While many shows have tried to scratch the surface of mental health, abuse, and trauma, none have succeeded the way Bojack Horseman has. It’s quite ironic that an animated TV show with talking animals, would provide one of the most realistic depictions of mental health on TV. So much so, that even mental health professionals have even done reaction videos, providing an in-depth analysis on Bojack. But, what is it that makes him so interesting?
Let’s talk about the titular character himself. Bojack Horseman is an actor, who rose to prominence for his role as the star of a TV show called “Horsin’ Around.” You’d think that someone blessed with wealth, talent and fame like him would be the happiest man/horse alive. Sadly not. He is actually more miserable than anyone else. There are various factors that play into this, but let’s talk about the most important one: his childhood.
Bojack’s early life was no walk in the park. He was raised by alcoholic parents who treated him with the same level of distain and contempt that they had for each other. Bojack endured intense levels of neglect, as well as verbal, physical and emotional abuse. With a childhood as difficult as this, it’s almost as if he was set up to fail. All he inherited from them was their intense alcoholism and self-hatred. Without a healthy model for relationships and self-esteem, his interpersonal relationships suffered as a result.
Neither fame nor fortune could ever fill he has inside. Drugs and alcohol proved to be futile, so in his moment of desperation, his last resort was to use his loved ones. Because of the pressures of his own emotional needs, he was incredibly self-absorbed, pressuring others to meet his own emotional needs while neglecting theirs. Bojack abused them and was completely dismissive of the consequences. The prime example being Sarah Lynn, who looked up to him as a father figure, dying after going on a drug-fueled bender with him. Even Todd, his fun-loving, carefree, best friend, couldn’t take it anymore.
No matter how many times people have tried to help him, it was never enough. Bojack kept blaming other people for his own failures, when really, the problem was himself. He kept trying to push the burden of healing onto other people, when really, it was his own responsibility. But what made him interesting, is that he was aware of how horrible his actions were, and he wanted to be better.
He tried getting help by going to rehab, and for a moment, it looked like he actually did become a better version of himself. However, that did not erase the consequences of his actions, as in the end, they all came back to haunt him. Showing the inescapability of consequences. Rehab was just one step in the right direction, but the next appropriate step would’ve been to seek counselling, since rehab didn’t really teach him how to cope with his feelings.
Bojack’s story serves as a cautionary tale. As tragic as Bojack’s beginning was, he got what he deserved in the end. The show shows us, that while we are not responsible for the events that shaped us into who we are; we are responsible for the choices we make on how we deal with it. While Bojack is one example of how not to deal with trauma, many of the characters in the show have found tremendous ways to overcome their struggles, but that is a story for another day.
The Daily Diary 
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