Bojack Horseman is an adult cartoon series on Netflix that follows the story of a washed-up ex-TV star from the (fictional) 90s sitcom Horsin’ Around. The genre is labelled comedy, and it definitely is, but there is also a lot of underlying thoughtfulness and profoundness. The first season was more comical, probably just to establish the main characters and plot points, and then the seasons got more and more meaningful. (Which is why most of this list is from later seasons.)

The rest of this article is a list of what I consider to be the top 5 best episodes of Bojack Horseman. These ratings are not based solely on either humor or meaningfulness; just my overall opinions.

[Beware, spoilers below!]

1. The View From Halfway Down (S6 E15) This episode is the second to last one in the series. Bojack meets with deceased people from his past in a recurring dream. However, he doesn’t wake up when he normally does and finds out that he is in limbo: he drowned in his swimming pool after a relapse in substance abuse. The episode title comes from a poem Bojack’s childhood role model, Secretariat, read about his suicide off the Golden Gate Bridge.

This episode is very existential and also chilling because the audience can feel Bojack’s growing panic that this is actually the end. At one point Bojack has almost made his peace with death and tells his best friend Herb Kazzazz, the director of Horsin’ Around, “See you on the other side,” and Herb replies, “Oh, Bojack, no, there is no other side. This is it.”

2. That’s Too Much, Man! (S3 E11) In this episode, Bojack gets his ex-addict co-star Sarah Lynn from Horsin’ Around to break her sobriety. They go on a self-hatred-fueled “bender” for a couple months and the episode is told between blackouts. Bojack tries to make amends with everyone he hurt, but made no progress and only grew to hate himself more. The episode ends with the pair going to Sarah Lynn’s favorite place, the planetarium, where she overdoses and dies.

This episode just hurts. So badly. It hit me so hard and I have never cried as much as I did from a TV show. It showed just how deep this show can get, and I think this tragedy was the turning point for Bojack. The final line that Bojack spoke to Sarah Lynn in the planetarium just dug the knife deeper: “See, Sarah Lynn? We’re not doomed. In the grand scheme of things, we’re just tiny specks that will one day be forgotten. So it doesn’t matter what we did in the past, or how we’ll be remembered. The only thing that matters is right now. This moment. This one spectacular moment we are sharing together. Right, Sarah Lynn? Sarah Lynn? Sarah Lynn?”

3. The Old Sugarman Place (S4 E2) This episode is more for background information, but it could be its own storyline. It explains the history of Bojack’s abusive mother, Beatrice Horseman. She had done some horrible things, but after this episode I almost felt bad for her. The story alternates back-and-forth between Beatrice’s background and Bojack trying to fix up his old family home.

This episode shows that everyone has reason for everything they do. Maybe it doesn’t justify their actions in the future, but it at least explains why they are the way they are. It made me feel sorry for the entire Horseman family and wanted them to be able to let go of the past and live in the present.

4. Escape from L.A. (S2 E11) This episode is probably one of the major turning points in this series and sets up the later seasons. Bojack leaves his Hollywoo (yes, that is spelled correctly) sanctuary and visits an old friend in New Mexico for two months. He lives a normal familial life for a while before he makes a huge mistake that could potentially ruin his entire life (more than he already has…)

This episode is so horrible to watch–I covered my eyes a couple times– but not entirely because of the actual events. Bojack gets closer and closer to happiness, and then the facade once again crumbles due to his own inner struggles. If I felt such strong emotions watching this part of his life, Bojack must have been on a rollercoaster himself.

5. Free Churro (S5 E6) This episode consists entirely of Bojack giving a eulogy at his mother’s funeral. It doesn’t seem like one character talking for 30 straight minutes should work as an actual episode, but it does. Will Arnett (Bojack’s voice actor) has a terrific performance, even just through his voice. The title of this episode comes from Bojack’s anecdote about how he got a free churro at Jack in the Box when he responded to the cashier’s “Are you having an awesome day?” with “Well, my mom died.”

When I first started this episode, I was ready to be bored. I mean, nobody wants to listen to someone talk at a funeral for half an hour, right? But I. Was. Hooked. Bojack absolutely bashed his mom for everything she did to him, and what she made him have to deal with, and all the hurt and trauma she caused. I know it’s not customary to speak ill of the dead, but Bojack did not hold back. This episode really showed the extent of Bojack’s hatred for his mom and just how much she messed him up.

In conclusion, if you haven’t already watched Bojack Horseman (well, if you haven’t I hope you didn’t read this article…) I suggest you do. Thank you for reading. : )