Why "The Old Sugarman Place" is Bojack's SMARTEST Episode!

An episode of Bojack that nobody is short on talking about, trust me, but I do feel that compared to the more renowned episodes ("Free Churro", "View From Halfway Down") are talked about FAR more than this extremely important episode. Not to mention, the beauty that is "Time's Arrow" would not be possible without this episode to set it up. Every payoff is wonderfully set up in this episode and prepares the viewer emotionally for not only the gut punch that ends THIS episode, but also for "Time's Arrow".
There is so much ground covered across the 26 minutes, it is actually astounding. The character work, emotional parallels, and worldbuilding all combine to make a standout episode of season 4 that I think deserves some more attention . (Trust me, people love it plenty, but I want MORE.)
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[@BG-kn3nt]

I have to argue that destroying the Sugerman house was not a good thing. Instead of dealing with the grief he, like Joseph, made a shallow attempt to move forward. The house being destroyed doesn’t change how he thinks and how he copes with his emotions. The symbolism falls flat because he didn’t deal with things, he will never escape his grief. At least that was my interpretation.

[@eileensnow6153]

💯 it’s another grand gesture like the stunt with the ladder. It’s BoJack trying to wrap up his time in the house in a neat little bow, ignoring the fact that destroying the house isn’t the same thing as actually processing your grief.

[@momhplyfuk9284]

I agree. Its also incredibly wasteful, a new family could have made really positive memories there.

[@yukarilolz]

Yeah and on top of that bojack also quotes Sarah Lynn in the end who, before she died, went from place to place looking for enablers so she'd have distractions from her own problems

[@purrrrrrrple]

Yes and that's so on point. He's sooo close to actually dealing with his emotions, but would rather destroy what triggera them first

[@tashibalampkin8555]

I like that analysis

[@ItsRubenMorris]

You touched on how Honey’s signature phrase would later be twisted into something far darker, but a detail I love is that immediately Joseph foreshadows her lobotomy by saying “that half you can keep” in response to her saying she has half a mind to kiss him.

[@katietaylor8314]

Eddie sobbing "I don't wanna live!" makes me cry too.

[@PercabethIsMyLife]

I'd go as far to say that Bojack destroying the house is a metaphor for him moving further than anyone else in that house ever did, but in an equally toxic and destructive way. The house never modernized, it looked exactly the same as the day Beatrice met her lobotomized mother. That was the day the Sugarmans collectively stopped time's arrow. It looked exactly the same because Beatrice never updated it in her entire life. Bojack, a product of the generational trauma from that memory does move past that moment that he never experienced himself but he chose instead of accepting his grief, his past and his grave mistakes, he tried to burn it and leave it behind. The house being destroyed represents the end of the Sugarman's family grief, but not the end of the Horseman legacy of inhereted pain.

[@theshockinglyeloquentdog9945]

also can I just say that lobotomies were often done by inserting an ice pick to the nose. So of course, this being a visual medium, the head wound lets the audience know what happened without spelling it out, but because they're horses it kinda gives the impression that the ice pick couldn't reach lol

[@MoonPhantom]

Actually the most common way was to do it through the eye, a little pick in through the corner of the eye to the grey matter of the frontal lobe so there's no visible scar. But still... AAAAAAAHHHH!

[@AnthonyVassallo]

Also recall a similar wound was used in the 1969 Planet of the Apes movie to show what the apes did to humans who "evolved".

[@ryszakowy]

harper's landing in bojack's dream he lives at the lake with charlotte and their daughter's name is harper he destroyed more than one thing with that house

[@gumemeho]

This is the episode that made me wanna go back to my home country halfway around the world and confront my grief. Extremely healing. I'm no longer suicidal. Thank you, Bojack creators

[@JustCozItsMe]

I just lost my grandma this week, the women who raised me since I was 6 years old. This video about this episode... it hits on every level.

[@debbieagyeman3595]

I’m sorry🥺

[@usernotfound_____yet]

My condolences ❤

[@dappercrab4243]

My girlfriend and I sing the duet every time it comes on!

[@shaunrobitaille3780]

I want what ya’ll have 😭

[@arjdjsjjsiekdjxizuajbwbdjs]

swap phones xx

[@ultracummer]

i have bad news bro i think i just hit someone with my car and it wasnt your girlfriend

[@cyalo]

i saved it to my playlist, and my man and i do the same

[@dappercrab4243]

@@cyalo its a really nice duet when you're together but its also cathartic when it comes on while youre apart

[@mirawest8510]

A ridiculously subtle payoff I really like is that Bojack would've drowned in the lake if it hadn't been for the progress he made in the underwater episode in season 3. Even though he's still fucking up this badly, his slow growth still makes a difference

[@uniraffesaur]

The house made such a great metaphor for their grief; genuine agree that it was a masterfully written episode. When Bojack is first in the depths of his grief, it’s messy, it’s in shambles, and Bojack is pushing everyone away. Eventually, he lets Eddie in, and Eddie enables him to be comfortable in his misery (by making the house more livable).

[@trafficcontrol2420]

The Dog Days Are Over, Good Damage or Xerox of a Xerox. S5 and 6 have become my fave and those episodes don't get enough love outside of View From Halfway Down.

