We all know the giant, massive, huge Netflix hits like House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, but these days Netflix is throwing a million different original shows against the wall to see what sticks. One of their latest attempts is the animated series BoJack Horseman, a show that’s flown under the radar since its release a week ago, but simultaneously received enough good feedback to warranta season two pick-up from Netflix already. I’m here to add a bit more of that feedback. I’ve just finished up the 12 episode first season, and I have to say, I was pretty impressed by the end. Here are five reasons why you should give it a shot.
[Photo via Netflix]
The Voice Cast
I’m not sure I’ve seen an animated voice cast this impressive before. You have big names Will Arnett and Aaron Paul supported by Alison Brie and Amy Sedaris every episode, and you also have guest appearances from a huge amount of stars ranging from Olivia Wilde to John Krasinski to Keith Olbermann to Naomi Watts. It’s legitimately impressive the voice cast they’ve assembled here, and that alone is worth tuning in for.
[Photo via Netflix]
The Animal Puns
BoJack Horseman exists in a world where people and animals are both one in the same, and everyone walks upright, wears clothes, and talks. I thought that I would get tired of the visual animal puns by the end, but they just kept coming, and being consistently hilarious, whether it’s an armadillo curling into a ball after being almost hit by a car, or a paparazzi bird flying into a window after panicking.
[Photo via Netflix]
It’s Funny
This should go without saying, but it’s a funny show, even if its humor is pretty dark outside of the aforementioned animal puns. Will Arnett could voice practically any character and it would be hilarious (see Batman in The Lego Movie) and Aaron Paul seems to slide into comedy well too (though I wish they gave Todd more to do in the show).
[Photo via Netflix]
It’s Sad
BoJack Horseman may not be what you expect by the time you get halfway through the season. It starts off as a kind of slapstick dark comedy, but then it just keeps getting darker, and darker. By the end, it’s less a comedy and more a genuinely interesting character study about just who BoJack Horseman has become after being washed up for so many years. There are moments near the end of the series that are genuinely heartbreaking, and you’ll be surprised at the turns the show takes.
[Photo via Netflix]
It’s Continuous
As in, the show is not an “adventure of the week” animated series. It may kind of start out that way, but again, by the middle it more or less becomes one really long animated movie. The last four episodes in particular are like a lengthy multi-part season finale. Given that the show is on Netflix, this format works well even as most animated series shy away from too much continuity. Here, Netflix assumes you will binge watch (and you will) and therefore the show is better off for it due to the way it’s structured.
[Photo via Netflix]
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