Since 2014 one Netflix Original has ridden the juggernaut wave that is Netflix's content output, and proven itself to be a standout due to its emotionally empathetic, insightfully experimental, and darkly hilarious writing and characters. We're talking, of course, about Bojack Horseman which after 6 seasons (the last of which was split into two parts) has come to an end.
Thankfully, we can all rest easy knowing that the show went out doing what it did best, laying down a reality check that let it's audience know that it's ok to be flawed, as long as you don't let that define you. Obviously, each episode brings something different to the table so, with Spoilers Ahead, how did each episode of the final half-season measure up (according to IMDB)?
Intermediate Scene Study W/ Bojack Horseman - 8.4
The quality of the final batch of Bojack Horseman episodes really shows when you realize that the lowest ranking episode is really quite respectable at 8.4, and it's the first episode of the half-season at that. Seeing BoJack teaching his first few classes at Wesleyan, and the aftermath of Hollyhock learning about one of his biggest misdeeds buddling away beneath the surface, set up where the remaining episodes were going.
Watching BoJack rocking the old man salt n' pepper mane he'd embraced previously and really seeing him embrace his new teaching role and bonding with his students all made for a great first episode, especially considering that the final episode of the first half of the season felt like finality.
The Horny Unicorn - 8.7
BoJack has done some pretty irredeemable things, The Horny Unicorn gave us the final fallout after his darkest most deprived secret comes out. Following his messed up situation with the Carson family coming out and BoJack royally botching his second interview with Biscuits Braxby, all of Hollywoo(d) despises him, none more than Hollyhock, who won't return his calls.
The episode has a big revelation as to Hollyhock finally cutting ties with BoJack in a letter, the details of which we never see, but the episode also focuses on Diane and her relationship with Sonny, and Todd's relationship with his mother. It does some serious heavy lifting in regards to the wider cast and ends with BoJack (possibly) drinking again at a frat party surrounded by camera phones.
Sunk Cost And All That - 8.7
Diane, BoJack, Todd, and Princes Carolyn spend the episode in Bojack's office brainstorming which of his previous misdeeds he is about to be outed for in the press. The episode as a whole revolves around BoJack's choice, either deny and scramble for a crowd-pleasing response, à la every toxic celeb that gets called out or fess up and do the right thing. In a moment of panic, BoJack opts for the former, but that's not the highlight of the episode.
Throughout BoJack listing his misdeeds, viewers can see his friends silently adding more that he clearly can't remember, then finally he leaves the room and while they listen to him addressing his students, enjoying his final act as their teacher, they look guilty. The episode really highlights how conflicting BoJack's actions are, possing the question, "Is BoJack truly irredeemable?"
Good Damage - 9.1
Good Damage is very much a Diane episode, beginning with her new status quo contently going about her daily business and shrugging off injustices that previously would have enraged her, all thanks to her anti-depressants. The episode is one of the more layered of the season, floating the Japanese Art of Kintsugi, repairing broken pottery with gold to mark it's history rather than hide it, and how it relates to Diane and her struggle with her creative process while writing her book.
The episode also utilizes some experimentation with animation, as Diane's two book ideas are represented by both crudely scrawled and colorful poppy animation respectively. It seems to represent a turning point for Diane, initially worried that her anti-depressants are removing her ability to write using her "good damage" and by the episodes end being on the cusp of excepting that she's just different now and that Ivy Tran, her YA fiction, is just as valid a creation as her book of essays.
Angela - 9.1
When Angela Diaz, the old chief executive producer on Horsin' Around, reaches out to BoJack his nosedive only escalates when she tells him the real story behind Herb's firing from the show. BoJack having previously believed it had nothing to do with him, finds out Angela had manipulated him into allowing her to fire Herb. He takes a turn for the worse breaking into his old home, blackout drunk.
The episode also reaches a turning point in the relationship between Todd and his mother, revealing that she's ashamed because Todd gave her his kidney and she believes no mother should owe her son their life. In true Todd fashion, he executes a scheme that goes wrong but inevitably reunites him with his mother.
Xerox Of A Xerox - 9.3
The episode that saw BoJack called out for his toxic misdeeds in front of the whole world. But first, he manages to walk the line between the usual celeb collateral damage control and genuinely being honest when opening up to Biscuits Braxby about Sarah Lynn's death and his involvement with it. It's when his ego gets the best of him and BoJack returns for the second interview that everything else comes to light, Biscuits finally forcing BoJack to admit that he's not a malicious person, but that he just doesn't care about anyone else.
The episode also has some wholesome flashback moments, filling in the time in BoJack and Herb's relationship before the conception of Horsin' Around. Herb immortalizes BoJack by drawing an outline of him outside The Laugh Shack, the comedy club where they both began their careers.
Nice While It Lasted - 9.6
The season finale, and likely the last episode of BoJack Horseman that we'll ever get definitely delivered the show's own brand of closure. BoJack, having survived the events of The View From Halfway Down an episode that in any other show would give a definitive ending to the character's journey, is in prison. Princess Carolyn manages to get him a few days out to come to her wedding, where we're given some final musings from the core cast.
There's so much to unpack in this episode (start with Googling Hedda Gabler, the play BoJack is directing in prison) but it can mostly be boiled down the show's final message. BoJack is left without his support network (but they're all still his friends) admitting to Todd that he's worried he won't stay sober forever, to which, Todd laments "Every day you'll set a new record." The show didn't take the easy ending and lets it's audience know that BoJack will live on making new mistakes, but always changing.
The View From Halfway Down - 10
Every season of BoJack Horseman has an episode that experiments with the way it presents its narrative, The View From Halfway Down is such an episode for the final season and essays could be written about its content. It shows BoJack dreaming that, as he lays face down drowning in his pool, he's joined by everyone he's known that's died for dinner and a show.
The episode is truly surreal and heartbreaking, showing BoJacks struggle with excepting that he's never going to have the forgiveness from those he's lost for the misdeeds he's committed against them. It's all about BoJack coming to terms with his death, ultimately exemplifying his fears in the poem "The View From Halfway Down" about someone falling to their death and ultimately regretting jumping, but having no control over the outcome. It's BoJack Horseman at it's best and darkest, and it's episodes like this that have solidified the show as a truly special piece of television.