Let's talk about BoJack Horseman, the new Netflix animated series (starring Will Arnett, Alison Brie, Amy Sedaris, Aaron Paul, etc)

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I tried telling my coworkers about this show during lunch and I started tearing up a little when I talked about Bojack and Diane's final conversation. They were nice about it because, you know, BIG QUESTIONS, but I felt like a goon trying to make small talk about the tv and how the talking cartoon horse made me think.

when you call my name it's like a prickly pear (Crabbits), Tuesday, 9 September 2014 00:25 (nine years ago) link

And then cryin'.

when you call my name it's like a prickly pear (Crabbits), Tuesday, 9 September 2014 00:26 (nine years ago) link

Put on the first episode of this yesterday and ended up watching eight episodes in a row. Desperate to watch the remaining episodes but I think my boyfriend would kill me if I ploughed on ahead without him.

It made me think of Archer and Bob's Burgers immediately with its humour but with more laugh-out-loud moments. I was cracking up at Sextina Aquifina and BoJack's first childhood flashback. The pathos really snuck up on me - one minute I was laughing and then all of a sudden it was making me think about Big Thoughts and really feeling sorry for what, on surface level, are mainly unpleasant characters. I can see how people might find it both crass and cynical, and sentimental and schmaltzy, but I think it develops the characters enough to earn them sympathy.

Also:

"Well, I don’t really think about her all much. Obviously, I’m a fan of her early work, which both satirized and celebrated youth culture’s obsession with sex. But I do wonder as a third-wave feminist if it’s even possible for women to “reclaim” their sexuality in this deeply entrenched patriarchal society. Or if claiming to do so is just a lie we tell ourselves to more comfortably cater to the male gaze. On the other hand, I worry conversations like this one often dismiss her as a mere puppet of the industry, incapable of engaging in this discussion herself, an infantilization which is itself a product of the deeply misogynistic society we live in. But like I said, I don’t think about her that much."

If ever a show had a line for an ILX audience...

boxedjoy, Thursday, 11 September 2014 11:33 (nine years ago) link

but I think it develops the characters enough to earn them sympathy.

I like how there isn't the sort of "nothing really changes" cynical status quo as with Archer, but neither does the show try to pretend there any easy solutions or cheap epiphanies that would allow the characters to magically change, even if they want to. Most of the characters are insecure egotists, bums, and procrastinators, but IMO it's the desire for change and the realization of how difficult it is that makes them sympathetic and human (even if they're talking animals).

Tuomas, Thursday, 11 September 2014 12:51 (nine years ago) link

one month passes...

yeah this show is absolutely ace.

Van Horn Street, Thursday, 16 October 2014 13:32 (nine years ago) link

one month passes...

the melancholy that gradually creeps into this show really got to me. i actually got a little weepy at the last couple episodes, which is uh not exactly something i expected to happen when i started watching this show.

(The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Tuesday, 18 November 2014 01:31 (nine years ago) link

I was watching Mr. Show earlier and this made me think of BoJack

http://i.imgur.com/Htv7vnN.png

polyphonic, Tuesday, 18 November 2014 01:36 (nine years ago) link

Ha, a few weeks ago my bf put on an ep of this cos his son wanted to see it. His son is NINE. The ep was the one with the Lindsay Lohan-esque druggy character and by the end of the ep we were all errrr... maybe you shouldnt have watched that, young lad.

"whats heroin, dad?" Arrgh.

I like the show enough, somehow bojack reminds me of Troy McClure but I think thats mainly bcz his house, lol.

Gumbercules? I love that guy! (Trayce), Tuesday, 18 November 2014 08:20 (nine years ago) link

lol i remember being like 11 and my parents rented blazing saddles cause they wanted us to see it and they had to stop it after 3 minutes bc they forgot everything about it

linda cardellini (zachlyon), Tuesday, 18 November 2014 23:23 (nine years ago) link

eight months pass...

In episode 4 of the new season, there's a banner that says 'Happy Birthday Diane and use a pretty font'. That is seriously one of the best jokes I've ever seen. I feel like it must be an old joke, but still.

