The Deeper Meaning Behind Bojack Horseman
Bojack Horseman, a Netflix Original, which came out in August of 2014, is a show about a horse who used to be the star of “Horsin’ Around” in the late 80s and 90s, but now struggles with deteriorating popularity. Not only does he struggle with his public status, but he also struggles with addiction, depression, and is a self-loathing, self-destructing, and self-criticizing horse who can’t stop hurting the people around him. Bojack Horseman is a show that perfectly depicts depression, addiction, and insecurities.
Throughout the entire series, Bojack repeatedly tells everyone who will listen how he wants to be a good person and how he needs others around to validate him. This is mainly because of Bojack's traumatic childhood. His father, an unsuccessful writer, resents Bojack because he was an unplanned pregnancy and made his life worse. His mother, heiress to the Sugarman Sugar Cube Company, also resents Bojack for ruining her life. She neglected and abused him his entire childhood and continued to despise him in his adult life because he became an actor. The constant belittling Bojack experienced from his parents as a child, led him to feel as if everything in his life was his fault. As Bojack became older, these memories would continue to haunt him and make it difficult for him to move forward from things. He wants to be a good person and feel good about himself but doesn’t know how because he was never given the chance to do so. Bojack drinks because he deals with this immense amount of self-hatred while also feeling as if he needs to be punished. However, he’s a celebrity so no one punishes him for his actions.
Bojack often thought of Todd, who lived with him, as his best friend. In reality, Bojack keeps Todd around so he won’t have to confront his fear of being alone. In season one, Todd is given a huge opportunity with his rock opera, but Bojack sabotages it because if it worked out, Todd would’ve moved out; leaving Bojack by himself. “Bojack Horseman” not only teaches us it’s okay to forgive people, but it also teaches us that it’s okay to not forgive people. The man who made Bojack famous, Herb Kazzaz, was fired from the show “Horsin’ Around” because it came out that he was gay. Herb begged Bojack to quit since there’d be no “Horsin’ Around” without the main character, the horse. Bojack not only betrayed Herb by staying on the show, but he also cut ties with him completely, which is why Herb could never forgive him. Herb refusing to forgive Bojack reminds us that forgiveness is not owed and that it is not a moral obligation.
Sarah Lynn, childhood actress who was a co-star in “Horsin’ Around” and now a pop-star, is nine months sober when Bojack calls her inviting her over to drink. She quickly responded with a yes and went over, opening a bottle of vodka, ending her sobriety. After Bojack begins to experience blackouts after the excessive amounts of alcohol they were consuming, he and Sarah Lynn went to make amends. Throughout these amends, they go to an AA meeting where Bojack confesses that he almost slept with Penny, his friend Charlotte's daughter. When Charlotte, who was married, rejected Bojack, he took the teenaged and vulnerable Penny up on her offer for sex. Luckily, Charlotte stopped them before anything happened, but Bojack continued to be haunted by the question of what would’ve happened if she didn’t walk in. After a month-long bender, Bojack and Sarah Lynn go to the Los Angeles’ Griffith Park Observatory. While at the observatory, Sarah Lynn succumbs to an overdose from the heroin Bojack gave her. Bojack could have saved Sarah Lynn’s life if he called the ambulance right away, but instead he waited 17 minutes to call for help. Within those 17 minutes, Bojack stages a phone call so he won’t get in trouble for the very illegal bender they were on. Bojack failed the person who looked up to him the most, Sarah Lynn.
Throughout the show, Bojack hurts everyone around him because deep down, he hates himself. The writers of this show still make sure that Bojack faces repercussions for his toxic actions. Although mental health struggles may explain your actions, it doesn’t excuse them because really, there is no excuse for hurting the ones around you. Seeking or receiving forgiveness does not grant absolution, nor does it make everything “alright”. “Bojack Horseman”, makes us reconsider the nature of forgiveness and reminds us that forgiveness is merely just a step, not a solution. Forgiveness isn’t always possible either, which is okay, but when it is, it doesn’t always make things right.
