# Bojack Horseman **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 11, 2019, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300 "2019-11-11T20:45:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/1 "2019-11-11T20:45:39Z")
Netflix recently released the first two seasons of this show on DVD. In Canada, they are not widely available. Recently purchased them to see why people were talking about this show. It’s very, very funny. Not surprising with such a talented cast, I guess. But so many animated shows seem to try to mix sarcasm, intellectual humour, whimsy and ennui — and somehow come up short. I’m sure some fans (I searched the SDMB) have been on board for a while. Rotten Tomatoes gives it something like 97%. But for those of us who don’t watch much TV… I still haven’t really figured out what makes the show so funny? Anyone able to put this into words better than I can? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/2 "2019-11-11T20:55:39Z")
I like the show, but I dont really find it all that funny beyond a couple heh’s here and there. Which is head and shoulders above most of television which actively enrages me with its awful and insultingly stupid writing. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/3 "2019-11-11T21:05:24Z")
One thing they do very well, I think, is to not overplay the animals-as-people theme so once you get used to a whale as a TV talk show host or a turtle movie producer, then its fine and you get to enjoy some really thoughtful and often acerbic writing. And then when its all normal, they hit you with some completely-logical-within-universe bit of behaviour that would follow with a particular animal-person doing their own thing. I’d not call it funny, maybe darkly comic or mordant humour might fit better. Regardless, stick with it, its worth the effort. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/4 "2019-11-11T21:12:11Z")
While I absolutely love the show, I’ve gotta say the humor, to me, is mostly secondary. It’s such great character study and exploration of depression, alcoholism, life-work balance, etc. I don’t think it’s unfunny, it’s just the drama of it overshadows the humor. I think if you really love puns though, the humor probably is great. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2019, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/5 "2019-11-11T21:25:02Z")
I held off on watching it for several years after it first appeared on Netflix, just because I thought it looked a bit ridiculous, and I wasn’t that interested in a show nominally about celebrities. I’m now on Season 5, and think it’s absolutely brilliant. It’s a combination of multiple character studies, a biting satire of culture and politics, and both black and absurdist humor. There’s just so much going on in every episode. > [@Banksiaman](#): > > And then when its all normal, they hit you with some completely-logical-within-universe bit of behaviour that would follow with a particular animal-person doing their own thing. Of course as a biologist I love the animal jokes. They’re often a bit of business in the background thought, and I’m always having to rewind to catch them. I particularly like the fact that when Mr. Peanutbutter drives, he sticks his head out of the side window, and that Princess Carolyn screen saver is a moving ball of yarn.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/6 "2019-11-12T02:40:14Z")
It’s not funny in the sense of laughing every minute. But it’s clearly not meant to be; and some of the themes are ridiculously dark. But a lot of the ideas are insane. Just the idea of bit characters like Vincent Adultman, Character Actress Margo Martindale (whom I recognize from nothing), A Ryan Seacrest Type or Hollywoo in any context (they couldn’t replace the D?) are enough to make me smile. There are many easy-to-miss little jokes and bags of biting satire. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/7 "2019-11-12T04:11:08Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Of course as a biologist I love the animal jokes. They’re often a bit of business in the background thought, and I’m always having to rewind to catch them Did you catch this: I only saw this explained on twitter years afterward. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/8 "2019-11-12T18:08:59Z")
Does anyone know how popular this series is? My favourite “animal” jokes (from 1-2): - Armadillo crossing street forming protective ball when car comes too close - Princess Carolyn drinking catnip tea, has catnip on desk - Pictures of Diane playing fetch with Mr. Peanut Butter - Stores with duck mannequins and lemming mannequins (at LuluLemming) - Penguins have pictures of igloos in office - Infographic (worth Googling this) asking if Officer Meow Meow Fuzzyface is a loose cannon - Statue of cow with hands swallowing ‘water’ at Elefante restaurant - Statue of a Paul Revere on standing horse ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/9 "2019-11-13T01:56:44Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I held off on watching it for several years after it first appeared on Netflix, just because I thought it looked a bit ridiculous, and I wasn’t that interested in a show nominally about celebrities. I’m now on Season 5, and think it’s absolutely brilliant. It’s a combination of multiple character studies, a biting satire of culture and politics, and both black and absurdist humor. There’s just so much going on in every episode. This rather sums up my opinion nicely. I’d go a bit further and say that it’s probably some of the best television currently out there. I can’t believe I gave it a pass all those years ago. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/10 "2019-11-13T03:27:20Z")
The Sarah Lynn episode and the one with Princess Carolyn’s great great great granddaughter hit me like nothing else has since Jurassic Bark. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/11 "2019-11-13T16:02:48Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Does anyone know how popular this series is? Very popular among critics, but I only know two people IRL that watch it. Given that it just was cancelled, I would guess it’s not that popular in general. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/12 "2019-11-13T16:08:18Z")
