«That’s the thing. I don’t think I believe in ‘deep down ‘; I kind of think all you are is just the things that you do». And «It gets easier. Every day it gets a little easier. But you gotta do it every day — that’s the hard part. But it does get easier».

Two unforgettable nuggets of eternal wisdom from BoJack Horseman.

This might sound problematic, or maybe it’s a telltale sign that I’m unwell. But very few shows have made me feel more seen than BoJack Horseman. On the surface, it might appear to be a ridiculous comedy about a horse that behaves like a human, and it also happens to be a former celebrity from a famous nineties TV show called ‘Horsing Around’; but it’s also a show with an incredibly deep understanding of human emotional complexity and morals.

BoJack teaches us that no amount of self-awareness can force us to change; real change depends solely on action. As Diane says, there is no ‘deep down’; we ultimately are what we do, nothing more, nothing less.

At one point in the series, BoJack talks about how he used to watch so much TV as a kid, and that he thought love was about grand gestures, that no matter what happened, everything could be fixed through a grand gesture, and the show would end on a hopeful note.

The thing is, in real life, you have to show your love every day; you can’t erase years of absence or betrayal with one grand gesture. Besides, after any grand gesture you make, life doesn’t magically stop; it keeps going, and you can’t grand-gesture it away.

Being a better person is an ongoing commitment, something that’s not particularly BoJac’s greatest strength. Let’s just say he likes to live a more… Unpredictable kind of life.

My favourite episode is the one about the free churro, his mother’s eulogy. I don’t know; I truly think it’s a work of art and that its writers should be more acclaimed. I think it is absolutely criminal that the show hasn’t won any Emmys; I mean, what?

I’ve only seen writing like that in Mad Men or The Sopranos; what do you mean nobody else appreciated it? I know everyone feels this way, but I wonder what happened specifically.

There is ‘The View from halfway down’ episode as well, but that is like the deepest philosophical experience a human can have watching a TV series, so I will not specifically recommend it to you.

If you want to watch it, do it at your own risk ok? Try to have company while you do it because you will need to have somebody by your side, trust me.

Either way, for those who like intellectually sharp, satirical, absurdist, and cynical humour:

I’ve put together a list of BoJack memes to laugh at his occurrences or about the uncomfortable feelings he evokes, in an attempt to celebrate great writing and animation!

Please! Give it up for BoJack Horseman!