpsidance.]

I always imagine what Bojack would have done if season 3 was the last season. That moment, seconds after almost ending his life, watching the other horses run, would he still have gone to the old Sugarman house? Would he have run with them? Would he have made a second attempt on his life?

[@juannaym8488]

I don't think he tried to take his life at the end of season 3. I think he tried to let go of being in control and going with the flow of things

[@terpsidance.]

@@juannaym8488 generally you don't do that by letting go of the steering wheel and stepping on the gas with your eyes closed.

[@uniklae]

@@juannaym8488 if i remember correctly he does say in the next season that at this moment he was trying to end it.

[@KindaErudite]

Some takes I've seen of Bojack sure is something... I get people emphathising with him, with his addictions, trauma and mental illness. But the lengths some people to defend or downplay Bojack's actions is insane. I cannot believe that some fans genuinely believe that the "17 mins" thing was some half assed retcon to make Bojack unlikable. It's as if the writers deliberately withheld the information so that we the viewers will feel the same betrayal during the interview. Also early seasons, some people really had the wack take that "Diane is just as bad as Bojack". Diane is flawed, but I doubt anything she did was as bad as nearly sleeping with a minor 🤔

[@tobioswife5355]

@@Freakcheeksshe literally wrote “nearly sleeping with a minor”

[@KindaErudite]

@@tobioswife5355 For real... proving my point people can't read properly 😭

[@BratzRockAngels]

Diane is flawed but the fact that people actually try to say she's worse than Bojack is definitely because they want to take the slack off of Bojack, that or misogyny. Her growth is also really impactful throughout the show.

[@gota7738]

I mean, I think it's a good effort retcon to cover for the show having been cancelled earlier then planned and the writers wisely feeling like they couldn't tackle what they'd built up with Penny in the time they had left in a sensitive manner. The show is just dense in set up, symbolism and motifs, and I don't think if that was always the direction they'd just hold off on building up a reveal in the background just for shock value.

[@Psilo-gn1sx]

I used to be an EMT, so I notice when medical emergencies don't play out accurately, even if I understand it's an artistic choice. I always thought "she was just talking, people don't OD that quickly, she should've had another 10 minutes at least". I'm glad they accounted for that, because while it wasn't *really* a plot hole, it kinda answered something I had been wondering myself.

[@verbfrombonsai8852]

I really loved how the show ended. It's not a bad ending where the bojack kills himself and there is no redemption, but it's not a good one either where everyone becomes good friends and everyone is happy now. It tells you "hey, this is what we have left. Now it's your choice where you go from here". I think I needed to hear that.

[@noahmclaughlin7921]

Good video! BoJack is a downright incredible show and plenty of the themes, commentary, and characters (particularly BoJack himself) are some of the best I've seen. I think your analysis of the characters and themes is pretty spot on, thorough, and well put. I'm glad you acknowledged the cartoony immoral actions most of the main cast have done at the start cause that's always annoyed me. I get the show is a comedy, and I think it can be very funny and balance incredibly lighthearted and incredibly serious moments well. But IMO if you're gonna have a show that's very critical of your protagonists morality and awful actions, you can't just have the other characters be doing debateably worse things and riding it off as just a joke. It'd be like in The Good Place if Jason was committing accidental genocides but we're still supposed to view him as a good person who's improving with the others. It just doesn't work well for shows that cover morality so extensively. One small thing for the posts shown at 19:10, I think the middle post is fine since it sounds more like it's trying to say "Sarah Lynn was a grown adult who made many bad, immoral, or reckless decisions decisions that led to her death and while she is a victim that doesn't mean she did nothing wrong" and less "Guys BoJack's not that bad Sarah Lynn made bad choices too so it's not as big a deal that he enabled her bender and did things that caused her death". I've seen a lot of people in the fandom infantilize Sarah Lynn so I think it's a valid take to have. Of course that's only going off the title, I have no idea if the actual post says anything questionable or not. And those other two shown are just absurd. Like yikes.

