BoJack Horseman - Season 6: Part One
BOJACK HORSEMAN SEASON SIX - NETFLIX
It is time to make those changes for good in BoJack Horseman. The animated, satirical dramedy series about the titular self-deprecating horse and his dysfunctional friends is coming to a well-anticipated, yet dreaded end in a two-part sixth season finish. Since 2014, the show has always been one-upping itself each succeeding year; from a crude, traditional sitcom in its initial run, it has considerably matured into not only Netflix’s best original series but also one of TV’s most critically-acclaimed dramas, reaching an outstanding level of multi-layered character depth and emotional resonance only a few shows have ever achieved.
Creator and showrunner Raphael Bob-Waksberg and his team have created a gloriously absurd world that feels both tangible and weighted with consequence. Its introspective look in both the cheerfully optimistic and uncomfortably nihilistic realities of human lives has made such a connection to a large number of audiences who have been invested in the show since it started, continuously rewarded with the creators’ impeccable attention to continuity. This sixth and final season might not win any new viewers, but it surely is a pay-off to its dedicated fanbase.
After last season’s bittersweet cliffhanger that left the characters in journeys through uncharted roads, the show quickly establishes where they are now. BoJack (voiced by Will Arnett) is now in rehab. Princess Carolyn (voiced by Amy Sedaris) struggles between being a manager of her own agency and a mother of a prickly porcupine. Diane (voiced by Allison Brie) has her work evolved into video format that involves her travelling around the country. The stubborn Mr Peanutbutter (voiced by Paul F. Thompkins) is haunted by his dishonesty about his infidelity to a girlfriend whom he just proposed to, and the ever-reliable Todd Chavez (voiced by Aaron Paul) finds himself confronting unfinished family business.
What makes the show stand out is the active development of its characters. The conflicts they face are painfully relatable; their imperfections and worst behaviour have only sent them to not only their downfalls but also the downfalls of the people around them. Like in real life, it never lets anyone off the hook. Furthermore, the writers treat most of said arcs in a manner that’s faithful and down-to-earth to its core themes and tone.
The animation is more confident and inspired than ever. Lead animator Lisa Hanawalt and her crew use the medium to create vibrant storytelling, displaying both the characters’ hectic and troubled lifestyles in visually creative ways while also dropping background details that both serve as fun gags and make this fictional universe feel so alive, palpable and continually evolving.
The social commentary is more of an added seasoning in the recipe this time, unlike last season when it was organically incorporated within one of the dominant narratives. Its jab at capitalism is way too heavy-handed in execution but its exploration on assistants’ strikes is more effective, providing an interesting development on Princess Carolyn’s arc while also being intelligent and humorous with its approach.
There aren’t any groundbreaking episodes unlike previous seasons, as the first half acts as more of a set-up for dramatic pay-offs to its proceeding character arcs. Suffering from its new structure, it is even more frustrating when Bob-Waksberg has stated that BoJack would have run for a couple more years if Netflix did not give the order to end the show in its sixth year. While almost none of the arcs feel rushed in progression, one in particular does.
The development of Mr Peanutbutter’s arc results with minimal consequences. It has nothing substantial to add and it is evident that the writers are aware that there is barely anything at stake in it, with its big revelation being set in the show’s most outrageous slapstick set-piece yet to keep its audiences engaged. It feels more like an afterthought than a profound statement. However, this is still one half of a season. The show is not over just yet, so it is too early to jump into conclusions that Netflix has singlehandedly ruined the final product.
Besides, the writing is still persuasive and it is easy to forgive its weaknesses with how engaging it is. The trademarks of the show: the sight gags, whimsical puns, witty wordplay, experimental episodic structures and character-driven drama, are all unsurprisingly blended well together to create another fantastic (half) season of TV. It might lack the bleak, soul-crushing moments the show is known for but with the mid-season finale ending on a harrowing cliffhanger, once again, it seems that they are saving the worst for last, in the classically poetic inflammatory brand it is known for. Moreover, the new season delivers what anyone has come to expect from BoJack Horseman. Poignant and heartwarming, yet smart and hilarious. Moving towards one satisfying resolution after another, while preparing itself for its final devastating gut-punch still to be delivered.
BoJack Horseman - Season 6: Part One is exclusively streamed on NETFLIX.
