  |
This article's content is marked as Mature BoJack Horseman contains mature content that may include coarse language, sexual references, and/or graphic violent images which may be disturbing to some. Mature articles are recommended for those who are 18 years of age and older. If you are 18 years or older or are comfortable with graphic material, you are free to view this page. Otherwise, you should close this page and view another page. |
| “ | All I know about being good I learned from TV. And in TV, flawed characters are constantly showing people they care with these surprising grand gestures. And I think that part of me still believes that's what love is. But in real life, the big gesture isn't enough. You need to be consistent, you need to be dependably good. You can't just screw everything up, and then take a boat out into the ocean to save your best friend, or solve a mystery and fly to Kansas. You need to do it every day, which is so... hard. | „ |
| ~ BoJack during his mother's eulogy. |
BoJack F. Horseman is the titular main protagonist of the animated Netflix sitcom BoJack Horseman. The show primarily follows BoJack, an anthropomorphic horse/washed up actor, and his life after his successful '90s sitcom, Horsin' Around.
He is a clinically depressed alcoholic and is often self-centered, acting rudely and out of personal interest. Although, he attempts to better himself over the course of the series and become a better person.
He was voiced by Will Arnett.
Biography[]
Background[]
BoJack was born on January 2, 1964, to Butterscotch Horseman and Beatrice Elizabeth Sugarman. He grew up in an abusive family; his mother, Beatrice, was the heiress of the Sugarman Sugarcube fortune, while his father, Butterscotch, was a failed novelist turned working-class horseman. His father's alcoholism and verbal abuse, coupled with his mother's resentment towards him, made BoJack's childhood challenging.
To cope with his difficult home life, he idolized Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown winner, finding solace in his fame. As he grew older, BoJack pursued comedy, and befriended Herb Kazzaz and Charlotte Moore, Herb's girlfriend. Their friendship grew as they pursued fame together. Herb eventually secured a show called "Horsin' Around" and offered BoJack the lead role.
However, fame didn't bring BoJack happiness; instead, he sank into depression, turning to smoking and alcohol to numb his loneliness and pressure. When Herb's scandal led to his dismissal, BoJack's guilt haunted him. He continued the show until its cancellation, culminating in his character's death and a heartbreaking revelation to his adopted orphans.
Season One[]
Twenty years later, BoJack lives a recluse's life with his "roommate "Todd Chavez and has an on & off relationship with his agent, Princess Carolyn. Spiraling into despair, he is approached to write a biography but struggles with completing it before its deadline, leading to him hiring a ghostwriter, Diane Nguyen. Despite initial animosity, BoJack was drawn to Diane, only to discover she was dating his rival, Mr. Peanutbutter.
Season Two[]
BoJack continues his journey of self-discovery and attempts to confront his personal demons. He grapples with his unresolved feelings for Diane and struggles with his sense of identity and purpose. The season delves deeper into BoJack's past, particularly his troubled childhood and strained relationship with his mother, shedding light on the root causes of his self-destructive behavior.
Season Three[]
After BoJack lands a starring role in a biopic about Secretariat, his childhood idol, he struggles with the pressure and expectations that come with the role. The season explores themes of addiction, fame, and the consequences of one's actions, as BoJack grapples with his own demons and attempts to find redemption.
Season Four[]
After a girl named Hollyhock appears at his front door one day, claiming to be his illegitimate daughter, BoJack embarks on a journey to connect with her, while also confronting his own past and family dynamics. In the finale, he learns Hollyhock isn't actually his daughter, but his half-sister who was a result of his father's affair with the family maid, and whom was put up for adoption shortly after her birth.
Season Five[]
Thanks to Princess Carolyn, BoJack stars as the lead role in a new TV show called "Philbert," which explores themes of addiction and morality, reflecting BoJack's personal struggles as he becomes addicted to pills and alcoholic as of his guilt following Sarah Lynn's death.
Season Six[]
Part I[]
The first half of the final season focuses on BoJack's journey to redemption as he faces the consequences of his past actions and attempts to make amends with those he has hurt by entering rehab.
Part II[]
The second half explores the aftermath of BoJack's actions and the impact they had on the lives of the characters around him, primarily ongoing investigation into Sarah Lynn's death . It delves into themes of forgiveness, closure, and acceptance as BoJack and the other characters come to terms with their pasts and move forward with their lives.