[@KiwiRuby-rf8ot]

This is the best analysis of Bojack I've seen and I've watched plenty. I think you captured the true theme and messaging of the show without swinging the pendulum strongly in one direction or another.

[@KLlave-vp2iu]

Thank you for pointing out the parallels between Philbert and Bojack as the writers themselves speaking about the show through the show. That was clear to me when watching, but when people discuss the show it seems like they missed this point 😭

[@chelscara]

The View From Halfway Down will always be a poignant moment in my life, especially considering I’m here alive. It sucks there will always be people that cannot or will not understand the nuance these kinds of shows require, but we will always still need shows like this. Or at least, I know I will.

[@AnotherCamilo]

Bojack Horseman would be a great Silent Hill protagonist.

[@egg_bun_]

Oh my God, you're so right.

[@iantaakalla8180]

The penultimate episode alone proves that.

[@rachels.8051]

I think as someone who has struggled with trauma, addiction and mental health, it’s very easy to relate to a lot of the self-loathing and self-destructive behaviors. It’s easy to also see that the people on the receiving end of those unacceptable behaviors shouldn’t be expected to forgive. I think the second to last and last episodes of the series are the most fantastic episodes of television I’ve ever seen. Bojack needed to be held to account, and he lost the relationships he had that were most important to him. But Bojack still has to live with himself, and he shouldn’t have to conceptualize himself as a “bad person” forever. Bojack is not a role model; his behavior should not be excused or accepted. But once you’ve apologized for the harm you’ve done, even if others can’t forgive you, you do have to do the work to keep living and that means forgiving yourself enough to be capable of change.

[@o26kaichu20]

This is a beautiful analysis of Bojack Horseman as both a show and a character. Media literacy is... depressingly low right now. And the fact that it's "controversial" to bring up the possibility that it could have a negative influence on people (hell, even "children's" shows aren't safe to scrutinize in my experience), is, in my eyes, reflective of this. This is not something I'm gonna 'get into', but I do want to say you have a lovely voice and I truly hope you continue to take off! See ya around th'algorithm! ☺

[@andyhunjan]

I love this!! You have a very compassionate and critical approach that I admire. There tends to be a lot of negative commentary on Diane and PC (and a lot of other characters, but I have heard the brunt of criticism be about those two] without any open-mindedness or actual critical eye, and I like how you were able to really take a creative and critical lens to the characters, painting them as complicated amalgamations that develop and grow and do messed up things, rather than good or bad. Because, like you said, the show is about showing people being both good and bad, and we owe the show a similarly complex analysis.

[@seanignatuk3179]

Refreshingly nuanced and incredibly poignant. I see your channel is relatively new and this is the best video essay I've seen on Bojack. If you keep at it, I bet a lot of ppl will find their new favorite creator here. 11/10

[@MsAlyssaB1]

I like this topic being analysed. Saying fiction doesn’t effect reality is so painfully naive and trying to justify yourself by doubling down with “I believe people are smart enough to distinguish fiction from reality” is just a way to always have a rebuttal even if it’s biased. If you take the stance that it’s the intellect of an individual issue, then disagreeing is insulting people’s intelligence as a whole, falls in with the same line of thought as “humanity as a whole is bad so my behaviour isn’t” And if someone is proven to be effected by media, by this logic they’re just dumb and that can be an excuse for them personally not a criticism on the media itself or it’s impact. I once saw an artist do this and felt icked immediately but it took a few years to understand why and be able to put it into words.