I don’t believe it was cancelled. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/13 "2019-11-13T16:13:41Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > I don’t believe it was cancelled. It was. > **[Raphael Bob-Waksberg on Beginning BoJack Horseman’s Ending](https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/raphael-bob-waksberg-bojack-horseman-ending-interview.html)** > > The creator of Netflix’s equine Hollywood dramedy talks about finding his way toward the series’ endgame with clarity and optimism. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/14 "2019-11-13T16:59:28Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Did you catch this: > > [YARN | I'll let you get back to your business. | BoJack Horseman (2014) - S02E03 Comedy | Video clips by quotes | 07746940 | 紗](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/07746940-8734-4865-a34c-bf0f2495cc87#S16l-henPiB.copy) > > I only saw this explained on twitter years afterward. Yeah, I missed that one myself. That’s pretty obscure, but great.😃 > [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > - Armadillo crossing street forming protective ball when car comes too close > - Princess Carolyn drinking catnip tea, has catnip on desk > - Pictures of Diane playing fetch with Mr. Peanut Butter > - Stores with duck mannequins and lemming mannequins (at LuluLemming) > - Penguins have pictures of igloos in office > - Infographic (worth Googling this) asking if Officer Meow Meow Fuzzyface is a loose cannon > - Statue of cow with hands swallowing ‘water’ at Elefante restaurant > - Statue of a Paul Revere on standing horse I just watched the fifth season episode where Diane goes to Vietnam. I was laughing out loud because some of the characters in the background, [including a Black-and-red Broadbill,](https://ebird.org/species/barbro1) were critters actually found in Vietnam. They really did their homework on this one. One of my favorite animal jokes is when BoJack goes to New Mexico, and a couple of joggers go past the house where he’s staying: first a roadrunner, followed closely by a coyote.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/15 "2019-11-13T17:15:36Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Very popular among critics, but I only know two people IRL that watch it. Given that it just was cancelled, I would guess it’s not that popular in general. > [@Chingon](#): > > I don’t believe it was cancelled. > [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > It was. > > [Raphael Bob-Waksberg on the End of BoJack Horseman](https://www.vulture.com/2019/10/raphael-bob-waksberg-bojack-horseman-ending-interview.html) Six seasons is a pretty good run for such a niche (and completely original) show. It sounds like Waksberg was kind of surprised to even get a second season, and isn’t really upset it’s winding up. It did a lot better than _Arrested Development._ ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/16 "2019-11-13T17:37:25Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Character Actress Margo Martindale (whom I recognize from nothing), Margo Martindale really is a very good and kinda universally respected actress. She’s also quite the journeyman, her IMDB list is extensive. In fact she won an Emmy for her role in _Justified_ - well deserved IMHO. She’s also been nominated for a Tony. So the show is absolutely on point with the satire on this one :). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/17 "2019-11-13T17:55:59Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Margo Martindale really is a very good and kinda universally respected actress. She’s also quite the journeyman, her IMDB list is extensive. In fact she won an Emmy for her role in _Justified_ - well deserved IMHO. She’s also been nominated for a Tony. So the show is absolutely on point with the satire on this one :). I’m sure it would find it even funnier if I knew who half the “celebrities” were and why they were being satirized. My favorite show-biz joke is when BoJack gives the performance of his life as _Secretariat_, even getting some Oscar buzz, even though his entire performance was replaced by CGI in post-production because he missed filming the final scene. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/18 "2020-02-21T19:43:18Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I held off on watching it for several years after it first appeared on Netflix, just because I thought it looked a bit ridiculous, and I wasn’t that interested in a show nominally about celebrities. I’m now on Season 5, and think it’s absolutely brilliant. It’s a combination of multiple character studies, a biting satire of culture and politics, and both black and absurdist humor. There’s just so much going on in every episode. > > Of course as a biologist I love the animal jokes. They’re often a bit of business in the background thought, and I’m always having to rewind to catch them. I particularly like the fact that when Mr. Peanutbutter drives, he sticks his head out of the side window, and that Princess Carolyn screen saver is a moving ball of yarn.😃 Nothing anthropomorphic, but I WANT the NPR host ringtones on Diane’s phone. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/19 "2020-02-21T19:59:44Z")
One of my absolutely favorite shows ever. I thought it ended well too - didn’t overstay its welcome. Probably one of the best treatments of mental illness on television and could be amazingly hilarious. Best thing Netflix has ever done. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bojack-horseman/843300/20 "2020-02-21T20:00:23Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Does anyone know how popular this series is? > > My favourite “animal” jokes (from 1-2): > > - Statue of a Paul Revere on standing horse This is sort of a running gag. The Kentucky Derby is treated like a running race at a track/athletics meet, and there’s one episode later in the run where Bojack comes across a pack of wild horses running pretty much as if they’re a group of joggers.