The opening montage of BoJack Horseman season 6 has changed dramatically from its previous incarnations, and the meaning of this reimagined sequence can be found in the show's past and future. Created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg, the Netflix comedy-drama stars Will Arnett as the voice of the titular horse, a fading sitcom star as it charts his ups and downs (although mostly the latter) along with those of his friends.
The series has long been in the habit of changing its title sequence for certain episodes, but BoJack Horseman season 6 sees some of the biggest differences yet. That's understandable, however, because BoJack Horseman is coming to an end, with the final season split into two parts, and the opening credits for part 1 play a big role in establishing that.
It all starts as usual, with a shot of BoJack's cliffside house. The only difference is that the usual sunrise over its roof is replaced by a starry nighttime sky; the same galactic image that was displayed on the night Sarah Lynn overdosed and died. The grim reminder is reinforced with the face of BoJack during his "Horsin' Around" years, with then-child-star Sarah Lynn on the show's set. This all serves to signify BoJack's overwhelming guilt in association with the beginnings of her addiction to alcohol and drugs (which plays out during season 6), and his reinforcement of those addictions throughout her short life. This is a theme repeated throughout not only the opening credits, but all of BoJack Horseman season 6.
Herb Kazzaz, creator of "Horsin' Around," is seen in both healthier days and then battling cancer, emaciated and hooked up to an I.V. During previous seasons, it was revealed that Herb was outed publicly as a homosexual, and fired from the show. He had asked BoJack to threaten to leave with him. BoJack agreed, but later betrayed his promise and continued his starring role. He also cut off all contact with Herb, which led to Herb's inability to forgive BoJack.
The next scene shows the Tesuque water tower, and strange, glowing green orbs flying through the air. These are the glowstick balloons that BoJack, Penny Carson, Pete, and Maddy set afloat on Penny's prom night. BoJack had taken Penny, who is the daughter of his old flame, to prom because she was upset her crush Diego didn't want to take her. The group got incredibly drunk (thanks to BoJack) and ditched the dance. Then they released these balloons, right before Maddy succumbed to alcohol poisoning and required a rush to the hospital. Later, inappropriate behavior ensued between BoJack and Penny, which would haunt him for the rest of his days. Like Sarah Lynn's death, what happened with Penny becomes a major part of BoJack Horseman season 6.
This is followed by a fellow spray painting "Bojack Kills" on a hallway wall at Whale World, then a scuba helmet envelops BoJack's head, and an underwater motif plays out, referencing the episode "Fish Out of Water". Displayed next are BoJack's childhood home, in a dilapidated state, and his mother in the cheap retirement center he stuck her in as a reckoning for her past behavior. Finally, the intro turns to a red carpet premiere of BoJack's television show, "Philbert," which aired on "What Time Is It Right Now.com," followed by a trip through the Hollywoo night sky. It ends above the observatory where Sarah Lynn died. Then BoJack plummets into his pool, above which Diane and Mr. Peanutbutter are standing. This is a return to the usual ending of the show's intro sequence, wherein BoJack is shown lounging in the pool.
Most of the dramatic events depicted in this new introduction come back to haunt BoJack Horseman during season 6. His involvement in Sarah Lynn's death and his inappropriate behavior during Penny's prom are Hollyhock at the end of the mid-season finale, which makes for some interesting, though discomfiting material to look forward to in the second half. But on top of that, they also encompass the full range of terrible things BoJack has done, which as the show approaches its endgame, means the opening credits don't just tie into the plot more directly than ever, but give a real sense of finality as well.