The back half of BoJack Horseman's final season is finally here, which means I must say a bittersweet goodbye to another show that I've enjoyed over the past few years. I talk about S6 as a whole and look back on the overall series in this blog entry. The first half of S6 picks up where S5 left off, as BoJack begins his time in rehab. As time went on, it looks as though BoJack actually can turn his life around, and by the time the first half ends, it feels like he's figured himself out. However, the end of the first half teased a painful reality: that BoJack's happiness may not last as long as he thinks it would.
The second half follows through on that tease, as some of BoJack's most grievous sins finally catch up to him. Now, he must deal with the consequences that those past choices will bring to his career, his relationships, and his own psyche. It's a tough journey to watch, and it left me feeling truly ambivalent: on one hand, BoJack's had a rough go, and I was glad that he was making progress with himself. But on the other hand, some of the things he did throughout the series were genuinely terrible, and it didn't feel right to not have him take responsibility. In an online climate that thrives on absolutes, I think such conflicting emotions should be seen as perfectly natural and human (as opposed to grounds for condemnation), and the show does a good job not leaning too heavily on any one side of the scale in terms of rooting for or against BoJack. It's not just BoJack who gets to grow (or regress) as a character, because the rest of the main cast go on their own, equally compelling journeys. Diane struggles with and confronts her trauma, Todd slowly but surely grows up (but is still no stranger to shenanigans), Princess Carolyn's quest to "have it all" in life continues, and Mr. Peanutbutter comes to terms with the tumultuous nature of his relationships. Some characters get more to do than others, but for the most part, they get pretty satisfying resolutions. A few minor characters show up, but a lot of their stories are left open-ended. The most notable culprit is Hollyhock, but given the circumstances presented in the story (which I will not spoil), I feel that her reduced presence in the closing episodes makes total sense. As far as finales go, this one was more nuanced and somber, compared to most other finales, which go out of their way to hit a high note. It delivers this weird mix of closure and dissatisfaction with how it resolves (or doesn't resolve) plot threads, which definitely feels intentional given the abrupt nature of this show's cancellation. Even though the show itself is over, there's this underlying message that, in the case of BoJack's struggles, nothing ever ends. It's a truly bittersweet goodbye. In terms of other standout episodes, I would say that the penultimate episode is an easy contender for one of the series' absolute best. To talk any more of it would require massive spoilers, so I will just say that I found it absolutely haunting and, at times, quite distressing, which is something I rarely feel when watching stuff. If online engagement with the show is any indication, this is a show that means a great deal to a lot of people. I first watched this show out of curiosity (friends of mine were raving about it), and I came in expecting a goofy cartoon with some great humor. Now, granted, BoJack is indeed a show with some brilliant humor and fantastic art, but as I continued watching, it was clear that it was so much more. It went into a deep dive into some uncomfortable subjects, explored sadly relatable struggles, and looked into the troubled psyches of various characters, all the while peppering in some brilliant jokes and visual gags. I connected with the show on a level so few shows ever manage to do, and it imparted just as many lasting lessons on me as it did hilarious jokes. I'd like to think many other people feel similarly. As with all shows coming to an end, it's a shame to see BoJack go, but for what it's worth, the brilliant minds behind it got to end it on their terms. In a day and age where perfectly decent shows are axed without warning all the time, that's all I could really ask for. BoJack Horseman is one of the most captivating, hilarious, relatable, haunting adult animated series I've ever had the pleasure of watching, and if you haven't already, you owe it to yourself to see it. - end -
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June 2024
Derryck
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