[@josiea.3855]

Diane's character has always been important to me. At first I didn't like her, and I felt that way for several seasons before realizing that the reason I didn't like her is because I'm SO MUCH like her. I often let my morality get in the way of my actions, it getting to a point where I do things that normally I would be against because I'm upset. Now I have a lot of love for Diane, she's helped me see some of my own flaws and I love seeing her grow throughout the series, something that I am trying to do

[@alyssapinon9670]

I wasn’t sure if I liked her at first for a different reason. I was afraid that they were going to make her a generic moral compass love interest. But once we got to explore Diane’s thoughts and actions divorced from the expectation Bojack put on Diane (and all the women in his life) to save him, I loved her. I wanted to shake her at times but more because I saw too much of myself in her and wanted to scream at my past (and present) self. Or at the very least stop her from doing the same shit I did.

[@Laura-jx7il]

I think i’m too close to see it, but i dont really get how morals can get in the way of your actions. Sure, making bojack say those lines was passive aggressive and mean, but how does it compare to all the shortcomings of the other characters? She couldve told him directly but its not that big of a deal to me

[@JuliaYoung-pr8ys]

​@@Laura-jx7il Dude, morals (the good and bad) are the rules we use to define our lives. You could be given a person's morals on a piece of paper and debate what they'd do in certain situations depending on their morals. But for Diane she has this debate in her own head constantly.

[@Laura-jx7il]

@@JuliaYoung-pr8ys i think i just need an example from the person who said they do things they normally wouldnt because of their morals bc i still dont get it lol

[@JuliaYoung-pr8ys]

@@Laura-jx7il Well for them It would be normal. Killing a spider would be normal for my friend but I think it is inhumane. That is an example of how our morals cause us to take different actions in the same situation. Killing the spider is normal according to society and my friend but I see it as a horrible thing. (This is just an example) See how I'm doing something that society wouldn't normally do because of my morals? I hope this helps!

[@yourboy9236]

A bojack video that doesn't make me feel like killing myself from the superficiality of the analysis. HEAR HEAR!!

[@cudgeonkurosaki8489]

42:23 My favorite part is that the dialogue aligns with the rise and fall of the tides. Fall: "What if I relapse again?" Rise: "Then you'll get sober again."

[@mehlover]

This is an amazing analysis of Bojack and how fans can miss the point. I used to go on the Bojack subreddit, and it got concerning when there were vocal people who'd misinterpret Bojack. Like how he's cleared of wrongdoing or blaming it on his addictions of backstory. Fortunately, there is pushback, but seeing how often there were people defending Bojack has me thinking either we have (way too many or few who do it often) trolls who have no lives or fans who literally missed the point (despite being addressed in s6). I really love how you critically looked at Diane, too. It was eye-opening for me since I hadn't seen anyone bring up her writing the scene in the Int. Sub ep could also be harmful and bring negative consequences to Penny (even if they're unintentional cause she's just trying to hurt Bojack). And now I understand why Diane's rigidness with her morality can also get in her and others' ways. I'm so glad to find another great video essay on Bojack. And glad to hear more info from Wahlberg, I gotta check out those podcasts

[@niapri]

The complexity of Bojack is why I adore the show. I want to NOT be him. His ending is what you deal when you give in too often to the wrong choices, leaning into your flaws because it’s easier. Even if you do better…sometimes it’s just not enough. You’re not a bad person, but you’ll lose something. I love the ending with Diane because it just lets you sit in the uncertainty. I was just sobbing. I was dealing with a lot of Bojack in me and promptly got my butt into therapy. In a much better place now. It was so hard seeing his spiraling thoughts in season four, I just got chills because it was so close to what I heard from myself all day long.

[@HeavyMetalMouse]

I not fully sure why, but the juxtaposition of "It gets easier. But you have to do it every day, and that's the hard part," with "Sometimes life's a bitch and then you keep on living," hit me really hard tonight. I know it's meant to be the note of hope, but... just... ow.

[@wrenbear]

the episode “the view from halfway down” changed my life. the entire show did. I watched bojack horseman at the lowest point of my life. it was one of my motivators to finally get help. and now, 3 years later, i am the most healed i have ever been. i think it’s time to revisit the show and see how my opinions have changed.

