This January, flagship Netflix original series Bojack Horseman will come to a close after six seasons and 77 episodes. Consistently hailed as one of the greatest animated series of all time, the show stars Will Arnett as Bojack Horseman, a washed-up, depressed actor who starred in a beloved sitcom in the 1990s entitled Horsin’ Around. Now content to drink his heart out, Bojack learns about himself and others over the course of the series, with comically (and tragically) mixed results. Given that the series is ending shortly, it’d only be fair to rank every season as of now. Without further ado, here are the best Bojack Horseman seasons ranked from worst to best!
6. Season 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW3T7GEHs_8
Season 5 is without a doubt, the worst season in the entire series. After Bojack’s personal triumph during Season 4, one would expect the writers to take his newly reformed character into uncharted territory, but alas, they fall back on the theme of regression that had overstayed its welcome in Season 3. It can be frustrating when a show clings so heavily to the status quo, but even more so when the show in question claims to be “above” similar shows. With very little humor and an unrewarding plot, Season 5 will forever be at the bottom of this list.
5. Season 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1eJMig5Ik4
It’s tough being the first season of a show sometimes. In Season 1’s case, this is probably due to it needing to find its footing, to find the right tonal balance between comedy and drama. But while Season 1 doesn’t have an entirely clear identity, it’s nevertheless a hilarious romp of a season, with a great dynamic between Bojack and slacker Todd (Aaron Paul). It doesn’t raise the stakes very much, but it’s good fun and sometimes, that’s enough.
4. Season 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o3xF7fq9Do
By its second season, the show found a firmer idea of what it was, with the usual conventions being established. After Bojack gets a part in a movie based off of a childhood hero, trouble emerges as he is confronted with memories of his past. Toward the end of the season, one of the greatest episodes in the entire series sees Bojack making a horrific mistake that continues to haunt him for the rest of the series. But when the next three seasons are fantastic and this one is merely great, it’s clear to see why it’s at this point in the list.
3. Season 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcz3vlP2D7Y
Season 4 wraps up many plotlines for the core cast and brings them into new ground. In Bojack’s case, that involves forming a relationship with long lost relative Hollyhock and reconciling with his aging mother Beatrice. Can Bojack overcome the bitter pain of the past, or will he repeat the same mistakes that have haunted him for so long? Regardless, Season 4 is a fantastic season, with a gripping storyline that begs the question of whether Bojack can finally break out of his destructive cycle.
2. Season 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8lEnPvT7AA
This season is without a doubt one of the best. It starts with Bojack flying high after the success of movie Secretariat and ends with him in probably the worst place he has been in in the series. The stakes continuously are raised as he tries to vie for an Oscar, only for his relationships with others to crumble and decay, as he is driven further and further into insanity. A roller-coaster of emotions and events, Season 3 is a classic.
1. Season 6A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOGxOQxXjdo
The final season of the series aired its first half just under two weeks ago, but as of now, it’s easily the best season in the entire series. Forced into rehab after his behavior reached destructive new heights in Season 5, Bojack finally seems to put his addictions behind him. But will he get the happy ending he covets so much, or will his mistakes come back to haunt him? That question will be answered in January, but as of now, the story has reached exciting new angles and stands above the other seasons as the absolute best.
