“I don’t know how to be, Diane. It doesn’t get better and it doesn’t get easier,” (Season 3, Ep. 12).
Words such as these strike a cord in our hearts. They make us sympathize and even relate to the anthropomorphic horse named Bojack Horseman. Netflix’s first animated series “Bojack Horseman” premiered on August 22nd, 2014 and the now fifth season had just premiered on September 14th, 2018.
The series’s premise is that people coexist with anthropomorphic animals. Bojack Horseman was on a 90’s sitcom and is now struggling with issues such as, depression, borderline personality disorder, and addiction.
The show gives examples of real life experiences with mental illnesses due to Bojack having a support group of friends, but never fully being content with his situation. The dark, cynical, and clever humor relays a light above the pessimistic undertones the show produces.
On a technical side, this show is fantastic. In the fifth season, the show creators really pushed the limits of typical show plotlines. These unique episodes include a monologue episode and a meta episode that explains reality in a mind that suffers with addiction and other mental illnesses. Aside from the social issues that the show tackles, it brings light to mental illness and shows how these disorders work around family and friends.
From the very first episode, Bojack is shown to be an alcoholic and a drug addict who is upset with his life after he is no longer famous. Through his friends Todd, Diane, and Princess Carolyn, he learns that he has issues he needs to work on, yet never truly wants to face reality.
The audience learns that Bojack is an anti-hero who commits really terrible acts towards the people who love him, but always convinces himself that he is a good person. I love this show and its representation of people through animation.
Addiction and mental illness can be a tough topic to open up about, but this show depicts how one’s life can fall apart even when they think everything is fine. Of course this message is added with humor and silly subplots that make the show enjoyable and not too heavy.
In a way, I think myself and many others can all relate to Bojack Horseman and his mistakes. We all seem to want to strive for something greater than we are, yet when we achieve that goal we are still not happy. We may turn to our support groups and healthy coping mechanisms, whereas some turn to unhealthy coping strategies like Bojack.
I think the most important lesson of Bojack Horseman is this: life is going to have good moments, and bad moments. Yet, recognize that you are not alone. Everyone has highs and lows. The best ways to deal with them is to surround yourself with people who love and support you, take responsibility for your wrong-doings, and to seek the help you deserve.
Like Diane says in Season 1 Episode 1, “You’re responsible for your own happiness, you know?”
Yes we are, Diane. I relate to Bojack Horseman and I can say this show has not only taught me what good comedy is, but what it means to be human. Or even, what it means to be a horse.
Emily Rubino
Opinions Editor
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