[@CreativelyInsane1996]

Christmas came early in the form of your video (especially BOJACK FRICKING HORSEMAN) in my notification bar!

[@interstellartraveler8956]

this was so well rounded and thoroughly analyzed, I especially appreciate the insights into the writers intentions with how each season played out. Great job!

[@pxrfxct]

Bojack is a weird show because through and through Bojack has every opportunity to redeem himself, but he doesn't and he proves to everyone he sucks. And then at the end he gets it together and tries to end it all again only to bounce back again and then it just ends, it ends on the note that Bojack is a terrible person who tries but puts himself down too much for any of it to matter and realized he needed to change his perspective and he needs his friends but he has to do everything on his own because of how badly he kept burning bridges to rebuild hollow watch towers with draw bridges being added later and sometimes never. Great show tbh really shows how flawed people can be and how hard it is to break those habits the longer you stay in a bad life style

[@mist3995]

It always amuses me how two people can watch exactly the same show and come out of it with completely different takeaways

[@kentlarwill9323]

34:32 I didn't notice this while watching the show but in the background there's a quote from Nietzche "If you gaze long enough into the abyss, the abyss also gazes back." A haunting sentiment to what Diane is going through in this very moment. She becomes obsessed with calling out the foulness in the industry, in calling out Bo Jack, but in doing so she becomes foul herself.

[@tbow13gbr22]

I’ve always felt that a key difference between Vance and Bojack is the fact that Bojack’s attempts at redemption and healing are personal, while Vance is much more performative. Vance does the big, public gestures, while Bojack actually goes to therapy and tries to make amends to the people he hurt (some of them anyway). Which is why by the end of the series, Vance’s film career is as strong as ever, but everyone close to him hates his guts and wants nothing to do with him, while Bojack’s career suffers more, but the people in his life show at least some level of forgiveness for him. PC still sees him as a friend even if she won’t work with him anymore, Todd goes out of his way to help him even if he’s made it clear that he’ll always carry all the hurt that Bojack has inflicted on him, and even Diane clearly still deeply cares about his wellbeing even if she knows she can’t actually be around him anymore. Vance will always be able to find public forgiveness, but his life will never truly be fulfilled, but Bojack has a chance to actually find some level of peace in his personal life.

[@sharkbait398]

This video deserves so much more recognition. Very well researched and done. Thank you.

[@danaportnoy9153]

I find it fascinating to know that the writers of this show view it as ultimately hopeful or optimistic in tone, because.. and I say this as an adamant fan of the show, for its mastery of nuance and seamless mixture of satire and realism… I cannot think of a show that when I finished it, left me in a more pessimistic place. Yes it ends on the hopeful notes of each character having better ideas of what they need, and how to help themselves move forward in their lives; that makes me happy for them. And the bittersweetness of knowing that this show would never give its viewers the satisfaction of an epilogue, because that would taint the realism of the story, adds to that hopeful feeling in a unique way. But its portrayal of addicts and their spiraling mindsets, the negative impacts they will always have on the people around them in all sorts of roles, consciously and unconsciously… the sheer unfairness of it all. As an aspiring entertainer, it makes me feel helpless. Bojack didn’t stop these problems it puts on display. Bojack didn’t make a sizable dent in those problems, as this video points out; it’s misinterpreted by many. Knowing this show as a reality persists, relentlessly traumatizing real human beings every day, more than history will ever care to remember.. makes me wordlessly sad. To my core.

[@kathrineici9811]

Goodnight Pun-Pun might leave you in a more pessimistic place

[@topcatfan]

​@@kathrineici9811the anti-woke rizz simulator is even more pessimistic

[@iantaakalla8180]

I just think the positive ending was that BoJack did not ruin everything, or that somehow he had a positive effect on the four people’s lives he ruined because they were forced to figure out themselves. As for him himself, the only positive effect he has is that he recognizes that his friends do not owe him anything especially after he ruined their lives and that he technically is now very sober with his lifestyle and that he needed to be ripped out of Hollywood for his own good. The issue is that, because it is a thing that BoJack learns actions after ruining other’s lives, and he still has that urge for fame, BoJack still hasn’t changed at all. I would argue that BoJack in the end of the show is in a sleeping state. That is, he may technically be improved and moral and caring, but that is because like Walter White, he is dehydrated and does not have the chance to awaken. In this case, BoJack does not have the chance to reclaim his fame such that it puts him on that high again.