Frederik B, Sunday, 19 July 2015 13:54 (eight years ago) link

episode 7 gets real

the naive cockney chorus (Simon H.), Sunday, 19 July 2015 14:36 (eight years ago) link

banner joke is a sequel to the "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR PEANUT BUTTER, PEANUT BUTTER IS ONE WORD" banner in S1, sounds like

let no-one live rent free in your butt (sic), Sunday, 19 July 2015 15:10 (eight years ago) link

Oh, fish, I saw that one, but didn't get it. There's a callback to it later, with a t-shirt saying: 'I had a ball at Diane's party, and underline ball, I don't know why this is so hard.'

Frederik B, Sunday, 19 July 2015 16:29 (eight years ago) link

love this season, love this show

lettered and hapful (symsymsym), Sunday, 19 July 2015 16:45 (eight years ago) link

I'm rewatching S1 before starting on 2 and there's a second banner, CONGRATULATIONS DIANE AND MR. PEANUT BUTTER PEANUT BUTTER IS ONE WORD DON'T WRITE ONE WORD

You guys are caterpillar (Telephone thing), Sunday, 19 July 2015 19:54 (eight years ago) link

i did not realise lisa hanawalt did the designs!
i watched one episode and kind of hated it.

you are extreme, Patti LuPone. (forksclovetofu), Sunday, 19 July 2015 20:10 (eight years ago) link

Yeah, episode 7... And that final scene with the nice guy going 'Hey. Smile!' Yikes....

Frederik B, Sunday, 19 July 2015 23:29 (eight years ago) link

that and the chickens episode (5?) were tops for this season imo

the naive cockney chorus (Simon H.), Sunday, 19 July 2015 23:32 (eight years ago) link

I'm not sure I get this show but I did overhear one joke that killed me: One guy says to another "you're seeing the Stones tonight?" but later reveals that "Stones" was short for The Mighty Mighty Bos-"Stones"

Walter Galt, Sunday, 19 July 2015 23:56 (eight years ago) link

Which episodes are Ryan Johnson in? Who does he play?

Walter Galt, Sunday, 19 July 2015 23:57 (eight years ago) link

I would love to take down Hippopopolous and finally topple the acropolis of monstrous hypocrisy that ensconces us!

wk, Monday, 20 July 2015 07:36 (eight years ago) link

Is this the first animated comedy that's structured like a cable drama, with the giant emotional climaxes in the second to last episodes? Made it to 11, completely wrecked.

Frederik B, Wednesday, 22 July 2015 22:00 (eight years ago) link

only a few episodes in but this season is great so far

lil urbane (Jordan), Wednesday, 22 July 2015 22:06 (eight years ago) link

I never thought I would say this sentence about a television show, but the autoerotic asphyxiation episode is the funniest thing I've seen all year

You guys are caterpillar (Telephone thing), Wednesday, 22 July 2015 23:00 (eight years ago) link

Excuse me, the Funky Spider-Man. The Two-Neck Squeeze. The Ol' Gasp & Goo.

You guys are caterpillar (Telephone thing), Wednesday, 22 July 2015 23:02 (eight years ago) link

Theres a new season? Neat. Must check it out.

I checked Snoops , and it is for real (Trayce), Wednesday, 22 July 2015 23:23 (eight years ago) link

Hollywoo Stars and Celebrities: What Do They Know? Do They Know Things?? Let's Find Out!

Mordy, Thursday, 23 July 2015 16:39 (eight years ago) link

I'm ready to take on Hippopopolous and topple this monstrous acropolis which ensconces us!

You guys are caterpillar (Telephone thing), Thursday, 23 July 2015 16:47 (eight years ago) link

one month passes...

Last 2 episodes were so brilliant and sad

Could never imagine it turning out that way from how it started, wow

Ma$e-en-scène (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Saturday, 5 September 2015 19:47 (eight years ago) link

(Talking about season 1)

Ma$e-en-scène (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Saturday, 5 September 2015 19:48 (eight years ago) link

nine months pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VESKjoxAmZg

Mordy, Wednesday, 29 June 2016 21:49 (seven years ago) link

spoiler: it looks great

Mordy, Wednesday, 29 June 2016 21:49 (seven years ago) link

three weeks pass...