[@ge0rgialiv]

The dog days are over is my favourite episode I couldn’t agree more

[@quinintheclouds]

YES those eps get so overlooked and for WHAT

[@72bluestar]

Bojack and Eddie spent so much time breaking down their own emotional walls, only for bojack to figuratively and literally destroy them in the name of his own ego. It is very telling of what the writers of the story are trying to say about people like Bojack. Time marches forward. But the memories we choose to highlight inform how we move through the world in the present. If we ignore the present in favor of the hypothetical future we remain complacent, disfiguring the past. but oh my god there were so many details you pointed out that ive missed, even after re watching the show 3 times over. The first time I watched this episode i found it beautiful, in spite of the timelines confusing me. And there is something to be said about your average viewer not picking up on the details, but as someone that went to school for film and animation, seeing every subtly as each timeline interacts with one another fills my heart with so much admiration. Even though it did not immediately register on my first viewing, the reason to keep engaging with art is because of details like this. each individual frame containing love and care is literally the best thing about animation, and bojack never misses. sorry im drunk and gay and this video made me love this episode more than i thought i could.

[@maggie1201]

+1 background details, Eddy's jacket has holes with buttons to close around his wings

[@oszcardarat6873]

I hate the decision of bojack destroying the old sugarman house... Imagine how connecting it would be if bojack would take bea here for her last months of life. Even for hollyhock

[@blueskies90210]

What I find is a big issue tackled well in this episode is how BoJack attempts to solve problems w grand gestures. I could relate to the scene where he tries to help Eddie fly again. I was an abused and neglected child and before internet TV was my parent, so I was thought through family sitcoms how problems are resolved. Then in life you start making mistakes like BoJack and not getting why this doesn't work when all you've got to go on is families on TV resolving issues in exactly this way. Not to throw shade on therapy, rehab and yoga, but a lot of us would recover better and faster if we could get a real, in life feel how actually healthy relationships work (what we should have had from the start) , so we can look back at Full House as just TV, and not guidance on how to live life.

[@jangelorum]

I actually thought desteoying the house was a way to reflect how Honey's mind was destroyed, the literal thing that kept her in her grief. Getting rid of her frontal lobe sure solved the problem but in a horrible way, as did destroying that house did for Bojack. Not a real solution, just destruction in an attempt to get rid of grief Great video!

[@tashibalampkin8555]

9:14 My favorite moment in the video. That comment about "Bojack's sitcom shit" is really funny.

[@madisonmccann777]

I love this video so much and all the details ughh so good!!

[@andrewgin9478]

The song is a fantastic connecting thread and the actors performed it beautifully, but I also love how poignant the song itself actually is. The lyrics are literally about being unable to move on from a lost loved one.

[@thirdpedalnirvana]

That article isn't just a dig on his weight, it's specifically in reference to the apple fritters chapter in Diane's book. Paul Giamatti wasn't just putting on pounds, he was getting into the role by practicing self loathing and soothing by eating food.

[@marceline4610]

Another awesome thing about this episode is you can see both Eddie and bojack go through the 5 stages of grief

[@teko4752]

You even went to the memorial scene with Robin's hands " It was perfect by the last minus detail "

[@sarahirisfox]

I would love to see this analysis for Free Churro or That's too much man. Great video!

[@toffeecoffee5392]

"Why I have half a mind" yeah, you suuuure do :(

[@Futurebound_jpg]

Do you know what I really fucking love about this show is it started off as a stupid adult cartoon like any other, a genre I have felt was too immature for me even when I was a toddler, and especially as an adult, has evolved into something that I adore? I would highly recommend this show to everyone whether they like cartoons or not, even if they hate shows like Family Guy & South Park

[@statesofgracie]

I never noticed until this video that the town in Michigan is called Harper’s Landing and Bojack had named his imaginary daughter with Charlotte, Harper

[@arvonoon]

This is such a fun format, love ur analysis so much bro

[@inksans6728]

How are there so few likes on this video??? This was so entertaining! Thank you for giving your take on one of my favorite shows.

[@dovahkiinchickennugget4182]

This episode is probably my favourite of the whole series.

[@KIXWASHERE]

My husband and I did this duet at our wedding. Our friend even played piano. This was our song. I miss him so much....

[@poudziks.]

luv yo Bojack videos keep it up

[@mindseyemusicreview]

The song is so beautifully sad

[@ladybetrayus69]

Sugar on lemon is really good though not great for the teeth but Really good

[@Muffin-n2b]

THIS VIDEO WAS SOOOOO GOOOOOOOD

[@SanjaSleipnir]

Currently sobbing

[@malikjones2472]

Omg, Harper’s landing was largely abandoned due to the popularization of air travel, the same thing that killed eddies wife

[@SPAnComCat]

What I like about this Video is about it has a Similar Style to CinemaWins.

[@TheAllSeeingEye2468]

You should pool the Bojack vids

[@GirlGeek90]

Are you doing more EGA BoJack Horseman episodes?

[@tell-me-a-story-]

I don’t think it’s fully fair or correct to pretend the exaggerations in the show correctly represent people living at this time. You also don’t take into account that the characters are individuals with their own flaws.

[@AvaAndrick]

I think he means the show writers exaggerated the characters behavior but that the behavior alludes to the social norms within that time period. It’s a funny way to poke fun at the norms from back in the day, such as drinking and driving. Yes most people wont talk about these social norms the way the show represents it but a lot of things the characters bring up were norms in that time period (drinking and driving, black face, etc)

[@ydd6969]

his imaginary daughters name was on the sign

[@Clockatsevenohseven]

Are you a English teacher bro

[@GAMINGnSTUFF_YT]

trash

[@FruityBee69]

Skibidi

[@mamasitas3566]

Fanum tax

[@ryszakowy]

oh my god the men the patriarchy the opression that never existed he's impossible to listen to it's like he wanted to copy cinema wins but ruined everything with loser attitude

[@dykesmcgee3136]

@@ryszakowy”the oppression that never existed” someone literally gets lobotomized in this episode b/c of her “womanly emotions”