It’s pretty hard to find anyone these days who hasn’t already watched and experienced the emotional rollercoaster ride that is the hit animated Netflix show,BoJack Horseman, with it receiving universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike and is now a proud representative of television excellence found on the streaming platform. Nearly a decade since the first episode of the legendary animated series graced the small screen, it has achieved legendary status and is widely recognized as being among the best from its genre.
Led byRaphael Bob-Waksberg,BoJack Horsemanteeters the fine line between surreal comedy and brutal tragedy and provides some of the most profound and heartbreaking portrayalsof the human condition in recent television history, and it’s all about a talking horse. The highest-ratedBoJack Horsemanepisodes onIMDbreflect the very best that the series has to offer, and are also excellent starting points for fans who want to rediscover the incredible show on Netflix. If you are in the mood to re-watch the iconic series, here are the bestBoJackepisodes for a reminder of just how great the show can be.
BoJack Horseman
25"It’s You" (Season 3, Episode 10)
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
One ofthe more chaotic episodesduring the downward spiral and pain that BoJack goes through in Season 3, “It’s You” acts as a wakeup call for the character, most notably remembered for Todd’s painful monologue of BoJack’s cycle of harm. The episode primarily sees BoJack facing painful self-doubt after learning that he hasn’t been nominated for an Oscar for his role in the Secretariat biopic, opening up old wounds and pains of how he isn’t worthy of love or happiness.
The major standout that has made the episode such a fan-favorite is the ending rant by Todd, the often goofy and non-serious character having one of his few truly serious moments as he lays into BoJack’s toxic and destructive tendencies. It acts as a turning point for both Todd and BoJack as characters, serving as the start of their separation, with Todd branching out into his own life separate from BoJack’s toxicity while BoJack himself continues down his painful downward spiral.
24"Let’s Find Out" (Season 2, Episode 8)
Initially seeming to be nothing more than a goofy game show episode run by Mr. Peanutbutter, “Let’s Find Out” eventually shows its hand to be one of the first true emotional dives into the depths and pain of Mr. Peanutbutter as a character. The episode sees BoJack competing on Mr. Peanutbutter’s wild game show, something that BoJack already had no interest in being one. Yet, it soon takes a painful turn when the topic of conversation turns to BoJack’s past with Diane and his strained friendship with Mr. Peanutbutter.
The episode finds a great mix of satirical humor and jabs at the setup and clichés of daytime reality television while alsoproviding a deeper examination into the flawed and toxic friendship of BoJack and Mr. Peanutbutter. Considering just how much of the character Mr. Peanutbutter is rooted in absurdist and non-serious gags, this early episode of the series shows one of the first real looks into his psyche and ability to have a serious conversation.
23"Ruthie" (Season 4, Episode 9)
IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
One ofthe series' most notable tearjerkers, “Ruthie” follows a relatively standard side-story of Princess Carolyn through an ingenious storytelling setup that ties into its emotionally compelling twist ending. The episode sees a cat girl named Ruthie giving a presentation about her ancestor, Princess Carolyn, over the course of an awful day. During the day, Princess Carolyn faces all sorts of rejection, deception, and painful losses as her relationship with Ralph and friendship with Judah begin to crumble and fall apart.
Princess Carolyn is one of the more likable and varied recurring characters in BoJack Horseman, with “Ruthie” being one of the few episodes that makes her the primary focus of an episode and gives a larger deep dive into her mentality and lifestyle. The episode acts as a capoff to the various arcs and stories she went through during Season 4, witha tearjerker ending that recontextualizes the entire episode and its setup.
22"What Time Is It Right Now" (Season 4, Episode 12)
The season finale of the 4th season, “What Time Is It Right Now” sees BoJack coming to a realization about Hollyhock and how her relationship with him is much more complicated than he had presumed. The shocking reveal of how Hollyhock and BoJack are actually related proves to bring light to various mysteries about both characters, and levity towards BoJack’s pressure he places on himself. It’s an important moment for Bojack as a character where his entire perspective changes and allows him to move forward with a new, positive state of mind, at least for the time being.
The episode also serves to set up the pieces for the major plot of Season 5, with Princess Carolyn signing BoJack on to be the lead in an original show to be streamed on “WhatTimeIsItRightNow.com.” It’s this combination of paying off Season 4 plotlines while also setting up the pieces for the future that makes BoJack such an effective series,always being focused on what comes next while actively prioritizing the important emotional moments of the present.
21"Good Damage" (Season 6, Episode 10)
Diane as a character has seen many changes and evolutions ever since her humble beginnings as the writer of BoJack’s memoir, with “Good Damage” acting as an effective sendoff and final chapter for the character. The episode sees Diane continuing her battle against depression from earlier in the season, taking medication and coming to terms with how her childhood trauma has helped shape who she is today, both positive and negative elements of herself.