[@gocelotspice5766]

Really good analysis so far. I liked your take on PC. I love PC, but I do think some of her more questionable aspects are overlooked. I like that you show how she improved. I also think people really miss that some parts of the show are meant to be taken less seriously than others.

[@gocelotspice5766]

Diane is probably my favorite character, she reminds me of myself so much. Her deep need to do good but her failure to feel fulfilled by the little that she can do is something I relate a lot to. Sometimes it seems like such a good thing- but sometimes it does seem to go too far and harm others, and gets caught up in hey ideas of what’s right. That’s very much like me, and I grapple with it.

[@Centurion0419]

The thing I’ll always adore bojack the most for is making it all feel so believable, Diane especially, it’s so common for people to have blinders in life and not see their own hypocrisy, but it’s also super common for those who want to do good to think they’ve removed theirs when in reality they’ve only fallen into their blind spots, it’s always the harder to articulate and question the means behind and consequences of your own actions because to do them you’ve already had them run through your brain and be accepted as the actions you wanna make, it takes a lot to not just run the same calculation and always think your doing the right thing

[@TheGameHoard]

I've watched a fair share of the Bojack youtubers recommended at the end, and yet your insight here still felt fresh and unique. Particularly enjoyed your use of interviews and the creator's thoughts to help frame your analysis.

[@G0rilla2829]

Bojack is so relatable to me and made me reflect on my own self-hate, continued to teach me that my action have very real consequences, especially that there is a point where you are unable to forgive yourself for something you've done. Also the constant struggle of being a shitty person and trying to be good is something that resonates with me a lot, like having to stop finding excuses for my shitty behaviour.

[@wulfrikat]

I'm so glad the algorithm worked for once and showed my your video. I like the way you explain things, I had to pause and collect my thoughts a few times, like you put in words these things I've been thinking but couldn't name them. I think I'm leaving this video as a slightly changed person, honestly. Already subbed, can't wait to see the next one

[@Khaoscntrl]

This show changed my view of myself and the way I reacted to a lot of things. Idk exactly how other then I saw a lot of myself in certain characrers. Mostly Diane and occasionally Bojack. Less their actions directly and more the whole fetishizing your sadness. I was so wrapped up in how sad I was it affected my relationships and choices and I related to much to the “I feel bad so you should forgive me” am I perfect? No. Have I fully gotten over that, naw. But am I way more aware of it and able to redirect myself and take more accountability .. yes I feel like I am and it sometimes feels so dumb that this horse show showed me that but it did. I saw to much of myself in Diane’s need to hold that sadness in, to make something of it. Instead of healing you’re deliberately grasping at it and it ruins certain aspects of your life. It also allowed me the ability to realize I can cut people off while still loving them, or caring about them. But realize that it’s fine to say “I’m glad I knew you” even if I can’t know you anymore. I love this show so much.

[@ST9876543]

8:30 "It's borderline a trauma response." Is a fun line while discussing BoJack Horseman

[@rockdiva67]

This video was perfect timing! I just started watching Bojack Horseman for the first time since its initial run. This was a really insightful video, and it will definitely help me to view this show from a more nuanced standpoint especially since I was 18 when I first watched the show and I am now a 23 year old with a greater perspective of the world.

