This fifth season of BoJack Horseman is not for new viewers to jump right into, but it is yet another cementing of why you should be watching the series from the start. The fifth season sees BoJack on a new TV show and doing pretty well, while in the background the other characters remain close to his arc, but yet with their own challenges and struggles in life. It produces a tight thread for all these characters to stay within, which had been a weakness in some previous seasons, but is done really well here and allows the show to feel tight and focused, even as it covers a lot.
The writing continues to be the biggest strength it has, and it is seen in not only what the narrative tackles here, but the way it does it while doing other things too. It deals seriously with the main character in a convincing downward spiral, and another character seeking a baby to fill a hole in her life, but at the same time having space for a crudely-constructed sex robot to become the CEO of a company which tells you the time now, and having Todd in a 'swapped identities' sexual farce with a family of axolotls. As before, the show does this with neither element detracting from the other. It also continues to push for new ideas and risk-taking; the episode-long monologue being the most famous example, but it is hard not to enjoy and admire the reality blurring penultimate episode for how well it relays BoJack's breakdown in a way that can be understood.
The animation and voice work continue to be top notch, but it is the dept and creativity of the writing that makes this show and this season so great - from the continued character depth, the background gags, the creativity of presentation, and the way it all comes together as a whole.
The writing continues to be the biggest strength it has, and it is seen in not only what the narrative tackles here, but the way it does it while doing other things too. It deals seriously with the main character in a convincing downward spiral, and another character seeking a baby to fill a hole in her life, but at the same time having space for a crudely-constructed sex robot to become the CEO of a company which tells you the time now, and having Todd in a 'swapped identities' sexual farce with a family of axolotls. As before, the show does this with neither element detracting from the other. It also continues to push for new ideas and risk-taking; the episode-long monologue being the most famous example, but it is hard not to enjoy and admire the reality blurring penultimate episode for how well it relays BoJack's breakdown in a way that can be understood.
The animation and voice work continue to be top notch, but it is the dept and creativity of the writing that makes this show and this season so great - from the continued character depth, the background gags, the creativity of presentation, and the way it all comes together as a whole.