I started watching this on the advice of my daughter, who frankly doesn't have a 100% hit rate for these things, but really kind of loved it. It was the simple jokes that did it for me in the end:

  • The first banner with CONGRATULATIONS DIANE AND MR. PEANUT BUTTER PEANUT BUTTER IS ONE WORD DON'T WRITE ONE WORD floored me but then the two callbacks I spotted (as noted upthread) were just great.
  • In ep 1 and 2 of S1 Mr Peanutbutter greets Bojack with "what is this, a crossover episode?" while Bojack accuses him of plagiarism. Then in S2 it turns out Hank Hippopolalous said it to them at the 1994 Animal Choice awards first.
  • "Hey, I Think You Can Dance" and "Hollywoo Stars and Celebrities: What Do They Know? Do They Know Things?? Let's Find Out!" make me laugh every time.
  • Actually, continuing to refer to it as Hollywoo does as well.
  • In the S2 finale when Mr Peanutbutter is on the phone to Diane, then says that there's someone that looks really like her in the restaurant.
  • Rutabaga Rabbitowotz's constant attempts to grease down his ears.
  • Everything sticking to Charlie Witherspoons' hands.
  • Every time Vincent Adultman opens his mouth.

Horizontal Superman is invulnerable (aldo), Friday, 22 July 2016 07:57 (seven years ago) link

So, S3 then. I'll avoid spoilers but:

  • More great banner jokes.
  • The underwater episode is a joy from start to finish.
  • There's a joke that takes all season to pay off. And a callback joke from previous seasons.
  • The episode from 2007 uses the same ideas as previous flashback episodes (generic music and shopfronts) and is none the worse for it.
  • As with previous seasons, episode 11. Man.
  • The Sextina Aquafina episode is possibly my favourite, especially Diane's inability to say "brrap brrap pew pew".
  • Although the Oscar nominations episode.
  • I could watch a whole season set in the Labrador Peninsula.
Not as good as S2, but then what is? The comedy this season is definitely a lot more subtle, how much of a shit Bojack is is much more of a thing than previously (and bearing in mind how much of a thing it was previously...).

Horizontal Superman is invulnerable (aldo), Monday, 25 July 2016 13:39 (seven years ago) link

apparently i have not been paying close enough attention when watching this.

Mad Piratical (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 25 July 2016 15:15 (seven years ago) link

Watched the the underwater one last night, unexpected but really nice.

(we always pause when there are a bunch of storefronts/billboards/etc in the scene btw, so many good throwaway jokes)

sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Monday, 25 July 2016 15:35 (seven years ago) link

I've found its very easy to zone out and miss a lot of the jokes AND important plot points in this, it requires an amount of focus when I'm used to letting shows like this kind of wash over me. You sort of have to retrain yourself to pay attention vs most tv, I also found myself rewinding not just to catch jokes but also moments where a character inadvertently says something profound about depression or bj's psychology etc

I'm not entirely sure what I think of this show sometimes it's a weird one but the moments of pathos draw me in more than the humor to an extent, it's a very strange juxtaposition

Listen to my homeboy Fantano (D-40), Tuesday, 26 July 2016 20:04 (seven years ago) link

paul f tompkins as mr peanut butter is so good

dynamicinterface, Tuesday, 26 July 2016 22:52 (seven years ago) link

I really like this show as a comedy but man some of the attempts at dramatic beats are terrible

a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Tuesday, 26 July 2016 23:53 (seven years ago) link

i feel the opposite. sometimes the comedy is distracting!

Listen to my homeboy Fantano (D-40), Wednesday, 27 July 2016 00:05 (seven years ago) link

i like that it pushed way from being "what if archer was a horse"

Listen to my homeboy Fantano (D-40), Wednesday, 27 July 2016 00:06 (seven years ago) link

Watched season 3, don't know what I think about it. I think the netflix schedule is not for me, the choice is between watching a whole season in a weekend which feels empty, or waiting and having half of it spoiled on twitter. I think I need to rewatch, though, because so much went over my head. Who is Erica and why can't she vote, for instance? Went back and watched the pilot, and there's Erica again, who the heck is she?

