Bojack Horseman: The Modern Existentialist

When someone mentions existentialism, some very serious figures come to mind: Sartre, Camus, and Kierkegaard. However, it is often through the lens of comedy that themes of existentialism bleed into the cultural conversation. “Bojack Horseman” is one of these pieces of art that represent existentialist ideas in their modern form.

The show focuses around a washed up actor who struggles to find the meaning in his life while repeatedly ruining friendships, his own career, and a few cars. The title character is meant to represent the modern existentialist to the audience. Bojack continues to search for things to make him happy but always arrives at the conclusion that there is nothing in this world that has inherent meaning, which often results in either a profound realization and development in his character, or a turn back to objects and the comfort of drugs and alcohol. This pattern of existential dilemmas followed by anxiety and resolution is repeated throughout the show.

This anxiety exhibited by Bojack is what gives people ultimate freedom, argues Kierkegaard, the grandfather of existentialism, and what causes so much anxiety and depression in the human experience. The idea argues that anxiety is caused by the knowledge that we as humans have so much freedom and are free to make any decision that we can that we often lose ourselves in the possibilities and over analyse. Bojack repeatedly has panic attacks throughout the show based on his decision making and will turn back to the objects, mainly drugs and alcohol, to cope. This is often followed by a deep depression and regret that Kierkegaard also argues is an essential part of the human existence. Humans will only act to live and regret those decisions. Only when we can accept the absurdity of our world and decisions, he says, will we ever find happiness. The first episode addresses this dilema when Bojack remarks, “I’m responsible for my own happiness? I can’t even be responsible for my own breakfast!” This declaration reflects the views of the existentialists that it is up to us as individuals to define our own happiness rather than have it be assigned to us by external forces. This philosophy is also shown through Bojack’s old friend Cuddly Whiskers who informs Bojack that, “It takes a long time to realize how truly miserable you are, and even longer to see it doesn’t have to be that way. Only after you give up everything can you find a way to be happy.”

Despite Bojack Horseman’s somber music and themes of meaninglessness, the show is ultimately optimistic. Bojack again and again does not give up on his search for happiness, and continuously chooses to live his absurd life rather than give up. It is this, “leap of faith” that Bojack takes, that things can truly be better, which provides the most hopeful note in the show. So if talking animals, colorful animation, and deep questions about the meaning of life interest you, take a little time and watch Bojack Horseman.