BoJack Horseman Season 5 (2019)
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BoJack Horseman Season 5 Review
The fifth season of BoJack Horseman is pretty much on par with its predecessor. That means that it has its weaker points, but overall it’s another stellar season of adult animation.
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“There’s no such thing as bad guys or good guys“
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The Light Bulb Scene gives us a great set-up for this season with the introduction of Philbert, a new TV show starring BoJack. It also starts Princess Carolyn’s very frustrating, emotional journey in search of adopting a child.
The Dog Days Are Over is a pretty different episode for the show as it revolves around Vietnam in its entirety which did not lead to the most fun episode out there, but Diane’s time there was well spent, and some moments are quite funny and observational.
Planned Obsolescence is at its best in Todd’s subplot surprisingly enough. He meets Yolanda’s parents who are super into sexuality which of course leads to some hilarious situational comedy, but it also ends on a sad, if necessary note with the two breaking up.
BoJack the Feminist deals with feminism in Hollywood in a very forceful and relevant, but not particularly engaging manner. The Amelia Earhart Story is one of the season’s highlights. It not only focuses on Princess Carolyn’s meeting with a pregnant woman to adopt her child, but it also deals with her backstory, and it is all so well edited into a coherent, emotional whole.
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Free Churro is obviously another BoJack Horseman high concept episode, this time around it focuses on not just one setting and character, but mostly on just one shot as we follow BoJack’s eulogy for his mother at a funeral. The end result is a deeply personal examination of his complex feelings for his mother.
INT. SUB is a very amusing episode which sees a lesbian therapist couple who tell each other stories of their patients who conveniently happen to be the main cast. Some of these felt like filler while some were quite dramatic.
Mr. Peanutbutter’s Boos is a Halloween episode which does give us an insight into his troubled love life, but overall it felt too messy in its execution. Ancient History is solid in all three subplots, but the one with Carolyn and Ralph felt particularly moving.
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Head in the Clouds is fine in the first half, but the second half features an explosive fight between Diane and BoJack that is so dramatic, and so powerful. The Showstopper is a weaker drug-induced episode that is too weird and ultimately the case of style over substance. The Stopped Show is an excellent finale that brutally honestly deals with Hollywood people’s tendency to first think of their careers, and only then of victimhood. It also ends on such a great, hopeful note for BoJack as he arrives to the rehabilitation center.
Overall, this season explored very well his drug problem, and especially how he remains a very bad, problematic person. I also loved Diane who got some terrific episodes here along with Princess Carolyn. Some episodes are a mixed bag, but most are very strong.
Worst Episodes: BoJack the Feminist and Mr. Peanutbutter’s Boos.
Best Episodes: The Amelia Earhart Story, Free Churro and The Stopped Show.
