BoJack revisited

For this week’s blog post, I want to revisit a show that I have already done a post on, BoJack Horseman. Since the first time that I’ve seen Bojack about a month and a half ago, I have continued watching it regularly. In fact, I am currently in the midst of season 6. I, personally, have been touched by the show and I have found myself learning and “growing” (growing is in quotations because the actual personal growth of the main character is debatable) with our washed-up TV star as he faces his demons and leaves a path of destruction in his wake. BoJack Horseman raises the question of where exactly the line is between nihilism and depression while also encouraging the viewer to see a mirror image of their own self instead of simply a comedic animation.

The educational value in this particular show does not rest in any ability to be formally taught. No, the educational value in BoJack relies on the viewer, or the “student’s” willingness to receive possibly life-changing information. When we look at characters like BoJack, we set up a boundary between them and ourselves. We believe that the character is only a manifestation of the most shameful characteristics of humanity as a whole. However, when we see this selfish, egotistical, oblivious, arrogant horse, we have no other choice but to recognize ourselves. That is the hardest part about watching the show, is that moment of realization that we are all BoJack.

Considering this, the best situation to use this show as a teaching tool is when we attempt to teach ourselves selflessness and own up to our responsibility for how we interact with others. Think of W.W.J.D or What Would Jesus Do. What Would BoJack Do? It’s a tough question to answer, because though he is a horse, BoJack is one of the most human characters in modern adult animation. In a tough or tense situation, what what would the audience want to see BoJack do about it?

One field of ideology that I never gave much thought to prior to watching BoJack is nihilism. Put in severely simple terms, existential nihilism is the philosophy that nothing in life has meaning or value. Woven into the dialogue throughout this series are statements that align perfectly with an existential nihilistic view. There are many times where a character deems an occurrence not of note because nothing in life has any meaning. While nihilism itself does not appear to cause any harm, it appears that the concepts of the practice coordinate with the thoughts that come with depression or serious existential crises. After becoming familiar with the show, I found myself more familiar with the idea of nihilism and more critical of the differences between depression and nihilism. In that case, BoJack is a great starting point for considering and evaluating various ideologies.

In conclusion, the lessons to be learned from BoJack Horseman are all within. A tool for learning these lessons is exactly what the show is because it encourages and aids in important self-realization and outward thinking. On an external level, BoJack is a comical starting point for exploration of beliefs.