Warning: This article contains spoilers for the entire series of BoJack Horseman.
BoJack Horseman, Netflix’s first original animated comedy series, is also one of the streaming service’s most popular shows. It is a cartoon about a talking horse who is more human than most of the other characters on television. The supporting cast is filled with characters who are equally lovable and equally damaged.
Somehow, BoJack Horseman managed to keep topping itself. It did a perfect season and then the following year, by some miracle, it did a season that was even more perfect and set a new benchmark. Over the years, there were a ton of lines that made fans laugh, cry, gasp – every response a show can get out of an audience. The best BoJack Horseman quotes help to secure the show’s legacy as one of the best of the 2010s.
Updated on December 14th, 2021, by Jake Koran: Despite ending its run almost two years ago, BoJack Horseman continues to resonate with viewers because of its realistic exploration of the main characters. BoJack himself is the protagonist, but he is not the hero, exhibiting various self-destructive behaviors that alienate those around him. This, however, helps to make him feel genuine, and audiences have connected with this aspect. There are many quotes from BoJack Horseman that excellently communicate ideas, cause introspection, make viewers laugh, etc., and they likely will for years to come.
In the penultimate episode of BoJack Horseman, “The View From Halfway Down,” BoJack endures a near-death experience while drowning in his pool, giving him a vision of all the people he has known who have died.
At one point, during the haunting show that BoJack’s dead acquaintances put on, Secretariat reads a poignant, hard-hitting poem. The somber quote excellently reflects the state of the protagonist at this point in time, and the fact that it is read by Secretariat, BoJack’s childhood hero, makes it all the more gripping.
In the series finale, Todd tells BoJack that he has rebuilt his relationship with his mom and things are going well, and he links this to what he sees as the hidden meaning of the “Hokey Pokey” song.
Todd does not think it is about the “hokey pokey” at all; he thinks it is about turning oneself around. BoJack says, “I don’t know if the songwriters put that much thought into the existential significance of the lyrics,” but Todd’s point still stands, showing the optimism that fans love Todd for and illustrating that it is important to find positive meaning in art, even if that meaning was not initially intended. There are plenty of times in which BoJack was the true villain of the series, so he could certainly benefit from Todd’s attitude.
When Kelsey Jannings is brought in to pitch a movie about a female superhero called Fireflame, she explains to studio executives that being a female superhero is inherently different from being a male superhero because of how society unfortunately functions.
Kelsey pleading her case to the executives hits at some harsh truths about societal perception of female superheroes, something that is incredibly relevant given how popular the superhero subgenre has become in recent years. She seeks realism in her work, which is not as optimistic as the executives may believe it would be.
Towards the end of “The View From Halfway Down,” as most of the other characters have disappeared through the mysterious door into darkness, a melancholic BoJack tells Herb, “See you on the other side.”
In a chilling, thought-provoking meditation on the great unknown that is death, Herb gives his response. One of humanity’s worst fears is that, after one dies, there is nothing, and Herb confirms that in a way that somberly ties the episode together. The quote is made more poignant because it is said by Herb, whose relationship with BoJack spawned one of the greatest betrayals in the series. BoJack Horseman is known for its hard-hitting lines, but this is one of the most poignant.
BoJack Horseman does not get meta too often because it is too existential and involving to be able to afford to take viewers out of it like that. However, this line from the title character of the show is a little meta.
Most animated characters’ lives are “just a series of unrelated wacky adventures,” but BoJack’s life goes deeper than that. BoJack Horseman has a serialized narrative, and unlike other cartoon characters such as Peter Griffin and Eric Cartman, BoJack has evolved and developed and matured over the years. This line is also a slight variation of what Todd has said about his life, showing that the characters, despite their vastly different lifestyles, have some similarities.
The BoJack Horseman episode about sexual assault allegations levied against fictional celebrity Hank Hippopopalous has often been referred to as “the Cosby episode.” A news reporter asks Diane, “What do you have against Hank Hippopopalous? Everyone says he’s a really nice guy.”
Diane replies with a quote that excellently sums up much of the public response to allegations that have come up regarding a multitude of Hollywood stars and other influential people in the film industry, showing that simply because fans cannot believe it, it does not mean it is not true.
This line sums up BoJack’s defeatist mindset very well. BoJack hates himself, his life, and everything about the world around him, but he has convinced himself that is the way it should be. As he sees it, people are supposed to hate everything.
When BoJack sees Mr. Peanutbutter, who appears to be genuinely happy, he shows his point of view with this quote. His perspective makes him believe that everyone should see the world the same way he does, and if they do not, they simply do not understand. It is upsetting but it also reveals that BoJack wishes he could be happy. The quote comes from the first episode of the series, demonstrating that the show was going to delve into some deep issues as it moved forward.
This quote from Wanda is so sad and yet so insightful at the same time. It is dangerous to fall in love with someone and ignore everything that is potentially harmful about them until it is too late. Rose-colored glasses are often described as a good thing; when one is so in love with someone that they can do no wrong.
This Wanda quote invades that silly romantic idea with some truth. If they can do wrong and one does not realize it, then they can miss the glaring problems in the relationship.
In a turn that is not typical of his early-series appearances, Mr. Peanutbutter gives an introspective look at his mentality. When Diane states that she is thinking about leaving Los Angeles to do philanthropic work for a while, Mr. Peanutbutter tries to keep her with him by giving his view of pursuing happiness.
The quote shows more of his selfish side, but it also gives insight into his worldview. While much of the first season shows other characters, especially BoJack, treating Mr. Peanutbutter as if he does not take things seriously enough, this quote shows that his personality and habits are a way to cope with existence.
