Jake Peffer reviews the third season of BoJack Horseman…
Season 3 finds BoJack on the awards circuit after his film, where he plays Secretariat, earns him Oscar buzz. Princess Carolyn gets comfortable at her new agency but finds it to be harder than she was expecting. Todd starts his own business involving for women drivers with an old girlfriend. Mr. Peanutbutter and Diane continue to have trust issues with one another, while Diane also continues to be BoJack’s go to person anytime he’s in trouble.
I have always found this to be one of the most bizarre shows from the moment I watched the first season. However, it being so bizarre is what sets it apart from other shows and makes it so entertaining to watch. On the surface this show looks like just another generic animated series for adults which is no different from the hundreds of others you see on TV. But BoJack Horseman does a great job of pulling you into its world and brings you along for one crazy ride. There are so many twists and turns that one minute you’ll find yourself laughing at a one-liner and the next minute you’re contemplating your own life because the show has taken a darker than expected turn. What makes this show so unique is that while it goes for broad comedy every now and again it’s not afraid to bring up some really though provoking moments at the same time. I applaud it for going places most live action shows don’t even go.
One thing I require for an animated series to reach greatness is that it needs to have a great cast of supporting characters and this hits it right on the head. Not only does the show offer a very complex character in BoJack himself but the immediate supporting cast of characters like Todd, Diane and Mr. Peanutbutter work so well together. Even the characters that pop up from time to time are memorable because of the way the show operates. To go along with excellent characters, this show has one of the best voice casts of any show on TV right now. Will Arnett is fantastic as the titular character, and he brings a lot of charisma to the role. Amy Sedaris, Paul F. Thompkins and Alison Brie all do great work here as well but it’s Aaron Paul as Todd who consistently steals the show. His human character is the most bizarre on a show filled with animal people and that’s what makes him so fun to watch.
There’s not much I can really complain about with this show. A couple of the episodes this season did feel more like filler but even they still had enough jokes to avoid being a total loss. The biggest thing I can say is that this show definitely isn’t for everybody. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea but it doesn’t try to be either. It’s so bizarre that it’s going to keep some people away.
The third season of BoJack Horseman is another home run. Everything from the voice acting to the writing works so well that it almost makes you hate binge watching it because it leaves you wanting more. Even though at first glance this show may not look like much I say give it a chance because it may just surprise you.
Jake Peffer
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Originally published August 1, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.
