Entering The Void With BoJack Horseman
Final words on my favorite horseman (Minor spoilers if you haven’t caught up to Season 6)
Ever since the debut of BoJack Horseman on Netflix, I’ve been following the exploits of this animated man-horse character throughout the seasons. I’ve been sympathetic, angry, sad, joyful, remorseful….all the emotions you could think of, I’ve been through it all while watching BoJack Horseman.
For an animated show, BoJack has more in common with real-life than we think.
The final season recently debuted on Netflix and I binged the last episodes in two days.
After the final episode, I was left….wondering.
Wondering if maybe Netflix should have let the show continue for a couple of more seasons.…
Wondering if this was the right decision to let the show end on a high and not spiral to an absurd number of seasons and dilute the product…
Wondering if I’ll ever connect to an animated show like this again…
I’m not generally a TV show reviewer so I’m not necessarily going to give a full recap or review of the final season but I do want to talk about one episode which I think helped cement the show as one of the best. The episode is called “The View From Halfway Down”.
The View From Halfway Down
At this point, BoJack is now a lecturer at a University where he’s teaching a class on “Acting”. He’s back from rehab and is trying to go on a straight and narrow path.
“The View From Halfway Down” episode starts with BoJack in a house that is occupied by most of the people who knew who have passed away including his mother, Herb Kazazz, and Sara Lynn.
Throughout the episode, there are subtle signs that this episode is a dream sequence as BoJack himself alludes to this by asking when he’s going to wake up from this “bender”.
One thing about this episode that stands out is how it deals with “Death”. For an animated show, BoJack Horseman has really great writing when it comes to serious topics and their handling of the topic of “Death” makes this a great standout episode.
The episode’s high point is when all the characters enter a stage room where one by one, they’re all called up to perform. In the back of the stage is a door where all the characters enter after their performance.
No one knows what’s on the other side of the door. When the door opens, all you can see is darkness with no telling what happens when you enter. The door is basically a symbolism of “the other side” when we die.
One by one, all the characters perform and “exit” through the door. One of the characters, Herb Kazazz, announces BoJack to the stage in a very matter of fact fashion:
“You ready for the headliner? Please welcome to the stage… the star of Horsin’ Around and The BoJack Horseman Show! Philbert! Secretariat! The upcoming Horny Unicorn! Son of Butterscotch and Beatrice! Husband to no one! Father to none, that we know of! Stand-up comedian, actor, crippling alcoholic! A talented charmer and a stupid piece of shit! It’s… BoJack Horseman!”
Yeah…very harsh.
After his announcement, black tentacles emerge from the door and wrap up Herb and drag him to the other side.
As Herb is about to exit, he and Bojack have an exchange:
“Is it… terrifying?” (BoJack)
“No. I don’t think so. It’s the way it is, you know? Everything must come to an end, the drip finally stops.” (Herb)
“… See you on the other side.” (BoJack)
“Oh, BoJack, no. There is no other side. This is it…. (Herb)
*Shivers* That particular dialogue is very haunting especially for an animated show. It brings up the debate about what happens when you die. Depending on your beliefs, it could be a place of bliss, a place of torture or just…nothing.
I won’t spoil the ending of the episode.
After that episode, there is a finale that helps close the storylines of most of the characters.
But what about BoJack? In a way, BoJack’s fate is kind of fitting. It can leave the audience to guess what happens to this horseman going forward.
He’s laid a wake of destruction with almost everyone he’s come in contact with and now he’s facing the repercussions.
The “View From Halfway Down” is definitely a special one episode and it’s a wake-up call for BoJack and his destructive attitude and how he’s treated people.
The show ends on a good note although you kind of feel like it could have run for one more season if Netflix hadn’t canceled it.
But for now, it’s farewell to BoJack and friends. There’s a lot of lessons about life and everything in between which can be learned from this animated show about a horseman.
