What's next for BoJack Horseman in season 6? Netflix's critically adored animated comedy premiered its fifth season on September 14 to even more rave reviews. Following on from its shaky first season and establishment as Netflix's first animated comedy, the bold Hollywood satire has evolved into one of the most critically adored shows on air right now. As of the writing of this post, the fifth season has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes as well as a 92 on Metacritic (a series peak). Not bad for a show about a drunk and depressed anthropomorphic horse who used to be a sitcom star.
The series has gained acclaim for its biting portrayal of Hollywood as well as its brutally honest takes on issues as difficult as depression, addiction, sexuality, and abuse. Season 5 was no different, with BoJack sinking deeper into prescription painkillers addiction and committing an act of violence so shocking that even die-hard fans were stunned.
Related: BoJack Horseman Cast Guide: All The Celebrity Voices You'll Hear In Season 5
The show has only gotten more ambitious with its themes and the complexities it tackles, so it’s no wonder fans are eager for another season. But when will BoJack Horseman season 6 happen?
BoJack Horseman Has Been Officially Renewed For Season 6
In late October 2018, BoJack Horseman was officially renewed by Netflix for a sixth season. This lined up with Netflix's typical approach: the streaming giant usually waits between two weeks to a month after a film or series drops to see if the viewership numbers are good enough to warrant a new season or sequel (although audiences are still not privy to those exact numbers). That BoJack was renewed so quickly is thus certainly promising.
Of course, the renewal isn't surprising. BoJack Horseman is a critical darling with a dedicated fanbase, and showrunner Raphael Bob-Waksberg has a strong relationship with Netflix that the streaming service will want to maintain. His next show, Tuca and Bertie (which will star Ali Wong and Tiffany Haddish), will premiere on Netflix.
When Will BoJack Horseman Season 6 Release?
BoJack Horseman started in 2014 and has released new season every year since then (plus a holiday special in December 2014). These have all released between the months of July and September, with the last two in the later month. With that in mind, we can expect BoJack Horseman season 6 by September 2019 at the latest. This won't be a Rick and Morty situation where fans are waiting years between episodes.
What’s The Story Of BoJack Horseman Season 6?
BoJack Horseman season 5 ends with BoJack being dropped off at a rehab clinic by Diane following an incident on the set of his new series, Philbert. As the lines between fiction and reality blurred in his drug-addled mind, BoJack ended up choking his co-star and girlfriend Gina (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz from Brooklyn Nine-Nine) while the cast and crew watched. Elsewhere, Princess Carolyn adopted a baby, Mr. Peanutbutter spontaneously proposed to his much younger new girlfriend, and Hollywoo found itself in the midst of its own #MeToo movement. Even by BoJack Horseman standards, it was a bleak season finale.
Looking forward to BoJack Horseman season 6, Bob-Waksberg told Metro that BoJack’s arc is “inching towards redemption”, and that "We’ve been inching toward a desire for redemption, for a kind of inner peace." That won't be easy given his crimes but the series has always been at its best when dealing with the thorniest areas of the human/anthropomorphized animal experience. Audiences will be keen to see some of BoJack’s time in rehab as well as Mr. Peanutbutter getting ready for wedding number four, something that will no doubt cause turmoil for the recently divorced Diane. Hollywoo’s reaction to its own sexual abuse and harassment scandals will weigh heavily on the season too, especially given real-life parallels. While the season wrapped up with BoJack’s choking of Gina being dealt with by his team, it stands to reason that the truth could eventually come out.
Will the show run beyond that to season 7 and beyond? Raphael Bob-Waksberg explained to Metro that, "as long as I feel like the show has promise, and Netflix allows us to, it's a world that's still worth expanding. Our audience is still growing and I'm still excited by it." So, if Netflix are supportive of more BoJack Horseman, and audiences remain hooked, it seems that the series could have some real longevity. The fifth season gave the series some of the best reviews of its run and took the characters to new depths of despair that viewers are eager to see explored. Fortunately, as earlier seasons have proven, we shouldn’t have long to wait to discover if we’re getting more BoJack Horseman.