So apparently I'm a bit late to the party, but I have just finished watching the first two seasons of Bojack Horseman, and I'm hooked. It's not what I expected, after getting the recommendation from a Reddit post, asking, 'What's the best show that people aren't watching?'. I hadn't heard of it, so I thought it would be a kind of weird show by some creative up-and-comers, but it's really full of big names; Bojack is voiced by Will Arnett, his friend Todd by Aaron Paul, and appearances by Amy Schumer, Daniel Radcliffe, Naomi Watts, and even Paul McCartney, just to name a few.
It's an animated show, so I was assuming it would be similar to Family Guy; funny with a kind of sick sense of humour. But it's so much more than that.
Based around the main character, Bojack Horseman, who is an actor famous for a cheesy 90's sitcom, the show mainly focuses on Bojack trying to get through life and deal with his myriad problems. Having grown-up with parents who were essentially indifferent and unloving, he is now a broken person who does not deal well with other people. We see him experience some dysfunctional relationships and friendships, as he tries to find the unconditional love that he was denied in his childhood.
The interesting thing to me is that, especially with its use of continuity, this could easily be a non-animated show, dealing with dark themes and human relationships, except for the fact that half the characters are humanised animals. It adds a surreal kind of element to the show, and makes some of the subtle humour possible. Bojack's agent/ex-girlfriend, Princess Caroline, is a cat, so of course she has a scratching post in her office. His 90's sitcom rival-come-friend, is a dog whose name is Mr Peanut Butter. These bizarre elements, such as Princess Caroline's boyfriend who is not a man, but actually just three boys standing on top of each other under a trenchcoat, make the show a unique blend of crazy ideas and serious issues.
There are great, complicated characters, subtle humour, and really clever ideas throughout the show, and I highly recommend. Season three is rumoured to premiere this year, and as far as I know it's only (legally) available on Netflix.
A special mention for the theme song that plays during the end credits, which is simple yet funny, and strangely catchy.
Status: Season 3 set to premiere on July 22nd.
It's an animated show, so I was assuming it would be similar to Family Guy; funny with a kind of sick sense of humour. But it's so much more than that.
Based around the main character, Bojack Horseman, who is an actor famous for a cheesy 90's sitcom, the show mainly focuses on Bojack trying to get through life and deal with his myriad problems. Having grown-up with parents who were essentially indifferent and unloving, he is now a broken person who does not deal well with other people. We see him experience some dysfunctional relationships and friendships, as he tries to find the unconditional love that he was denied in his childhood.
The interesting thing to me is that, especially with its use of continuity, this could easily be a non-animated show, dealing with dark themes and human relationships, except for the fact that half the characters are humanised animals. It adds a surreal kind of element to the show, and makes some of the subtle humour possible. Bojack's agent/ex-girlfriend, Princess Caroline, is a cat, so of course she has a scratching post in her office. His 90's sitcom rival-come-friend, is a dog whose name is Mr Peanut Butter. These bizarre elements, such as Princess Caroline's boyfriend who is not a man, but actually just three boys standing on top of each other under a trenchcoat, make the show a unique blend of crazy ideas and serious issues.
There are great, complicated characters, subtle humour, and really clever ideas throughout the show, and I highly recommend. Season three is rumoured to premiere this year, and as far as I know it's only (legally) available on Netflix.
A special mention for the theme song that plays during the end credits, which is simple yet funny, and strangely catchy.
Status: Season 3 set to premiere on July 22nd.
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