The Stopped Show

The cap of a very impactful and emotionally charged season. You can't find a better depiction of someone fighting their demons and fighting their addictions at every turn. BoJack continues to be a show with outlandish people and settings but is done so in a way that feels so familiar and sadly relatable to the world we live in. It actually creates a sympathetic view of a soul who wants to be better yet can't find away to get out of their own way. It's a stark reminder that life doesn't always have happy endings and things don't always go as planned, but with the right people, not even better people than ourselves,we still have hope that we can be better. The best show I've watched in years and hope more is to come

This fifth season of BoJack Horseman is not for new viewers to jump right into, but it is yet another cementing of why you should be watching the series from the start. The fifth season sees BoJack on a new TV show and doing pretty well, while in the background the other characters remain close to his arc, but yet with their own challenges and struggles in life. It produces a tight thread for all these characters to stay within, which had been a weakness in some previous seasons, but is done really well here and allows the show to feel tight and focused, even as it covers a lot.

The writing continues to be the biggest strength it has, and it is seen in not only what the narrative tackles here, but the way it does it while doing other things too. It deals seriously with the main character in a convincing downward spiral, and another character seeking a baby to fill a hole in her life, but at the same time having space for a crudely-constructed sex robot to become the CEO of a company which tells you the time now, and having Todd in a 'swapped identities' sexual farce with a family of axolotls. As before, the show does this with neither element detracting from the other. It also continues to push for new ideas and risk-taking; the episode-long monologue being the most famous example, but it is hard not to enjoy and admire the reality blurring penultimate episode for how well it relays BoJack's breakdown in a way that can be understood.

The animation and voice work continue to be top notch, but it is the dept and creativity of the writing that makes this show and this season so great - from the continued character depth, the background gags, the creativity of presentation, and the way it all comes together as a whole.

To sum up it's like another opportunity for Bojack and Mr.P becoming real a$$ h0le.

Review By Kamal K

BoJack continues to amaze, depress, and restore me. I'm not sure how it's possible for a show to push sitcom boundaries episode after episode while making me feel deeper and laugh harder than I have at any one other show. And it isn't just BoJack's story that provides that mix - it's the entire supporting cast. Each main character gets special attention from the writers, who deftly interweave the personal traumas and joys of each character into a satisfying larger narrative whole. Attention to detail in the animation continues to be platinum-level, as is the voice cast. BoJack Horseman S5 continues to be one of the fiercest, funniest, and devistating shows on Netflix.

Wow. There's really nothing much more to say. The fact that I'm crying as this episode ends is honestly just the tip of the iceberg on what has to be one of the most emotional depictions of a troubled personality ever put to screen. It really doesn't get any better than this.