The Best Netflix Original Series Makes You Laugh Until You Cry

BoJack Horseman was created and developed for streaming by Raphael Bob-Waksberg in collaboration with lead art designer and cartoonist Lisa Hanawalt. Long before the show was picked up by Netflix, Bob-Waksberg pitched numerous TV show ideas to executives all over Hollywood to no avail, leading him to fall into a financial bind and subsequently a deep depression.

While dealing with his mental health issues in the dazzling town of Los Angeles, California, the writer concocted an idea for an off-the-walls cartoon about an anthropomorphized depressed horse who works in show-business.

The concept was exceptionally strange—strange enough to catch the attention of former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, who agreed to finance the series through his production studio The Tornante Company.

Before long, the series had come to life on the small screen, complete with some side-splitting jokes, deep emotional storylines, and some of the most eye-popping art ever made for a television series. BoJack Horseman also features a massive cast of terrific voice talent, including Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F. Tompkins, Adam Conover, J.K. Simmons, and Breaking Bad‘s Aaron Paul.

The series centers on the titular horse-man, who starred in a very famous in-universe TV show called Horsin’ Around back in the 90s. In the decades since, however, the actor has become a washed-up shell of his former self, living in an isolated mansion in the Hollywood Hills and dealing with his depression and self-loathing by self-medicating with alcohol and various narcotics.

Aided by a cavalcade of industry counterparts such as his manager Princess Caroline, his freeloading friend Todd, and a fellow sitcom star named Mr. Peanutbutter, BoJack Horseman searches for meaning and fulfillment, even as his self-destructive tendencies cause him to burn bridges at every corner.

I really don’t want to give away too much of the plot of BoJack Horseman, as those who haven’t seen the series should really go in as blind as possible. All I can really say is, this show is unlike any other, and offers some of the highest comedy highs and lowest emotional lows ever committed to television.

While some critics feel that the first few episodes of the series are too silly, I was personally hooked within the first five minutes of the pilot, and I’ve been a massive fan ever since.

GFR SCORE

Today, BoJack Horseman maintains an excellent critic score of 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 96 percent audience score to match. While the series was routinely snubbed by the Emmy Awards, BoJack Horseman has received numerous accolades including multiple Annie Awards, Writer’s Guild Awards, and Critics Choice Awards. Those interested in catching BoJack Horseman today should gallop, not walk, to Netflix, to binge-watch the entire affair.