I've had time now to watch the latest season at least 4 times, and am now prepared to comment. The first time I watched the fourth season was all on the same night (look, I love this show, okay?), so I had to watch it a few more times to fully absorb the new content.
I'll start with my one problem with the new season: There was not a lot of interaction between the main characters. Bojack and Diane had their one episode. Bojack and Todd had one scene, and Bojack and Princess Carolyn had less than that. Season 3 had intense moments between these characters ("It's You" with Todd and Bojack; "The Best Thing That Ever Happened" with Princess Carolyn and Bojack; and of course Diane and Bojack have had a complicated relationship since the beginning) -- I would have liked to follow up, and develop these relationships a little more. My favorite thing about the show has always been the way it handles relationships, both platonic and romantic.
Besides that complaint, I really loved everything else about the new season. I just want to go through episode by episode and give some Thoughts.
1. See Mr. Peanut Butter Run
Probably the low-point of the season. Not a bad episode, but after waiting more than a year, I wanted to Get Into Things right away -- and this episode is sort of fluff. But, it sets up some important things, and we have to see what the rest of the gang is up to while Bojack is gone. And the episode is definitely funny.
A brief note: I started watching this episode again to get the screencap and the very first line is: "So, you said, 'Let's do this show about the horse, but this time without the horse.'" Comedic genius.
2. The Old Sugarman Place
More set-up of the good stuff to come, with several flashbacks to Bojack's mom's childhood. Also, a nod to Lin-Manuel Miranda's cameo, both in voicing and songwriting. As tragic as Bojack's grandmother's story is, the line "I have half a mind..." never fails to get a laugh from me.
This is ultimately a Bojack-centric episode, as he hides out in Michigan, and I enjoyed the present-day subplot with Bojack's dragonfly neighbor. The scene when Bojack, finally broken and ready to come home, calls Diane... makes me feel things.
3. Hooray! Todd Episode!
It's nice to see Todd really find himself this season, now that Bojack isn't around to clip his wings. It's good to see Todd and Bojack discuss the events of last season, even briefly. However, this episode lacks much of the grit that I love the show for, so I don't have much to say. There's some good gags, particularly around Courtney Portnoy's name.
4. Commence Fracking
I really do like how Diane and Mr. Peanut Butter's relationship was developed this season; it's clear that it's not exactly built on a stable foundation -- and now neither is their house. (Ha -- do you see what the writers did there? Clever, ain't it?) I also enjoy the subplot of Bojack and Hollyhock trying to find her mother.
5. Thoughts and Prayers
Season four's "issue" episode is about gun control, and it's quite good: one of the top episodes of the season. It's hilarious to see Diane discover that she's not as anti-gun as she thought. The conclusion is that the state of California bans all guns: "I didn't think that America hates women more than it loves guns." "No?"
6. Stupid Piece of Sh*t
This is another top episode of the season -- I would say second only after the 11th episode (which is always the best). This episode is a terrifying peek inside of Bojack's mind, and all of his self-loathing. I think it's really important to see this; it explains so many of his behaviors. Plus, a lot of the internal monologue is darkly hilarious. "You don't deserve to die young. Only the greats die young. Oh, so now you think you're young all of a sudden?"
The ending is a gut-punch. Hollyhock asks: "All those voices in your head? Telling you that everyone hates you and they're not wrong to feel that way? That's just a dumb teenage girl thing, right? It goes away?" Bojack responds, with a fake smile: "Yeah."
7. Underground
This episode is also up there in the better half of season 4 episodes, but for its ridiculous premise and humor, rather than its angst. There is some good dialogue between Bojack and Diane, but the rest of the episode is just plain silly -- in the best way. And -- RuPaul's cameo? Fantastic.
8. The Judge
This episode includes: Bojack trying to act like an overbearing father to Hollyhock, and not doing the best job; and Princess Carolyn meeting Ralph's family, which is at first a bump in their relationship, but in the end strengthens it. That just makes me so much sadder that they broke up in the end... And, bonus: Hannibal Buress guest-stars as Hollyhock's boyfriend.
9. Ruthie
Here's another episode I'm putting in the unofficial top 6 or 7 episodes of the season. This is a great Princess Carolyn episode, narrated by her great-great-great-whatever granddaughter, Ruthie. It details a couple heartbreaking developments. One, she discovers that Judah went over her head to turn down a potential merger, and she fires him. (There's actually very subtle fore-shadowing of this in the previous season: Judah begins to say something about it, and she cuts him off and he has a conflicted expression on his face. This show!) I love Judah, so this is... so sad. And secondly, she breaks up with Ralph. Oh, PC... stop self-sabotaging.
But there's some humor in the episode to keep you afloat. In particular, I love the "Miss Carrie" joke. Genius.
10. lovin that cali lifestyle!!
Another nominee for top 6 or 7 or 8. Bojack's panic attack after he realizes what has happened to Hollyhock is so well done, it makes your throat constrict a little. The hard-line that he takes with his mom is understandable: It's heartbreaking to see Bojack lose this good relationship because of her, and you feel all his anger and hurt.
But then...
11. Time's Arrow
God...
This episode has been described as depicting the cycle of abuse and generational trauma -- I bet those are topics you didn't expect from a cartoon about talking animals. This is a beautifully constructed episode, told through Beatrice's fading memories. The visuals are, at times, quite scary. Beatrice may not deserve a lot of sympathy, but through this episode we can at least understand her.
This episode reveals the plot twist to the audience (but not yet to Bojack), that Hollyhock is Henrietta's daughter, and Bojack's half-sister. I love this twist. I would die for it.
12. What Time Is It Right Now
It looks like Bojack will have a job again next season! The previous three seasons all revolved around Bojack's professional life, so it will be nice to return to that. This episode is probably the beginning of the end for Diane and Mr. Peanutbutter's marriage -- which is sad, but a long time coming. But the main thing I want to address is the happy ending! Hollyhock says, "I didn't need another a dad. But I've never had a brother." and the music builds, and Bojack smiles and there are tears in his eyes, and there are tears in my eyes, and then it's the end of the season.
A lot of Bojack's journey has been about his desire for family. He grew up in an abusive home and has never known a loving family. In his career, he played a father in a happy family for a decade on TV -- and he tried to make that pretend-family real, and tried to live in that fantasy world. In season 1, he imagines a family with Charlotte. In season 2, he tries to meld into Charlotte's real life family (before he self-sabotages). In season 3, he cares for an adopted seahorse baby for an episode. And season 3 ends with Bojack seeing a herd of horses, and feeling some sort of connection.
I love this arc for him, and I'm excited to see where his relationship with Hollyhock goes.
This season, for me, was one of the most highly anticipated things I've ever watched, so it's natural to have mixed feelings about it upon a first viewing. But now that I've watched it a few times, and let it sink in, I can confidently say that it follows the tradition of previous, well-loved Bojack seasons. The humor is up to its usual standards, as is the heart-wrenching drama. This show is one of the best things on television right now, and far and away my favorite Netflix original series. If you haven't watched it yet because it's animated, well. Allow yourself to be surprised.
Also, if you haven't watched it yet, sorry for all the spoilers. Why are you reading this?
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