*CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR EVERY EPISODE UP TO THIS ONE INCLUDING THIS ONE ITSELF AND MILD SPOILERS FOR S4 E11 TIMES ARROW*
I am a very strict reviewer. In order for me to rate an episode 9/10, I must think it deserves a rating of 8.5-9.4 overall. And to give an episode 10/10, I must think it deserves a 9.5 or higher rating overall. And this episode got so close to a 10/10. This episode has one of the most expandable concepts I've ever seen, viewing the world through Bojacks mind with a sketchy art style to convey anything the writers and animators could think of. And yet, I only think it deserves a 9.1. Because there is a ridiculous amount of wasted potential. Because we only see about 6 minutes worth of Bojacks inner dialogue. The scenes we do see are amazing though.
The first scene establishes a real sense of self loathing. The fact that he can't even get his own breakfast reminds me back in episode 1 where Bojack says he can't even be responsible for his own breakfast, but this time is worse since his body doesn't even try to get it. And of course, if he can't get breakfast he can't get milk, and although knowing this, he hates his mother so much that he decides to get milk. After considering suicide, then deciding that he doesn't deserve the way out, he further proves this to himself by not managing to get the milk until night, where he decides to go home without it. The next inner monologue he has is when he throws his mother's doll, a brilliant foreshadow to Times Arrow. He sets off to get it back before realising how much of a screw up he is and seeks advice from Diane. In the final scene of the episode, there is one of the best sequences in the entirety of Bojack Horseman as guilt hits him like a brick multiple times. The thought sequence goes by in about 20 seconds and shows that he doesn't only feel guilt for the big things he had done, but also for all of the small things too. Behind Bojack in one part was a crowd of people, all being those he felt guilt for, and one of the people in the background are Lenny Turtletob, and all Bojack did to him was not show up to the recording of Secretariat. After that BoJack and Hollyhock have a heartfelt conversation a little bit like BoJacks conversation with Beatrice at the end of Times Arrow with BoJack starting off stern and slowly becoming more solemn.
That is brilliant for six minutes. But the other 20 minutes just feel like a run of the mill 7/10 episode, which isn't very impressive. Of course there are comedic moments and powerful moments too, but nothing impressive for BoJack Horseman. It's a shame this episode had a subplot, because if not I think this episode could have gotten a brilliant 9.8, or possibly even a incomprehensibly powerful 9.9 rating. At best this episode is brilliant. At worst it is good. Unfortunately, it stays at its worst for too long. It just goes to show that an Incredible episode still isn't safe from wasted potential.
I am a very strict reviewer. In order for me to rate an episode 9/10, I must think it deserves a rating of 8.5-9.4 overall. And to give an episode 10/10, I must think it deserves a 9.5 or higher rating overall. And this episode got so close to a 10/10. This episode has one of the most expandable concepts I've ever seen, viewing the world through Bojacks mind with a sketchy art style to convey anything the writers and animators could think of. And yet, I only think it deserves a 9.1. Because there is a ridiculous amount of wasted potential. Because we only see about 6 minutes worth of Bojacks inner dialogue. The scenes we do see are amazing though.
The first scene establishes a real sense of self loathing. The fact that he can't even get his own breakfast reminds me back in episode 1 where Bojack says he can't even be responsible for his own breakfast, but this time is worse since his body doesn't even try to get it. And of course, if he can't get breakfast he can't get milk, and although knowing this, he hates his mother so much that he decides to get milk. After considering suicide, then deciding that he doesn't deserve the way out, he further proves this to himself by not managing to get the milk until night, where he decides to go home without it. The next inner monologue he has is when he throws his mother's doll, a brilliant foreshadow to Times Arrow. He sets off to get it back before realising how much of a screw up he is and seeks advice from Diane. In the final scene of the episode, there is one of the best sequences in the entirety of Bojack Horseman as guilt hits him like a brick multiple times. The thought sequence goes by in about 20 seconds and shows that he doesn't only feel guilt for the big things he had done, but also for all of the small things too. Behind Bojack in one part was a crowd of people, all being those he felt guilt for, and one of the people in the background are Lenny Turtletob, and all Bojack did to him was not show up to the recording of Secretariat. After that BoJack and Hollyhock have a heartfelt conversation a little bit like BoJacks conversation with Beatrice at the end of Times Arrow with BoJack starting off stern and slowly becoming more solemn.
That is brilliant for six minutes. But the other 20 minutes just feel like a run of the mill 7/10 episode, which isn't very impressive. Of course there are comedic moments and powerful moments too, but nothing impressive for BoJack Horseman. It's a shame this episode had a subplot, because if not I think this episode could have gotten a brilliant 9.8, or possibly even a incomprehensibly powerful 9.9 rating. At best this episode is brilliant. At worst it is good. Unfortunately, it stays at its worst for too long. It just goes to show that an Incredible episode still isn't safe from wasted potential.
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