On to the penultimate day of our BoJack Horseman season 3 review, as today we cover episodes 7, 8 and 9. As always, spoiler alert – only read if you’ve seen these episodes. Let’s get into it:
Episode 7: Stop the Presses
Here we have a fascinating retrospective episode, where the overarching plot of the series takes a backseat in order to explore our characters a bit deeper. From the stylish, sleek opening to the downright hilarious ending, this episode is utterly fantastic, especially when it’s examining BoJack as a character. Here we see him as despicable, immoral and vice-ridden, but he still retains his undeniable charm, and the arc that he does experience over the course of the episode proves that he wants to be a good person – even if it’s difficult. The character of Emily really shines in this episode, as she is fleshed out somewhat and her relationship with Todd takes a heartbreaking turn. Talking of Todd, he’s come on to be one of the standout characters of this season, because he’s just so likeable, and – as seen at the beginning of the episode – so hilarious. There’s a few standout jokes in this episode, mainly the surprising reappearance of Character Actor Margo Martindale and the spaghetti strainers making a return. Another sublime episode in what is a really strong season so far.
Episode 8: Old Acquaintance
With a title like Old Acquaintance, you’d expect that this episode would see the return of many familiar faces, and on that front it certain doesn’t disappoint: Rutabega and Bradley are back, as are Sarah Lynn and Kelsey, the latter of whom seems to be taking a more regular role from hereon in. That said, other elements of BoJack Horseman reappear in this episode, primarily the depressing, dark and downtrodden smear that follows the characters, as Mr. Peanutbutter’s brother is diagnosed with a terminal illness. This episode is really emotional, and the bombshell reveal is handled in a way that evokes emotion despite never having met Captain Peanutbutter before. That said, the jokes are still thick and fast, with some of the highlights including the ‘Horsin’ Around cinematic universe’, the mockery of hipsters and a great Robert Downey Jr. gag. This episode really seems like the turning point, where the upbeat gloss of the season’s plot so far (if you can call it that) seems to be fading, and the dark reality of this show begins to return. And boy, it’s absolute spellbinding to watch.
Episode 9: Best Thing That Every Happened
Here we have another contemplative episode, packed with deep-rooted emotions and powerful dialogue. Fundamentally, it’s a character study of BoJack and Princess Carolyn, as their past is explore and their true feelings revealed. As you’d come to expect, there’s a plethora of hilarious jokes, from ‘Papa Lil John’s’ pizza, BoJack’s critique of critics and a strangely appropriate radio song, but it’s the writing here that lifts this episode up. There are some genuinely touching and powerful lines coming from both combatants, which helps characters previously seen as pretty career-driven such as Princess Carolyn to be more rounded and worthy of sympathy. Voice acting needs to be exceptional in order to pull off the emotional moments in this episode, and both Will Arnett and Amy Sedaris are up to the challenge, delivering bombshell lines with panache and sensitivity. And although this episode doesn’t advance the plot the most, and doesn’t show us all the characters we’ve come to love, it’s great anyway. Not many animated comedies could spend an entire length showing conflict between two characters, but BoJack Horseman pulls it off fantastically. And if you heard it in this episode and want to take a look at http://www.samanthagoestorestaurants.tumblr.com, I recommend it highly.
What do you think of these episodes? Be sure to leave a comment, and check back tomorrow for our review of the final three episodes!
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