Bojack Horseman Season 5 (Review/Spoilers)

So I was going to a "spoiler free" review, but after writing over half of it, I felt like I was missing a lot of context to the things mentioned, by being vague. So if you haven't watched BHS5, than do yourself a favor, and go watch that, than come back and we can talk. Otherwise, if you just don't care, I just want to touch on some stuff I found interesting or powerful throughout the season. Buckle up. So this season was easily the darkest season we've gotten yet. This season we dealt with Bojack's continuing drug and alcohol abuse, we dealt with Bojack's mother finally passing away, and we dealt with an assault right before our very eyes. After the final moments of season four, things were starting to look a bit up for Bojack. He learned he had a sister, family that hadn't been raised by his shitty parents, and didn't grow up toxic, that he felt he had a future with. Because of this, you get some early shots in the first few episodes that show him trying to dial back the drinking, while he was working on a new show, Philbert. Philbert, was a genius thing for the writers of Bojack, as they used it throughout the season, to break the 4th wall and make commentary on their very show. Many times, they left us questioning if we were supporting Bojack, because we could see good in him, or if we were just trying to normalize his shitty behavior. This season focused also on bringing back up every shitty thing that Bojack has done in every season. From the sad death of Sarah Lynn, to the cold passing of Herb, we kind of relieve every major death and terrible thing Bojack has done in this season. This is intentional, as I feel the creators want us to really ask ourselves why we might support one or two of the characters that we do. Everyone in this show, for the most part, are shitty in their own way. However, it's not because they are predetermined to be shitty, something that's always been hinted at, and has always been teased in the series. Season five, we finally get to see that in action, as all the choices Bojack has made up to this point our put into the spotlight, some that you might have even forgotten. Diane of course gets a bit of this in episode four, and from there on out, we get this tension filled season where you know Diane wants to talk about it, she wants Bojack to talk about it, but Bojack being Bojack, he's too busy trying to hype himself up, rather than finally deconstruct himself like he needs to. Diane told Bojack back in season one, episode twelve that there aren't bad people, and there aren't good people, there are just people who do good things and bad things. This was an interesting point back than, and it's still an interesting point now. There aren't nearly as many "bad" people as many want to believe in real life, using this as an excuse to have shitty behavior, or do something wrong, and just chalk it up to "it was predetermined, I'm just a bad guy". When we do this, and especially when Bojack does this, really, he's just normalizing his behavior, and that's really the point pushed home throughout this season. Season five also has a huge focus on the #Metoo movement in Hollywood, obviously having Bojack be a huge part of it, but it also focused a lot on how some actors get special treatment, for simply apologizing, instead of actually changing. It was funny at times, but overall, depressing for how much it hits home. Damn good job on the BH writers.

So at the end of the season, we got to see Bojack going to rehab. Is it really good? Is it really something that will help Bojack? I hope so. It's less of the fact that I can just let Bojack off the hook because he's got good one liners and is a deep thinker, and more because I want to see growth, it's all about actions, right? But to see Bojack come out, and feel shame and empathy for what he did to Gina, shows some promise. The only way Bojack will ever see some happiness, is if he finally confronts the bad things he's done, and stop expecting some fairy tale ending. So I'm interested in seeing how this actually plays out next season, we might even see some shit we weren't ready for. My favorite episode this season, has to be the now infamous funeral eulogy. It's a 22 minute monologue, which funny enough, Bojack yells at the director of Philbert for having "too much talking" in an episode, only to have Bojack just talk to himself for 22 minutes is just gold. But the episode is sad, the passing of Bojack's mother doesn't really effect him, but I get it, why should it? I guess to me, it's just sad because it once again hits home with me, that I wonder how sad I'll be when some of my own family finally passes, the ones that have spent my whole life trying to take my hand, so they could lead me out to sea with them. Bojack talks about this woman behind the counter that wants to give him a free churro, and it's just brilliant as some things start to dawn on him, the more he talks The comedic twist is that the whole time, he was at the wrong funeral, and it really is so Bojack. It's personal, it's smart, and it's really, REALLY good. Other things we got to see this season were small, but important details, like Princess Carolyn's upbringing, and the town she was raised in. Than there was also the brilliant episode that showed a Halloween party being thrown at Bojack's every year, but each one shown, was the first one that Mr. Peanutbutter had taken one of his many wives too. Showing that the issue with PB is simply the fact that he always stayed young, while his wives grew up. A dawning moment for PB, but also a clever tie in with the fact that PB is a dog, and dog's love to be with younger, more energized people. More good stuff from BH writers. Of course we also see when Diane did first meet Bojack, but now we know that Bojack doesn't remember, because he was trying to deal with the death of his father over the phone. Of course, Bojack was the only one that understood Diane's costume, which further proves, that no matter how done with this shit she is, they belong in each others lives for a reason. They just get each other in a way, no one else seems to. Peanutbutter also learned a lesson this season, made a HUGE mistake this season, and than continued down the same old path, in a season that Bojack is actually trying to better himself. I loved the dynamic, because it goes back to what Diane was saying. Most would say PB is a "good guy" compared to Bojack, yet, he's sticking to what he know doesn't work in his life, and Bojack isn't. There was a lot to unpack with season, and there are some things I didn't hit on, and if you want to talk about it, or ask what I thought, hit me up in any of my comments sections. We can talk! But for now, I have a lot of catching up to do since I was sick most of this week. But the rating I'd give this season is...

9/10 I'd say it's near perfect. It was much darker, and a lot harder to watch in some points, but this was such a well crafted season. I'm going to watch back through it some more this holiday season once the games and shows stop rolling out for more than a second. I'm working on both Forza Horizon 4 and Assassin's Creed Odyssey, so hopefully I'll have both of those out before the end of next week. Til than, I'll see you guys next time.