Why Bojack Horseman might be your next favorite TV show

Bojack Horseman is an animated television series created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg that had 6 seasons and ran from 2014 to 2020. The show follows the adventures of Bojack Horseman, who was a former 90’s actor on the famous show “Horsing Around.” It also follows the lives and issues of his friends (some of whom are anthropomorphic animals like him and some of whom are human). When the series opens, Bojack’s sitcom has ended a while back and he’s wanting to stage his comeback.

While Bojack’s “Horsing Around” was a sitcom about a family whose problems were solved within 25 measly minutes, Bojack’s real life is a lot more complicated. This is a big reason why I think this show is so great. One might assume that an animated cartoon is going to be mostly silly and humorous, but it’s not at all. Yes it’s funny, but it also presents people (and animals) struggling with trauma, addiction and depression while not romanticizing any of it. The series received a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And Time Magazine even called it ‘the most important animated series since The Simpsons.’

As mentioned, depression is a topic brought up quite often in the show. I like this show since it helps you see hope, and that things can get better, but you’re the only person that can truly fix it. I relate to some characters in the show which help me connect to them easier. A popular quote that Bojack said in episode 12 of season 2 of the show is, “I don’t understand how people… live. It’s amazing to me that people wake up every morning and say: ‘Yeah, another day, let’s do it.’ How do people do it? I don’t know how.” That quote is popular since it’s raw but true. A lot of shows, whether they are animated or not, usually don’t seem to get as real as Bojack Horseman does.

Most of the characters are celebrities which I think makes it a better show, especially since most people consider celebrities happy and easygoing. It shows you everyone has problems and mental illnesses, even if you seem happy all the time.

Sarah Lynn is a character that pops up a lot. She’s also a human girl. She has a lot of layers and deals with depression, borderline personality disorder, and more. Bojack deals with depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and numerous illnesses. Everyone is not happy all the time and this show can help you realize that it’s okay to feel that way. 

Bojack Horseman is a tough show to watch, especially if you deal with similar issues as the show’s character, but it’s definitely a good show. I have been watching it since 2019 and I never get bored. I would recommend this to high school students and adults but take caution since it can be triggering. Even though this show is a cartoon, it’s intended for a more mature audience.