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BoJack Horseman

It’s been almost a year, but we’re back in Hollywoo.

Featuring the voice acting talent of Will Arnett, Aaron Paul, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F. Tomkins, and a guest role by Lisa Kudow, BoJack Horseman staked its claim to being one of the best Netflix Originals with its tremendous first season. When it wasn’t focused on animal puns, BoJack gave viewers a nuanced and interesting portrait of a broken horse-man filled with self-loathing.

Finally, BoJack and friends/work acquaintances are back for Season 2, and we’re giving you day-by-day recaps on our most genetically diverse comedy cast. Enjoy, fellow adults!

The first episode of second season of BoJack, “Brand New Couch”, opens in 1973 on the same interview that introduced us to BoJack’s hero, Secretariat. However, this time we’re seeing the scene from BoJack’s point of view — a small child watching his idol.

BoJack’s brief moment of happiness is interrupted by a loud and increasingly violent argument from his parents. BoJack’s mother, Beatrice (Wendie Malick), then tells him, “You better grow up to be something great to make up for all the damage you’ve done.”

Damn. I’ve never seen a sitcom intro that punches as hard as this one.

Getting off track…like a horse track?

In the theme song, we’re treated to a slightly altered opening sequence. The grocery store scene has been replaced by the set of what appears to be the Secretariat movie. Hooray for BoJack’s dreams!

Back in present day, BoJack is listening to a self-help audiobook, voiced by George Takei, as he watches the sun rise. BoJack has decided he can change, and he will change. As he puts on his workout clothes and makes a smoothie – without pills – he ignores an unknown call. Mysterious.

One failed workout attempt later, BoJack visits Princess Carolyn. But more importantly, he interrupts Princess Carolyn’s call with Vincent Adultman, who is in an actual office.

BoJack launches into a stream of acronyms and verbal hashtags about #BoJackThoughts — clearly from his audiobook. We learn his depression intensified after winning his Global Globe, and now he sees his BNA (Brand New Attitude) as his only way out. So far this BNA has managed to annoy both Princess Carolyn and Diane.

On set, BoJack meets his co-star, Corduroy Jackson Jackson, and Diane introduces herself to director Kelsey Jannings (Maria Bamford) as the character consultant for Secretariat. She’s immediately blown off and ordered to make sure no one trips over a cable.

BoJack finally gets to film his first scene on his dream movie. This moment is supposed to be the lowest point of Secretariat’s life. The lights are dimmed, the tone is morose, and it’s time for BoJack to deliver his first line…which he does in signature hammy Horsin’ Around style. Oof.

Diane abandons her post guarding the cable to offer some character advice to a failing BoJack, and oh my god, do things spiral out of control. An assistant trips over the cable, destroys the set, and burns her face with coffee.

This forces Kelsey to call for a two-day break, and she recommends using this time to “really figure out what we’re doing,” while looking pointedly at BoJack.

An insecure BoJack remembers the only time his mother visited the set of Horsin’ Around. After the filmed episode, an unimpressed Beatrice tells her son that he’s a clown. It’s good to see that healthy relationship translated into adulthood.

Getting off track…did you get the joke?

In this episode, we meet an up-and-coming agent who loves gossip. Rutabaga may be a future love interest for Princess Carolyn, but for the present, he’s turning his PC gossip into leads for his clients and screwing over his source. Rude.

In the car, BoJack panics after realizing that he never learned how to act and that he may not be a real actor. A level-headed Diane calms him down, but the seed has been planted.

Two days later, BoJack spends a moment alone with his director, Kelsey, and admits to wondering if this role will be his last chance at happiness. Kelsey scoffs and reminds him that he has a job to do, leaving him with his audiobook.

Crouched in the dark with a single light focused on BoJack, the scene looks very similar to the first scene in Secretariat. His phone rings for a third time, and we finally see who has been calling — his mother.

A clearly sick Beatrice admits to having read BoJack’s book. In a painful moment of honesty, she tells him that he was born broken, just like both of his parents. She ends by saying, “You’re BoJack Horseman. There’s no cure for that.”

Defeated after the call, BoJack stops listening to his audiobook and goes on set. He is now able to deliver his line perfectly.

BIGGER PICTURE

The introduction and conclusion to this episode were as powerful as they were painful — a trend in BoJack. Last season we focused primarily on the man (horse?) BoJack was in the present. This season, it looks like the focus is going to be on his past and who he wants to become. There also seem to be more and more comparisons being drawn between BoJack and his hero, Secretariat, which, coupled with the promotional poster for this season, makes me nervous for BoJack’s fate.

Though darker, this season starts out just as comedically sharp as the one before and seems to be focusing on world expansion instead of world building. Be prepared for BoJack’s tell-all memoir, One Trick Pony, to start having lasting consequences in his life.

Also, maybe I’m a sadist, but I’m happy that BoJacks’s BNA was short-lived. And between Princess Carolyn, director Kelsey Jannings, and Beatrice Horseman, the woman of this season seem to be comically crushing it so far.

BEST BACKGROUND JOKE

Thank Dog animal-inspired background paintings have returned to our lives. Rutabaga’s Goodnight Moon painting wins this round.

BEST QUOTES

“I got drunk and thought my reflection was another dog. [Laughs] I was so mad at that other dog!” — Mr. Peanutbutter

“This is a situational comedy! No one watches the show to feel feelings.” — Herb Kazzaz

“Assistants are like Belushi brothers. The good ones leave too soon, and the bad ones never go away.” — Princess Carolyn

“I don’t make mistakes, BoJack. I do the crossword in sharpie, and I never learn the shortcut for undo.” — Kelsey Jannings

“It takes a real narcissist to think that anyone wants to buy a book about him. You know how I feel about Anne Frank.” — Beatrice Horseman

[You can stream BoJack Horseman on Netflix]

Kayla Cobb is a proud graduate of Clemson University and loves her cat and TV shows more than some people love their kids. You should really follow her on Twitter at @KaylCobb.

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