Just watched the second episode as well. Because jellicles can and jellicles do.

Frederik B, Wednesday, 27 July 2016 00:49 (seven years ago) link

Wow, I had missed Erica completely.

Horizontal Superman is invulnerable (aldo), Wednesday, 27 July 2016 08:29 (seven years ago) link

Rewatching season 1, the common wisdom says it gets much better towards the end, but so much of the first half is classic. Neal McBeal the Navy Seal. Todds rock opera and the introduction of Character Actress Margot Martindale. The stealing of the D. Most of all, it really takes it's time to introduce the concept that BoJack (and Diane) are depressed. The whole Zoe and Zelda spiel is the show in a nutshell. The humor is too Family Guy at times, with stupid cutaways, and the animation got a lot better, but the show was pretty great from the beginning, just patient.

Frederik B, Thursday, 28 July 2016 12:55 (seven years ago) link

paul f tompkins as mr peanut butter is so good

Peanutbutter is one word

Shakey δσς (sic), Thursday, 28 July 2016 13:15 (seven years ago) link

Wife and I gave the very first (and maybe second?) episode a shot. Besides everyone being animals, neither the comedy nor the story really seemed very innovative or creative. Does change much down the road? I'm not sure I understand the appeal based on the start alone, though we weren't inspired to keep going.

Evan, Thursday, 28 July 2016 13:34 (seven years ago) link

The comedy and story does change a bit, it becomes less Family Guy cut-away based. But there continues to be plenty of sitcommy escapades in all three seasons. People watch it for the world and for the characters, who continue to get deeper and deeper.

Frederik B, Thursday, 28 July 2016 14:20 (seven years ago) link

It Gets Better

sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Thursday, 28 July 2016 14:40 (seven years ago) link

I've only watched the first two episodes of S3 so far but the depth of what they're able to do in every single episode continues to amaze me, from throwaway sight gags to slapstick to parody to genuine pathos.

(It wasn't until a couple of hours after watching the first ep. that the joke with the string breaking on the Greg Kinnear marionette, and being instantly replaced, hit me. Because she's a spider.)

a 47-year-old chainsaw artist from South Carolina (Phil D.), Monday, 1 August 2016 13:23 (seven years ago) link

Also this is a great read: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/24/magazine/the-world-according-to-bojack-horseman.html

full of amazing details:

At first, Hanawalt thought the BoJack idea sounded sad and cynical, but she liked the horse part. As a kid, Hanawalt was so obsessed with horses that she sometimes walked on all fours. Her classmates called her Horse Poop and Lady Horse.

a 47-year-old chainsaw artist from South Carolina (Phil D.), Monday, 1 August 2016 13:28 (seven years ago) link

i think the philbert stuff in 5 is really tiresome, like the question of "are we condoning this shitty dude behavior if we write a character whose whole personality is shitty dude behavior" is maybe the least interesting question the show asks in its entire runtime

6 nailed the cancellation plot imo

mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Monday, 11 May 2020 14:58 (three years ago) link

unless you just reeaally hate any kind of meta awareness on the show

lol maybe this is me. i don't think it was written particularly well though

mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Monday, 11 May 2020 15:00 (three years ago) link

but it really did relitigate previous plotlines entirely too much

for me it was like they spun a bunch of previous plot threads into this total car crash, it was both riveting and horrible (in a good way) to watch

mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Monday, 11 May 2020 15:03 (three years ago) link

of course, audiences hate meta [plotlines], when will [cartoon comedy-drama] writers learn?

I may be too kind to s5 bc I sympathise with the impulses behind it idk. still think “BJ the Feminist” is essential, Vance is such a great/horrible character, even more so in his return

What's (Left), Monday, 11 May 2020 15:44 (three years ago) link

Thanks all I'll carry on for a bit longer (instead of re-watching Seinfeld)

xyzzzz__, Monday, 11 May 2020 18:05 (three years ago) link

i’m more horse than a man (I’m more man than a horse)

mark s, Monday, 11 May 2020 18:12 (three years ago) link

trying to describe how I feel about this show in retrospect and the only concrete statement I have today: the Mr. Peanutbutter/Pickles relationship dragged on too long

mh, Monday, 11 May 2020 18:18 (three years ago) link

eight months pass...