In the finale, BoJack finds a sense of closure and peace, having come forward about his past offenses and continuing his path to atonement, as he reflects on his past and looks towards the future with a newfound sense of hope and acceptance.
Personality[]
BoJack has deep-seated self-loathing, insecurities, and struggles with his sense of identity and purpose. He puts on a cynical and cold exterior, often acting sarcastic and dismissive of others’ feelings. Yet, he is also emotionally vulnerable and desires genuine connection and validation, despite his fear of intimacy and rejection. Throughout the series, BoJack's personality evolves as he confronts his inner demons.
In the early seasons, BoJack's behavior is often driven by his self-destructive tendencies, including substance abuse, one-night stands, and lack of care for his own well-being. He struggles to find meaning and fulfillment in his life, leading to a cycle of self-sabotage and regret. As the series progresses, however, BoJack begins to confront his past trauma and seeks redemption for his mistakes. He grapples with feelings of guilt and remorse, especially regarding his treatment of others and his own destructive behavior. He also develops deeper connections with those around him, particularly with Diane, Todd, and Princess Carolyn, as he learns to trust and rely on others for support.
In addition to facing the consequences of his actions, both professionally and personally, he experiences moments of triumph and success, as well as moments of failure and disappointment, forcing him to confront the reality of his choices and their impact on others.
Towards the end of the series, BoJack begins to find a sense of acceptance and forgiveness, both for himself and for others. He learns to let go of his past regrets and embrace the possibility of a better future, despite the challenges that lie ahead.
Relationships[]
Diane Nguyen[]
Diane serves as BoJack's ghostwriter in the early seasons, eventually becoming a close friend of his throughout the rest of the series. BoJack often turns to Diane for advice and validation, but their dynamic is complicated by their unresolved romantic tension and differing opinions on various social issues.
Todd Chavez[]
Todd is introduced as BoJack's freeloading roommate but evolves into one of his closest friends. His loyalty and optimism serve as a foil to BoJack's cynicism and self-destructive tendencies, and his attitude often keeps BoJack grounded in reality, and he's responsible for pulling BoJack out of his cycle of despair on multiple occasions.
Despite their differences, BoJack deeply values his friendship with Todd and relies on him for companionship and support, especially during times of crisis.
Princess Carolyn[]
Princess Carolyn is BoJack's agent and occasional love interest whom BoJack relies on for career opportunities and emotional support. She is a constant presence in BoJack's life, offering him guidance and understanding, even as she struggles with her own challenges and aspirations.
Mr Peanutbutter[]
Mr. Peanutbutter is BoJack's rival-turned-friend. While they initially clashed due to their contrasting personalities and approaches to life, they later learn to tolerate each other's existence and also share moments of genuine connection and mutual respect.
Heroic Acts[]
- When his best friend Herb first came out as gay, he fully supported him despite it being considered taboo at the time and even stood up to network executives that tried to fire Herb due to his sexuality.
- He became a father figure to Sarah Lynn during the filming of Horsin' Around due to her parents being neglectful of her, as is common with most child stars.
- Throughout the series, BoJack makes an effort to atone for his past offenses and be a better person.
- He rescued a baby seahorse and tracked down its father, returning it home.
- He risked his life to save Todd from the Improv Cult.
- When Hollyhock came to him, he initially dismissed her claims that she was his daughter, but eventually embraced it, forming a connection with her, and attempting to locate her mother. After learning she was actually his half-sister, he let her stay with him, his mother, and Todd, and tried to be supportive of her, even when her moving away for college upset him.
- Despite his animosity toward her for her years of abuse, after his mother Beatrice developed Dementia, he took her in and cared for her.
- In the series finale, BoJack takes full responsibility for his crimes, and comes clean about his actions that resulted in Sarah Lynn's death, resulting in him being imprisoned for 2 years. Upon his release, he made an effort to fix his current relationships and was mostly successful in doing so.
External links[]
- Bojack Horseman on the Heroic Benchmark Wiki.
- Bojack Horseman on the Villains Wiki.
- BoJack Horseman on the Villainous Benchmark Wiki.
- Bojack Horseman on the Bojack Horseman Wiki.