[@Wifiscouch]

In depth, detailed, thought out, beautifully made videos like this make me sad bc it reminds me of my friend not watching the show bc it “reminded her of family guy”

[@SilverRagaire]

I’ve always had an issue with Todd. He’s fun and I want to like him, but he gets away with _literal crimes_ that are ignored as jokes, while the wrongs done to Todd are treated seriously, to the point that Todd even got the season 3 F bomb. The fanbase wants to go “we must protect Todd he is pure.” While I’m here going “RABID CLOWN DENTISTS.” I am so thankful for the “you’re white” like from Jorge.

[@gocelotspice5766]

I find todd a little frustrating at times for sure. I can overlook most of thr jokes including him but his flaws are completely overlooked

[@21kaduku]

I'm always out to listen to more dissections of BoJack and I'm glad you've added yours to the pool of already amazing essays. I'm very much looking forward to seeing more of your work.

[@Whateverok00]

It’s insane that this video came up in my algorithm picks just now. I was just having a conversation with my DnD group about the moral ambiguity of the more toothsome art made by creatives from the kind of weird cultural cohort born between 75 and 85 of a certain intersection of education and class privilege. I don’t want to constantly harp on the dangers of the oft repeated “Let people enjoy things.” Art is meant to provoke reflection and engagement while taking part in difficult moral, ethical, philosophical, and cultural conversations. Any work that actively engages cultural critique and satire in a poignant and human way cannot be entirely didactic. Anti-intellectualism and an almost nihilistic commitment to uncritical consumption and media illiteracy is a cancer.

[@michellel9739]

There is plenty of art around for all tastes, some is just there to enjoy and some to question ourselves and our environment. I think this kinda of art, the latter, should be more funded. The real issue is funding this sort of series. It really depends on who wants to put money on something that can have a risky investment return.

[@therondanielson9962]

I think people generally use “let people enjoy things” to critique those who criticize others for enjoying things outside the norm. That’s just my subjective experience though.

[@MB-bl4nl]

This is a really well made encapsulation of the core ideas Bojack Horseman champions. There's a lot of excellent points in your analysis that I never fully recognized when I watched the show. I appreciate you including quotes from the author as added evidence to your underlying ideas about what the show is trying to convey.

[@isoldewas]

Always so grateful for the topics you choose, this one is definitely going to be a hit for me (I’m on minute 6)

[@sarahirisfox]

Excellent analysis! I also never thought about the depth of the impact that the scene in Philbert could have on Penny. I agree that this was Diane at her worst however I do appreciate her growth as a character. I love this show and thanks for your take on it 😊

[@ElliottWalker-y5p]

WHAT. A review of Bojack Horseman that's nuanced and...actually does the series justice?? Thank you for making this! I've loved the series for so long and I've clicked on so many reviews only to feel that (not that I enjoy putting content creators down) the reviewer unfortunately left me feeling unsatisfied with how they categorize and discuss the characters. I'm only eight minutes in but I'm enjoying myself immensely. Also your voice is very soothing. Thank you again!

[@caleb1rshelton]

Weird take: what happened to Sarah Lynn was bound to happen from the start and ended in the most tragically poetic way possible and I think it was perfect. I think Bojack had been irredeemable all along. I think most of these characters are, but like you said Even the worst people can do positive things. I grew with a single mother who was an alcoholic. Very much like Bojack, nothing was "her fault". She was always the "victim". In spite of all of that though there were moments when she was a great mother and a positive force. People aren't one thing. They can be equal parts positive and negative influence. I also related to Bojack's self-lothing and this show helped me come to terms with that.

[@destenwoodham9094]

KZbin was amazing by having your video pop across my recommendations. I know you only have 4 videos up but they were so good that I am so excited to see what else you decide to talk about in the future! Your analysis, breakdown, and discussions so far have depth and yet are equal parts easily digestible and getting the point across. It also helps that your delivery is smooth in an almost casual way. Not to mention that you can see your love and care in the topics you have chosen. I hope not only to see more of my favorite things come across your channel but also things that were never invested in by myself. I look forward to future video essays.

[@SloanStowe]

Thank you so much for your support ❤️