Written by Joseph Carrick
“Bojack Horseman”, Netflix’s favorite emotionally-suppressed alcoholic in the form of a talking horse, has returned for a fifth season. What is there to look forward to in this new season? No spoilers here, but self-destructive behavior and the effects that it has on loved ones is further is explored in this new absurdist, realistic and (for some) uncomfortably relatable season.
Trauma experienced early in childhood and adolescence defines the characters in “Bojack Horseman.” Their vulnerabilities and emotional weaknesses are not hidden under a veneer of visual gags or satire, but are just as apparent to viewers as it is to the characters themselves. The characters are amplified as they come to terms with their own situations, used sparsely and only to drive a point home.
Without going into any detail, episode six, “Free Churro” has gained a lot of hype from critics and fans alike. In the classic “rollercoaster of emotions” style that has become a trademark of the series, dark humor is mixed with deep-rooted anguish that can only reflect a lifetime of abuse and neglect. This is true for all characters in the series to at least some extent. The past of some characters is explored in more detail, and naturally what is found buried deep within is suppressed until it all comes rushing back.