Forgive the thread spam, but I wanted to note that this show's 2020 season is nominated in the 2020 ILX TV poll:

ILX's Best Television of 2020 Poll / VOTING AND CAMPAIGNING THREAD / Voting Ends After January 29, 2021

If you like this show and you'd like to see it have a good showing in the poll (running in February) all you need to do is submit a ballot including it and your other favorites (3 minimum, 25 maximum, ranked by your favorite to least favorite) to forksclovetofu at gmail. It'll take five minutes; get to it!

the serious avant-garde universalist right now (forksclovetofu), Thursday, 21 January 2021 19:45 (three years ago) link

one year passes...

Finally got around to watching this show. Yeah... pretty amazing. Also, maybe too soul-crushing to binge the entire series in one month, but yes. The first couple seasons I was already hooked because the drama worked AND it felt like peak-Simpsons and The Critic mixed together. For a second (basically, that amazing under-water film festival episode) I thought the show might actually be getting lighter... but, of course not.

The final season felt particularly brutal, and it was extra long at 16 episodes (split into two parts on release, I see) so that was tough to watch all the horrible threads of the series come together.

Nhex, Tuesday, 4 October 2022 13:19 (one year ago) link

that penultimate episode still makes me shudder when i think about it (in a good way)

comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 4 October 2022 14:22 (one year ago) link

i guess this is a good spot to put raphael bob-waksberg's list of favorite tv shows

When Rolling Stone polled dozens of showrunners, actors, and critics for our 100 best shows ever list, we got a very unusual ballot from BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg. I had many, many questions, and he was gracious enough to answer: https://t.co/AANrLfbwWf pic.twitter.com/jO4mJnT32Y

— Alan Sepinwall (@sepinwall) September 30, 2022

comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 4 October 2022 14:23 (one year ago) link

That's great. Thanks for sharing

groovypanda, Tuesday, 4 October 2022 15:22 (one year ago) link

Tuca & Bertie has become my partner's Favorite Show, Ever.

change display name (Jordan), Tuesday, 4 October 2022 16:17 (one year ago) link

three months pass...

For T&B fans,

Tuca & Bertie x Nucleus Tarot Totes & Duck Boat Pin Pre-Orders go live TOMORROW AT 6 PM PST!
Exclusively at gallerynucleus.com

Meanwhile you can check out our other Tuca & Bertie merch at

(Tomorrow being Thursday, Jan 19)

https://www.gallerynucleus.com/artists/lisa_hanawalt?

nickn, Thursday, 19 January 2023 05:11 (one year ago) link

I like 'em! Not into pins, but I like 'em

Nhex, Thursday, 19 January 2023 13:50 (one year ago) link

three weeks pass...

Really just the most spot on depictions of mental illness in this show.

But who are we doing it versus? (sunny successor), Saturday, 11 February 2023 03:31 (one year ago) link

And so many details found on subsequent rewatches. My personal best catch to date was from the scene where Mr peanutbutter is sniffing Beatrice in an attempt to get her scent to find doll. He immediately runs over to hollyhocks coffee cup, which we later learn was being spiked with diet pills by none other than Beatrice.

Also, there’s a great recap of the view from halfway down by some you tuber that schooled me on so many aspects of that episode that I’d completely missed.

