From this list, and from my enjoyment of the show in general, you'll be able to tell that I like being in pain. Here's my previous blog post about Bojack, where I talk about what I like about the show in general.
10. Brrap Brrap Pew Pew
This is a great issue episode, and super honest unflinching look at abortion. Diane decides to have an abortion, and she doesn't regret it, but she's still allowed to have some complicated feelings about it. Meanwhile, her client, a teen pop star, sparks a public abortion debate with her new single about killing babies. Great commentary, great jokes, and the song is hilarious.
9. Downer Ending
This episode has a long trippy scene that hits all the right notes of funny and sad that I love about this show. Then the episode ends with Bojack going to Diane's panel and asking her if he's a good person. She doesn't answer.
8. Stop the Presses
This is a unique episode as Bojack calls the LA Gazette to cancel his subscription and ends up getting therapy sessions from a woman called The Closer. Not only does she help him work through his guilt about Todd and complicated relationship with Ana - she also gets him to renew his subscription.
7. Let's Find Out
Bojack is a guest on Mr. Peanutbutter's new show and he's up against Daniel Radcliffe. This episode is hilarious as we see JD Salinger's game show come to fruition. But undoubtedly the best part is when Peanutbutter and Bojack "get real" about their rivalry and Diane on live television. Then they make out for a while?
And of course, Bojack reveals the extent of his pettiness when he burns all the money.
6. Best Thing That Ever Happened
The Princess Carolyn episode we all deserve. I love her, and I love seeing her and Bojack talk out their problems (or yell about them). This episode has some great comedic moments including: Bojack accidentally firing the restaurant owner; the waiter getting lit on fire; and everything the food critic does. Plus, "Don't go back to the restaurant, Princess Carolyn" is a great song.
There's a gut punch to this episode, too, though. After a long pause of the waiter coming back to get his coat, Bojack decides to not give Princess Carolyn another chance.
5. The Telescope
This mid-season 1 episode is when the show hooked me for good. We see some glimpses into Bojack's past and his relationship with Herb and Charlotte, and his betrayal of Herb. Now jumping forward, we see Herb interact pleasantly with Bojack, but ultimately refuse to forgive him. This scene matters a lot to me; you are not obligated to forgive the people who wronged you.
Then, in an intense moment, Bojack kisses Diane on the way home.
4. That's Too Much, Man!
This episode is truly just one depressing scene on top of another. Sarah Lynn breaks her sobriety in a big way, as she begins what appears to be a months-long bender with Bojack. Some hits include: crashing an AA meeting and Bojack starts talking about all the awful things he's done; going to check on Penny and just re-opening the wound; Sarah Lynn seeing that she's won an Oscar on TV but not being there to accept it.
The planetarium scene is really a whole other level. I cry real actual tears every time.
3. After the Party
This is up here with the big "end of season" episodes, and for good reason. This episode follows three couples and their arguments after Diane's surprise birthday party. The scene with Princess Carolyn and Vincent Adultman is some comedic relief, before a much more intense fight between Diane and Mr. Peanutbutter.
I like to watch a good argument, and Diane and Peanutbutter's is a fantastic one, with all the ins and outs and highs and lows. They come to a healthy conclusion, proving once again why they work well together despite their differences. Bojack and Wanda's argument is a little different, as Bojack hits the self-sabotage button. Another highlight: Wanda's two part joke about the bag of mulch.
2. It's You
Bojack celebrates his Oscar nomination with a huge party and pushes Diane away. His self-destruction is counterbalanced with Mr. Peanutbutter and Todd's antics. Mr. Peanutbutter tries to comfort Bojack by telling him that "none of this matters." This type of nihilism is not very comforting to Bojack.
The gut punch comes in the end, when Todd delivers a fantastic monologue, telling Bojack that he can't blame all of his mistakes on his childhood trauma and alcoholism, that the excuses are meaningless when he never tries to change, and the real problem, well - "it's you."
1. Escape From L.A.
This has to be one of the best episodes of television I've ever seen. It's a nice bottle episode, an escape, if you will, as Bojack finds a surrogate family in New Mexico. The feel-good set-up makes he last few minutes even more heart-wrenching and awful. It's such an edge-of-your-seat and emotionally conflicting moment, since you know that Bojack is doing something really bad, but you can't help but feel for him.
The the events of the episode are not forgotten; Bojack is haunted by his mistake for the rest of the series.
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