Bojack Horseman premiered its sixth and final season which was split into two parts this past year. The hit adult cartoon developed a cult following with its self aware, insider view of Hollywood that often spiraled and often showed the dark face of humanity in a world of humans, humanoid animals, and just plain animals.
While it created many jokes and puns that kept audiences glued to their couches in a Netflix binge session, not all jokes are destined to withstand the test of time. For some hits, there are misses. This list will show you both.
Timeless: Improv
Actors making fun of improv is an instant comedy classic. The improv form itself is divisive. While many bow their hats to the artistry that is required to join the cult of improv, it also gets a bad rap for the obnoxious adherents and comedy nerds. Bojack cheekily pokes fun at the form when Todd finally finds a group that "gets" him and is able to put his whimsy into a place where it is encouraged and even laughed at! The playful mockery of improv was also found in Broad City, so it should not be going away any time soon.
Age Poorly: Boston Accents
In episode five of the first season, Bojack imposes himself on Diane's family visit after she learns that her father has passed away during their book tour. The comedy that ensues is, well, a bit predictable. It is mostly centered around an obnoxious imitation of the Boston accent that is pretty fun at first but is fully explored within the first few minutes of the show. However, it doesn't stop there, it continues throughout the entire episode. The episode itself is important because it provides more depth to Diane's relationship with her family (that she doesn't think she fits into). She's not even accepted enough to be the black sheep, as there is already a black sheep of the family who has more in common with them than she does. On the comedy side though, there wasn't too much happening besides "park the car in the yard."
Timeless: Ringtones
From the beginning of the series, a cheeky detail that remains consistent throughout the series is a very specific ringtone for each character. Princess Caroline's phone is introduced in the second episode of the first season when her phone rings the Jellicle cat song from the musical Cats. We later learn that Bojack's ringtone is, of course, the narcissistic choice of the Horsin' Around theme song. Diane, who gives off the vibe of an avid public radio listener, has several ringtones throughout the series that are spoofs of popular podcasts.
Each ringtone is a funny self-referential aspect of their character and provides such unique detail to the world of Bojack Horseman.
Age Poorly: Chickens
The internet spoke and said that they were over this episode. The fifth episode of the second season centered around Bojack's attempt to charm the new director of his Secretariat project, Kelsey, but ends up in a long chicken chase with Todd, Diane, and Kelsey's daughter. While it happened early in the show, it never fully fit into the rest of the plot except that it was an early example of the types of shenanigans that Todd would later find himself in over and over again. It also introduced the very well received officer Meow Meow kitty face. Although it did gives us a bit more context about the different characters, it failed to really bring to life anything more than just a whimsical chicken chase.
Timeless: Celebrity Appearances
Bojack Horseman takes an honest look at the cult of celebrity in the 21st century, whether it's through Bojack's lens of an aged fading sitcom star, Sarah Lynn's evolution from child actor to pop star to songwriter, or Todd's strange attempts to become a creator in the current Hollywoo landscape. What's really interesting about the show is the mixture of real celebrity cameos, invented celebrities in the bizarre world of the show, and real celebrities who don't actually voice their characters.
Beyoncé yelling in the street is timeless. A Ryan Seacrest type hosting "Hollywoo stars and celebrities: What do they know? Do they know things?? Let's find out!" is the show poking fun at the sometimes unbelievable world that at times mirrors our actual world.
Age Poorly: Scary Drug Trips
Yes, Bojack Horseman is an aged celebrity who, although he has many opportunities to improve himself, has continued down an ever-darkening spiral. When the drug trips, alcohol abuse, and benders are introduced in the first season, it's pretty freaky. It also feels more accurate than some of the televised drug trips gone wrong. However, after six seasons, it begins to get a bit dry to see the same repeated behavior, even though as an audience we've learned to expect that bad behavior from Bojack isn't likely to be fully resolved. His subconscious and self-sabotage play a big role in the series, but sometimes it feels like they could play too big of a role.
Timeless: Animal Qualities
In the world of Bojack Horseman, it can be hard to predict the qualities of each of the characters. Whether it is a humanoid bear, who works as a nurse, yet doesn't speak other than soft growl, a cow waitress huffily serving a steak, or a fully-realized animal that behaves like a human, the characters on Bojack Horseman often make the viewer chuckle just by subverting expectations. Human-like animals having animal qualities retained has to be one of the glowing jokes on this beloved series. A great example of this is the jogging rooster who screams, "Good morning," at the top of his lungs rather than crowing. Or the many dog-like qualities of Mr. Peanutbutter.
Age Poorly: Stuck In The '80s
It started as a familiar premise, someone who wakes up from a coma many years later and struggles to fully fit into the world that they're living in. While the series confronted this premise with a bit of disdain for the format, it continued to create a storyline with Wanda, voiced by Lisa Kudrow, struggling to adapt to a modern Hollywood, while never fully breaking the form or doing anything particularly exciting. The plot stretched out over a few episodes in the second season, only to flatly end with the two breaking up.
It was important to show Bojack needing someone who didn't know how bad of a person he was, but on the whole, it was a bit tiring to watch.
Timeless: Animal Gags
A long-running joke of the show is the many iterations of pun humor throughout the series. Whether it is MSNBSEA, or the carebear who takes care of Hank during his final days, this series thought up a lot of goofy puns throughout its run. It is a nice lighthearted way to lift the mood, especially as the show often dealt with really heavy topics. Some other great animal gags include the hammerhead shark hammering a nail, Princess Caroline running after a mouse while on the treadmill, and the firemen rescuing the cat from the tree. It's always a pleasant surprise how the show manages to be at once full of silly puns, and also a dark exploration of the human experience.
Age Poorly: Vincent Adultman
In the first season, after Princess Caroline and Bojack break up, she starts dating someone who she believes is mature enough to listen to her and understand her, Vincent Adultman. The joke is that he is obviously three children standing on each other's shoulders and wearing a trenchcoat, which is a silly Hollywood trope of children pranking adults. It is quite funny to see the show poke fun at the form especially when Vincent tries to pretend that he is a father to convince Princess Caroline that he is indeed an adult. However, given the later episodes and how much the exploitation of minors comes up, this joke in retrospect does seem to be a bit in poor taste.