When Princess Carolyn and BoJack have a meeting in her office, she suggests various roles for him because of the success of Diane’s book. BoJack responds by saying he would like to play Secretariat in a biopic, prompting Princess Carolyn to give this quote.
Much of Princess Carolyn’s arc revolves around her learning to prioritize herself instead of giving all of herself to her work and the other people in her life. Her journey in this capacity becomes much more serious as the series goes on, and though this quote is said in a lighthearted capacity, it reflects deep unhappiness that comes to the forefront over time.
All throughout the season 2 finale episode that this quote is from, a baboon keeps jogging past BoJack’s house, prompting him to think that the baboon is a strange character. Then, when BoJack decides to try to get into shape himself, he goes out for a run and passes out virtually on his front lawn. He quickly discovers that running is not as easy as it looks.
The jogging baboon helps BoJack up and seeks to inspire him. The baboon is talking about running, but the lesson about persevering despite difficulties is universally applicable. If one continues to work at something, they will find that it will likely grow easier over time, so it is important to stick with it. BoJack Horseman quotes are rarely so blatantly uplifting, but this one is one that audiences can easily take to heart.
When Diane is doing a Q&A session in the aptly titled season 1 episode “Downer Ending,” BoJack shows up and begs Diane to tell him that he is good. Diane stays completely silent. She cannot say it.
The episode ends on that silence, living up to its title and leaving viewers awestruck with a memorable moment. The penultimate episode of the season addresses many of BoJack’s insecurities about his view of himself and his legacy. The pleading with Diane to validate him offers a quote that perfectly sums up BoJack’s personality, encapsulating what audiences would see from him for the rest of the series.
BoJack has always struggled in the dating world, and it is mostly his own fault. What is not his own fault is the reason that people fall for him in the first place. They saw him play a really great guy who was good with his kids in a TV show, but in real life, he is much more destructive than that, both to himself and to others.
Whenever one of his romantic relationships falls apart, it generally follows the same pattern, and he is acutely aware of the pattern. It is upsetting, and BoJack’s self-fulfilling prophecies continuously lead him back to this point.
The best quotes from BoJack Horseman are the ones that walk the fine line between sad and funny. If a line is so sad and speaks so much truth that all one can do is laugh at it, then the magic of BoJack Horseman is alive and well. This quote is a prime example of the show walking this line.
The title character in BoJack Horseman is one of the saddest characters on television. He just needs a hug. He needs to know that someone cares. Little does he know, millions of Netflix subscribers care. The show is more of a tragicomedy than anything else – very dark, but also very affecting.
There is much debate about what the underlying ideology is in BoJack Horseman. The truth is, it is tough to pin BoJack down to just one reason for the main character’s point of view. First and foremost, it is a show about one horse’s search for happiness.
All of his dreams came true – he was the star of a long-running sitcom and remains a rich Hollywood (or “Hollywoo”) celebrity – and he was no happier than he was before. One of his finest existential musings shows his perception of himself in a somber but somewhat comedic way.
Occasionally on BoJack Horseman, it will show a flashback to when Horsin’ Around was still on the air and BoJack was working with his friend Herb on the scripts and the story arcs. Herb slipped into drug addiction and stopped caring about the creativity of the show.
However, he also understood his audience and why they enjoyed his show. The quote is pretty meta, but not in reference to BoJack Horseman itself. Life is upsetting, but people do not watch BoJack to forget about that – they watch it to understand that.
In the final moments of the final episode of BoJack Horseman, BoJack and Diane are sitting on the roof of Princess Carolyn’s wedding reception, looking up at the stars in the night sky.
BoJack says the old adage, “Life’s a b**** and then you die, right?” but Diane counters that line of thinking. They agree that it is a nice night and decide to just look up at the sky. The sixth season is perhaps the best season of BoJack Horseman, and moments like this are part of the reason. Featuring two characters who had changed dramatically over the series, both in their personal lives and their relationship with each other, it was the perfect way to end the series.
Years before the events of the show, Secretariat is on a talk show. When the host reads out a letter written by a young BoJack, Secretariat responds with his reasons for beginning to run. While a part of this can be inspiring, such as focusing on a brighter future ahead, it can also be detrimental because of keeps one from understanding their past.
Because Secretariat was BoJack’s childhood hero, it appears he took his words to heart. The title character shows many times that he struggles to come to terms with his past, deepening his insecurities and keeping him from forming intimate relationships. There are many parallels between BoJack and Secretariat, which makes it appropriate that BoJack would want to portray him in a biopic.
In the penultimate episode of season 3, BoJack and Sarah Lynn spend a few months on a drug and alcohol bender, in which BoJack seeks to make amends with various people he has wronged. One of these people is Ana Spanakopita, who recounts a story about when she trained as a lifeguard following a near-drowning experience.
Her words point to her experience with BoJack, and she essentially says that sometimes, some people are doomed, and any attempt to intervene could be disastrous for the person who wanted to help as well. BoJack is self-destructive, and Ana knows that she will only get hurt if he is in her life. BoJack does not understand this, though, as the next thing he says is, “What does that have to do with me?”
When Hollyhock entered the series, she became someone that BoJack actively tried to be a good person for. This led to some personal and genuine conversations between the two. In one, Hollyhock tells BoJack about some of her insecurities and wants to know that they will not last forever. BoJack responds by telling her that they will not.
The moment is sad because of the knowledge the audience has about BoJack’s current insecurities matching up to many of Hollyhock’s, but it is also heartwarming because it is clear that BoJack cares about Hollyhock and wants to make her feel better.