BoJack Horseman Season Five (Spoiler-Filled) Review

On paper, it doesn’t sound like it should work: A streaming cartoon series that follows a washed-up sitcom star as he falls deeper into depression and substance abuse, alienating those around him and struggling with his past demons and present problems. Oh, and the lead is an anthropomorphized horse . . . and the other characters are a mix of human and animal- and no one bats an eye about it. Yet, BoJack Horseman works on every level, and is by far the best original series on Netflix (considering the insane number of shows Netflix is putting out, that’s saying something).

And season five was the show’s best yet- taking the time to give each of the five main characters a clear arc (my main complaint about season four was that Todd’s clown dentist storyline often felt like an afterthought in comparison to the more complex arcs of BoJack, Princess Caroline, Diane, and Mr. Peanutbutter). Each character was challenged to confront the issues that have been following them throughout the series, with BoJack finally admitting he has a problem (one that has cost him so much, for so long), Princess Caroline realizing she might have to make some sacrifices of her own to achieve what she wants in life (and that what she truly wants might not be exactly what she expected it would be), and Mr. Peanutbutter, Diane, and Todd all taking major steps to grow up. It’s been a long time coming for each of these characters, and it was incredibly fulfilling to see them take major steps forward, after season after season of small steps forward and big steps into denial.

Aside from successful season arcs, the season will likely be remembered for it’s standout episode, “Free Churo.” A single monologue from Will Arnett’s BoJack, wherein our protagonist explores his fractured relationship with his now deceased mother (who suffered from dementia in her waning years, a diagnosis that was only recognized by BoJack back in season four), the complex nature of how parents and children relate to one another, love, loss, feelings of inadequacy, and how grief ebbs and flows with no clear path. Honestly, if someone you know hasn’t jumped on the BoJack bandwagon, I would recommend just showing them this episode as a primer, as it hits on so many of the key elements that make BoJack into the truly special show that it is.

In a single 42 minute burst, the series manages to get to the heart of what it means to be human (a massively broad statement, I know, but stick with me). We are defined, whether we like it or not, by our relationships, both with others and with ourselves. And we let those relationships guide us, tell us who we are, and color our waking (and, sometimes, non-waking) life. From the cashier at the fast food joint (who offers a free churo upon hearing our mom died) to our longest relationships (our parents, until their deaths, and our other family members), we are impacted by every interaction. So, it makes sense that, when faced with the end of a cornerstone relationship, we would have trouble dealing with the immediate sense of loss that pervades our personal identity.

As BoJack attempts to wrestle with his mother’s final words, it’s incredibly easy to put yourself in his shoes. I often find myself anticipating the next scene or line in most shows (and, since so few shows are really all that original anymore, I often get ahead of the story quickly). With “Free Churo,” I spent the entire episode in rapt attention, moving slowly down the path of realization with BoJack, never really knowing where the monologue would take me next. It was a truly spectacular piece of writing, and a really unbelievable piece of voice acting from Arnett. I’ve watched the episode several times so far, and I suspect I will watch it many more, gaining a new insight each time around. And the kicker at the end? Brilliant. I didn’t see that one coming.

While “Free Churo” will go down in television history as one of the medium’s best stand-alone episodes (seriously, I would put it up there with the best I’ve seen), the entire season was pitch perfect. My major worry with BoJack has been that the writers would be hesitant to really allow him to work on getting better, be that through actual treatment in a facility (such as him checking into rehab- and checking his ego at the door- in the season finale) or other means, as it’s harder to wring comedy from someone actively working on changing their life than it is from someone who takes every possible shortcut to avoid it (or simply denies it’s a problem). But, here we are, embarking on a new phase in BoJack’s life moving into season six, and I couldn’t be more intrigued to see where the show goes.

In fact, I’m excited to see what happens with everyone. As I said, on paper, this show shouldn’t work. It should be too strange that anthropomorphized animal/human hybrids roam the earth and interact with humans without anyone caring. We should find it nearly impossible to feel empathy for BoJack after all the awful things he has done (and watching him face up to those actions this season should have turned us even more against him), yet we still want him to become a better person. We should be so annoyed with Mr. Peanutbutter for not getting it and continuing to make the same mistakes, but he’s still the best dog and we can’t help but love him, even at his most vapid. And we should want to constantly shake Diane to wake her up to the fact that none of these people are at all good for her, and she should run as fast as she can away from them to save her own sanity (and to allow her to better grasp her own failings, something that she has had such a hard time to do around the excess and spiraling denial she’s confronted with every day), but we still root for her to succeed and find her true calling in life. It’s a delicate tightrope for the writers to walk, and they manage to make it across year after year with minimal wavering.

There’s nothing like BoJack Horseman on television. Watching each season is one of the highlights of my television year (and I watch a hell of a lot of TV, so that’s saying something). I will be waiting with bated breath for season six. After all, we have to find out if Beloved Character Actress Margo Martindale regains her memory and extracts revenge on BoJack.