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Obvious warning: This article about theBoJack Horsemanfinale contains spoilers about the ending ofBoJack Horseman.
The penultimate episode ofBoJack Horsemaneasily could have been its series finale.
BoJack is dead, one can fairly assume from that conclusion.
ButBoJack Horsemandoesnt end this way.
The episode even more strongly echoesMad Men.
that Don Draper would die?
You could even call that moment a view from halfway down.
In the final act ofBoJack, the formerHorsin Aroundstar really does wind up in a pool.
Its even Diane he reaches out to (via telephone) before he falls unconscious.
Its true that the series has always been about deconstructing the toxic male antihero.
But its also been about more than that.
Before I delve into that, lets reflect on what a masterpiece The View From Halfway Down is.
The termtour de forceis overused and pretentious but when it fits, it fits.
The drips of black ooze, evocative of the water thats undoubtedly filling his lungs, speak to that.
Herb, who survived cancer only to succumb to a peanut allergy, is munching on nuts.
Beatrice has been served what seems to be nursing home food, complete with Jell-O for dessert.
As for BoJack, his plate is stacked with a huge pile of pills.
Even BoJacks father, Butterscotch, makes an appearance, except he doesnt look like Butterscotch.
Dying in a duel sounds heroic.
Jumping off a bridge does not.
Even when his toes are inches away from kicking the proverbial bucket, BoJack likes being adjacent to celebrity.
Oh, BoJack, no, Herb responds.
There is no other side.
This is heavy, heavy stuff.
But upon further reflection, it works for me.
Its about turning yourself around, again and again.
BoJack and Diane arent exactly like the people in 80s hit.
They are not teenagers.
Long after the thrill of living is gone.
Life goes on for both BoJack and Diane.
But within that life, there is a significant death, and its the death of their friendship.
She adds that shes glad she knew him.
Diane already knows thats exactly what it is.
BoJack, as usual, is a step behind, still figuring that out.
BoJack and Diane connected in the very first episode ofBoJack Horsemanwhen he hired her to ghostwrite his memoir.
She might not have become those things if she hadnt known him.
Which, lets be honest: he probably will.
But he now holds himself to a higher standard, and thats entirely Dianes doing.
She helped him see what his life could potentially be.BoJack Horsemanis over because their work is done here.
Sometimes, Diane responds.
Sometimes lifes a bitch and then you keep living.
Thats also one way to interpret Nice While It Lasted.
But unlike the stars in the planetarium, the stars BoJack and Diane are gazing at are real.
Sometimes life goes on, which is what it does for Diane.
Sometimes life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone.
Thats where we leave BoJack Horseman.