Between a deeply creative animation style as Diane talks to herself in the difficulties of writer’s block and a mature and honest portrayal of her relationship with Guy, Diane has never been more relatable and likable as she is in this episode. The episode acts asthe quintessential way to cap off the entire series' worth of evolution and growth for the character, with her finally coming to terms with herself and coming out the other side able to be proud of who she’s become.
IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
One of the last tension-building episodes during the latter half of Season 5, “Head in the Clouds” sees BoJack and the rest of the main cast dealing with their own consequences and misadventures at the premiere party for “Philbert.” Various building storylines see their apex and rising tension throughout the episode, from the relationship building between BoJack and Gina to Todd’s increasingly chaotic antics with Henry Fondle. However,the linchpin moment that has made the episode a fan favorite among fans is the confrontation between Diane and BoJacknear the end of the episode.
Tired and annoyed with BoJack seemingly using “Philbert” as a way to justify actions from his past, Diane lays into him and demands an answer about the terrible things BoJack has done throughout the series and how he really hasn’t changed at all. It makes for a deeply painful yet reflective conversation about the destructive power dynamic that people like BoJack hold, and the ways that they justify their heinous actions and believe themselves to be the victim. It’s a turning point not just for BoJack, but the entireseries as BoJack’s philosophyand past actions are now beginning to catch up to him.
19"The Dog Days Are Over" (Season 5, Episode 2)
One of the few episodes that dedicates nearly its entire runtime to a character that isn’t BoJack in their own story and journey of reflection, “The Dog Days Are Over” sees Diane going on a trip to Vietnam to get away from the stress of her divorce. The episode sees Diane finding guidance from her own writing while on the trip, making a “10 Reasons to go to Vietnam” article while on her trip that sets the flow and structure of the episode as she establishes these reasons.
Diane is one of the more intricate and emotionally complex characters in all of Bojack Horseman, with “The Dog Days Are Over” giving a deep and effective look into the character’s psyche during a moment of grief and necessary pain. The episode works wonders not just as an additional layer to Diane’s ever-evolving character, buta stand-out standalone episode of culture shock and expectations not lining up with reality. The episode shows that, even when not focusing on BoKack’s struggles specifically,BoJack Horsemanis able to excel at telling an emotional yet hilarious tale of self-discovery.
18"That Went Well" (Season 3, Episode 12)
A season finale that went well indeed. Season 3, episode 12 sees BoJack at his lowest point, having just witnessed Sarah Lynn’s death (and arguably having played a huge part in her overdose). When a new opportunity to get back into show business presents itself, BoJack immediately grabs it, but is spooked by a reminder of Sarah Lynn. The powerful ending shows the devastated protagonist speeding away in his car and letting go of the wheel, until he notices a pack of wild horses running freely in the distance.
The freedom that the horses so clearly exhibit at that moment jolts BoJack to the reality of his situation.BoJack is constantly running away from things, never truly embracing what he should be—running and free and genuinely enjoying it.It’s a spine-chilling moment that significantly influencesBoJack’s arc on the showand sets up his story in the fourth season.
17"Angela" (Season 6, Episode 14)
One of the final building blocks and tension-rising episodes building up to the finale of the series,“Angela” brings one of the most built-up mysteries and characters from the beginning of the show to the limelight, the character of Angela Diaz. While Angela was only ever seen in flashbacks in the series, the episode finally shows her in the present day, seeing the network executive reaching out to BoJack following his chaotic interview earlier in the series. At the same time, various other characters have the pieces set for their own climactic end in the series finale.
Angela’s firing of Herb in the 90s was one of the first cataclysmic incidents that sent BoJack down the spiral of depression and anguish in the world of Hollywood, so seeing her return when BoJack is at his lowest was always going to result in a destructive and powerful confrontation. However, BoJack’s mentality of self-defeating and giving up allows him to completely write away his past for the possibility of preserving the memory of others, a harrowing statement that speaks volumes leading into the climactic apex of the series.
16"Surprise!" (Season 6, Episode 4)
In “Surprise!,” audiences are reminded just how fantastic of asupporting character on the showPickles Aplenty is. The episode is centered on Mr. Peanutbutter and Pickles' surprise party at their home, organized by their friends for their marriage. Of course, the moment they walk in is when Mr. Peanutbutter confesses to having cheated on Pickles—with Diane.
A funny, kind of sad, and chaotic episode all at once, the different storylines in “Surprise!” just work so well together.Aside from Mr. Peanutbutter’s disastrous surprise party, Todd is also bonding with Ruthie in an equally messy way, and Diane is telling BoJack that she might be leaving the city for good. It’s an episode with a lot of moving parts that ultimately create a fun viewing experience.
