Bojack Horseman: A Reflection on Mistakes, Resilience, and the Human Experience
Written by Khansa (Kru ‘20)
I would have never thought that one day I would watch a cartoon about the miserable life of a horse and think that it might be one of the best TV shows I’ve ever watched. Bojack Horseman has successfully made such a peculiar visualization into something three-dimensional — something a bit more sentimental.
This is about a horse named Bojack Horseman: a Hollywood celebrity who starred in a famous 90s TV show, Horsin’ Around. A one-hit wonder who has failed to compete with the up-roaring American entertainment industry, trying to get back on his feet and prove his worth, to build his own legacy that is more than a mere sitcom. The storyline is nothing extraordinary. The kind of show to watch during a meal or after a long day at work, except that it is more than that.
With its progressive plot, Bojack Horseman could add depth to each character and build up the emotions around the arising conflicts. Every episode contributes to the story as a whole, making this show age like a fine wine. Bojack is portrayed as a heavy alcoholic and a top-class player: a “who is this girl and why is she on my bed” type of guy. In these early seasons, the audience will be introduced to other core characters like Princess Caroline, Todd, Mr. Peanutbutter, and Diane, who initially appeared as Bojack’s cleaning service (they cleaned up the mess Bojack made).
The following seasons focus more on his journey to gain back his dignity. But when he almost climbs back to the top — being the screwed-up man that he is — he screwed up. This cycle goes on and on throughout the entire series. However, what makes Bojack’s character not as annoying as the typical clumsy characters is that his mistakes are based on his deep desire to be happy, to feel at peace. It is inevitable to feel mad and frustrated by his actions, but in later episodes, it is slowly revealed that behind every wrong turn he made, there is a very humane reason for why he chose to do that; from why he became an alcoholic, why he always seeks validation from others, to why he can’t commit to a relationship. This is why Bojack’s character is more than just on the surface level. It is deep and rooted. The same goes for other characters in this show.
Even though in the beginning other characters seemed only to serve a minor role in Bojack’s story, eventually the layers of their personality continue to unfold as the show goes on. They are portrayed just like the people around us who have their own problems and responsibilities. Bojack might be the main character, but the world doesn’t revolve around him. They will not always be there when things go wrong. Isn’t this feeling familiar? Trying not to reach out to people because you know they have things to do and places to be? This is what makes this show different. It doesn’t only address the chaos behind every supporting character’s life but also the point of view of the antagonists; how humans are simply a creature riddled with flaws, who too often only believe in their own side of the story.
Another aspect that makes this show noteworthy is the visualization of the mental experience. Bojack Horseman is able to picture such a beautiful presentation of the most obscure phenomenon like tripping, spiraling, dementia, or even being near death. They are all depicted not too abstruse for people to understand, but absurd enough to blow minds.
And not least of all, I love how this show ends. It highlights the relationship between the characters and how they have grown (individually and together). A humble closure that feels genuine and not exaggerated. Bojack Horseman shows us that at the end of the day, it is our first time as a human. Sometimes we barely survive and the best thing we can do is to live along with our previous mistakes.
