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BoJack Horseman (Season 6)
Available on Netflix
4/5
Over the years, I’ve gained a great appreciation for adult animation. It’s without the frills and theatrics of actors trying to outshine each other. The images are powerful without being overbearing, and the storyline is the star of the show.
From The Simpsons to The Boondocks and Futurama, this genre has gradually developed into entertaining and smart content. One such show which has done exceptionally well is BoJack Horseman.
The often tragic comedy series started in 2014 as a funny take on celebrity culture and the endless circus around it, to now offering meaningful conversations on mental health and the different cycles of trauma. If anything, this show nudges you to take a look at yourself, to work through your layers of complications while you self-evaluate and understand how you deal with these issues. The show does this smartly using anthropomorphic animals.
In season 6, introspection and putting one’s behaviour under the microscope continue as the series progresses. Depressed former sitcom star BoJack Horseman (voiced by Will Arnett) is forced to slow down and revisit the trauma from his youth, as well as make amends for the things he has done, face addiction, and try to forgive himself. Though this all plays out in the usual messy BoJack way, somehow, he tries to self-correct with the help of other characters, together through empathy rather than sympathy, and honesty over blind faith. These elements create one of the most important storylines I’ve experienced in a very long time.
This season strongly homes in on BoJack’s damaged psyche as his bad behaviour takes even darker turns. BoJack has a strong inability to pull himself free from his debilitating depression, but that doesn’t stop him from trying.
From dealing with difficult topics such as trauma, privilege, mental illness, harassment and substance abuse, this season isn’t an easy watch, and poignantly takes us back to that very important question BoJack asked Diane in season 1: Am I a good person or is it too late for me?
