Hi! I’m new to this subreddit, so if I say something that has been said 1000 times before, please forgive me. I just wanted to share my thoughts about the ending of this series. Take in consideration the fact that I didn’t watch the series in my mother language, but I watched the German dub, in order to improve my German. So, if I say something wrong or I missed something, that’s the reason.
I finished to watch Bojack Horseman just yesterday. It was an incredible experience, a series that managed to hook me up so much that I couldn’t wait to watch the next episode, something that happens to me very rarely. Its plot was perfectly structured, it was easy to follow and emotionally engaging; almost every character was very down to earth and realistic.
But now I want to talk more specifically about the ending. I LOVED how, after we suffered so much together with Bojack (especially on S. 6, epp. 13-14), the ending was so wonderfully conciliatory and full of hope. I think that Bojack will change to the better after coming back to prison. The last events were a turning point to him: he realized how much his wrong behaviours were ruining his life, and that he actually could (and liked to) be a good person. He clearly stated that his months as a teacher were the best part of his life. I also interpreted the falling in the darkness of all his old acquaintances (Sarah Lynn, Herb, his mother ecc.) as a symbol of Bojack’s decision to move on.
However, there are two things that left me just a bit disappointed. They didn’t ruin my enjoying of the ending, not at all, but I need to address them:
- There is no trace of Hollyhook in the ending. Her choice to cut her relationship with Bojack killed me. He finally found his sister, the first relative who loved him, and he just lost her because of a bunch of loathsome reporters. As much as the open ending leaves room to hope for her comeback, the dialogue between Bojack and Diane about “people not coming back” left me quite pessimistic on this possibility.
- I think also that Hollyhook was too prompt to cut her relationship with Bojack. She knew that he was a difficult person with a difficult past. I mean, they shared the same roof when Bojack’s mom was there. She also knew that he was a Hollywood star and had a problem with addictions. What did she expect? Also, I can’t recall what Bojack did wrong on the party where he “traumatised” that boy who talked to Hollyhook in New York. Anyway, it’s a shame that we never got to know what Hollyhook wrote to him.
- Princess Carolyn’s wedding with Judah. Look, I like Judah, he is a handsome man and a likable character, and he looks to have the perfect age to father Ruthie, considering that PC is already 40. But we didn’t get very much of his relationship with PC, he just said he loved her while playing a song. I liked her relationship with Ralph much more, and I would have appreciated if they made him come back. He is the only one likable mouse in fiction to me.
That’s everything I wanted to say. Sorry for the long post, I’d like to know what other fans think of these issues. Bye!
You also need to consider Bojack’s conversation with Todd. Todd said he was sure he would never have a relationship with his mother again, but now… there’s always a chance Bojack and Hollyhock could reconnect at some point. Especially a few years from now after she’s finished college and he’s still sober and doing well.
I feel like I’m always harping on this when it’s relevant but in regards to 3. They originally thought they were going to have 7 seasons instead of 6 so I imagine PC and Judahs relationship development would’ve been shown better if time allowed.
Ok, here are my thoughts:
Bojack definitely did wrong at the party, you need to rewatch it :p he left two teens at the hospital, including Pete-Repeat, so they could themselves look for help while one of them was passed out drunk because of a drink Bojack himself promoted. He’s left them at the hospital without meeting the personnel for 2 reasons:
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that no responsible adult would know, him, an adult, gave alcohol to teens (could lead to prosecution by the parents), cowardice.
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to get back home with Penny asap (“you look just like your mother”), Bojack already was onto Penny before he tried to kiss Charlotte because he already thought a married woman won’t give in for him.
Also I have mixed feelings about Ralph because what was happening in his family, although seen as celebrating surviving to predators, could be considered racism (specism), that if I was a cat, like PC, definitely would not feel safe for me. Also he was way too insistent on PC stopping her career to become a mother, and I think it is just not what she wanted. So maybe he’s sweet but definitely not the right match for her, he shall go and find a mouse tradwife, not a carreer-oriented cat.
Ok thank you for the answers. I think that the language barrier made me lose some details ahah
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We absolutely do see Judah and PC’s relationship. It develops fruitfully throughout his time at the agency. We don’t need to see their romance because we know from the friendship we had already observed that they are perfect for each other.
You have a point, but I didn’t feel so much chemistry before Judah’s declaration. I don’t know, maybe it’s me.
…or maybe it’s that I need to rewatch the show in my language -.-
I’m glad you liked the show!
I’ll respond to 2 and 3:
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remember that Hollyhock is 18 or 19. While she’s mature for her age, she doesn’t need to be weighed down by BoJack. She was able to accept his flaws, but he made some mistakes that show that he may not be a safe person to be around. As far as what he did wrong that traumatized the guy at the party: he was a 50+ year old man taking some teenagers to prom, which is weird all on its own, but he also got them extremely drunk. When one girl got alcohol poisoning, he just dumped her at the hospital. He should have been the responsible adult in the situation, but he did the kinds of things a fellow teenager would have done (fellow to the characters).
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On paper, Ralph is the perfect choice for a boyfriend/husband. He’s smart, caring, attentive, and rich to boot! Judah is that steady person with whom PC just developed a relationship with over time. I read elsewhere that she’s always been married to her work, and in marrying someone from work, she can truly be married to her work (I wish I knew where I read this; that person did a much better job than I did.). The first time I watched the show, I didn’t understand their relationship, but the more I watch it, the more I get it. Unfortunately, I can’t explain it well beyond him being a steady companion who she can truly be herself around, and they can pursue their passions together.
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Bojack didn’t lose Hollyhock because of “some loathsome reporters.” He lost her by abandoning her for days with a senile old woman on one visit, dragging her around town looking for drugs on the next, and then showing up unannounced at her school acting incredibly clingy and not reading the room that she wanted some space.
The reporters were the last straw, not the cause. If they’d had an overall good positive relationship up until that point, she’d have written it off as baseless Hollywoo gossip or asked him his side of it instead of cutting him off. They didn’t.
I’m glad someone said this because that sentence irked me. Most of what happened to BJ is a result of his own actions. Self-responsibility is a huge theme of the show and I’m surprised OP missed that.
Eh, it’s easy to have an in-depth and nuanced understanding of the themes when you’ve watched the show a dozen times. OP is on a first watch, you’re gonna miss some stuff, and since the story is told largely from Bojack’s perspective, it’s easy to fail to think about what the same events might look like from a different character’s perspective.
d’aw :( you can’t hold 1 & 3 against him. he didn’t abandon her w a senile old woman, he was there with her, + her nurse, and there was no way anyone could’ve known she’d be dangerous. & 3, yeah, he was being clingy and i understand Hollyhock’s feeling suffocated, but just bc he didn’t immediately read between the lines and know isn’t his fault, part of that falls on her for not communicating that sooner, but he backed off once she said something about it. it wasn’t especially malicious or harmful or anything.
To me, Hollyhoock wanted to keep some distance because she learned what Bojack had done at the party. Before, she had no problem if Bojack was around
“he is the only one likeable mouse in fiction to me” 😂