But who are we doing it versus? (sunny successor), Saturday, 11 February 2023 03:38 (one year ago) link

thanks for reminding me that I need to rewatch this soon!

sleeve, Saturday, 11 February 2023 03:49 (one year ago) link

You got it

But who are we doing it versus? (sunny successor), Saturday, 11 February 2023 06:26 (one year ago) link

six months pass...

this show was pretty good

is he disgruntled adrian? (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 16 August 2023 16:10 (eight months ago) link

not sure why fans are compelled to post the most didactic and moralizing bits from it all over twitter tho

is he disgruntled adrian? (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 16 August 2023 16:10 (eight months ago) link

Aspect of fan culture and most fans not entirely understanding why they’re a fan of something, and naturally just grab at the most explicit bit that sorta feels akin to why they like the show, perhaps

Glower, Disruption & Pies (kingfish), Wednesday, 16 August 2023 16:23 (eight months ago) link

tbh the line I still quote the most is "two refrigerators?!? give my regards to the Rockefellers"

out-of-print LaserDisc edition (sleeve), Wednesday, 16 August 2023 16:24 (eight months ago) link

hahaaha

But who are we doing it versus? (sunny successor), Friday, 18 August 2023 19:38 (eight months ago) link

Not that I give much credence to Rolling Stone lists but they at least got this right:
https://imgur.com/mSSwvtH

But who are we doing it versus? (sunny successor), Friday, 18 August 2023 20:01 (eight months ago) link

Congratulations Bojack and use a pretty font

nashwan, Friday, 18 August 2023 20:05 (eight months ago) link

lol

But who are we doing it versus? (sunny successor), Friday, 18 August 2023 20:20 (eight months ago) link

" . . . why is this so hard?"

nickn, Friday, 18 August 2023 20:34 (eight months ago) link

No, I said "D" as in "Birthday Dad"

Esteemed character actress (sunny successor), Friday, 18 August 2023 20:38 (eight months ago) link

not sure why fans are compelled to post the most didactic and moralizing bits from it all over twitter tho

I'm sure this show is great and all (seen 3 or 4 episodes, some bits are funny, should probably watch more) but yeah that "all the red flags look like flags" line gets posted everywhere and makes me rmde every time

Vinnie, Saturday, 19 August 2023 12:53 (eight months ago) link

first few episodes are mostly not great and put me off for a long time but they set up important stuff so you can't skip them either - I imagine a lot of people who'd love what the show becomes have given up too soon because of the generic "edgy adult cartoon" vibe early on

the emotional or moralising moments don't hit nearly as hard when presented out of context though

overall I probably prefer tuca & bertie though I wish I liked the 3rd (apparently last) season more - the first 2 are so good

your original display name is still visible (Left), Saturday, 19 August 2023 13:11 (eight months ago) link

The first season (especially the first half) is mostly set up because it's not a wrap-it-up in 22 min show. Its multi-ep arcs over season arcs, over multi-season arcs, over series arcs, and over a million other relevant and seemingly irrelevant arcs. Densely layered sight gags, goofy jokes, incredibly smart jokes, devastating subtext, and moments that will make you feel so seen you'll cringe. You need the setup.

I don't think the point of it is to be edgy. It's just not catchy like other adult cartoons. The jokes aren't always easy and neither are the storylines. They're long and complicated, although often they're not. I guess I'm trying to say watching this show is a commitment and you'll probably need to do it a couple of times. Watching a few episodes really isn't going to give you a clue.

And, yeah, the most quoted lines (red flags, etc) aren't going to hit like they would if you first heard them in context but they're such a small part of the series and aren't worth judging it on.

Esteemed character actress (sunny successor), Monday, 21 August 2023 19:30 (seven months ago) link

Tuca & Bertie is great, really sucks that it got canceled.

Random Restaurateur (Jordan), Monday, 21 August 2023 19:34 (seven months ago) link

I need to watch Tuca and Bertie. Was it taken down in the great Netflix cancellation flood a few years ago?

Esteemed character actress (sunny successor), Monday, 21 August 2023 19:41 (seven months ago) link

I think it predates the flood. It was only carried for 1-2 seasons before getting picked up elsewhere

Glower, Disruption & Pies (kingfish), Monday, 21 August 2023 19:49 (seven months ago) link

Season 1 is on Netflix, season 2 & 3 are on HBO 'Max' I believe

Random Restaurateur (Jordan), Monday, 21 August 2023 19:50 (seven months ago) link

ahh okay. Yeah, im just mindlessly watching youtube supercuts these days so I might start this.

Esteemed character actress (sunny successor), Monday, 21 August 2023 19:57 (seven months ago) link


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