Heartwarming / BoJack Horseman

Unmarked spoilers below!!

BoJack Horseman may be a dark comedy giving a realistic portrayal of depression, trauma, and self-destructive behavior all with no sitcom happy endings, but this show has been portrayed with a lot of heart, both heartwrenching and heartwarming helping the show seem more optimistic than what you would expect.

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General

• There is one thing to say that while BoJack gets the cold shoulder from everyone who severs ties with him permanently, there are some exceptions:
  • Kelsey. While she and BoJack never talk again after she gets fired, there is hope that one day he will drum up the courage to apologize to her. She also did repair her career on her terms.
  • Todd. Despite everything that has happened, Todd has learned to set boundaries with his friends while living his own life.
  • Mr. Peanutbutter. No matter what has happened, the closest thing that BoJack has to a friend will not give up on him. The series ends with Mr. Peanutbutter buying the horse two suits, and implying that he will take him in when BoJack finally is released from prison.

Season 1

Prickly Muffin

• BoJack tries to make up for lost time with his former costar Sarah Lynn by giving her the childhood she never had while also trying to recreate his own childhood in a better way by doing so on somebody else. To top it all off, he ends up giving her his TV Guide Award, the most prestigious award he ever won, because he thought he would give it to his own kids if he ever had any. Averted later when Sarah Lynn sells the award to a pawn shop and it's bought by Mr. Peanutbutter.

Zoes and Zeldas

• Despite having sabotaged Todd's rock opera because of his crippling fear of being alone, BoJack finally grants Todd a closet for him to keep his stuff, showing he regards him more as a guest than a parasite now.
• The fact that throughout the episode, BoJack really gets into helping Todd - best exemplified when Todd complains that BoJack isn't listening, after which the horseman goes on a long tirade about the exact logical inconsistencies in the plot. He really did care all along.
  • And the fact that, while he does eventually selfishly sabotage Todd's success, it's only when he realizes that Todd will leave if the opera succeeds. Prior to that, he seems genuinely proud and excited on Todd's behalf.
• Wayne tells Diane that eventually, she will outgrow Mr. Peanutbutter because she may be trying to be an optimistic Zelda, but there is a Zoe in her, an inner cynic. While Wayne is sadly proven right in "What Time Is It Right Now?" that the two aren't compatible, Mr. Peanutbutter at the moment gives Diane tickets to San Francisco so she can see an artist she likes, and shows no jealousy that Wayne is hitting on his girlfriend.

Live Fast, Diane Nguyen

• BoJack has been The Load during Diane's visit, showing No Sympathy about the Cryane video and wanting to hang with her brothers rather than listen to her. He does see that she's stressed, however, and tells her that it may be a good idea to find an outlet before she snaps. When that inevitably happens, and it's because his attempts to defend her to emotionally abusive people backfire, BoJack is the only one who looks concerned when Diane smashes her family's bottles and steals her dad's car, with the chum.  He then declines doing touch football and noogies to follow her to the dump, where she says she used to go stargazing. 
• After Diane runs out on BoJack and her family for being a bunch of lazy assholes, BoJack tries to cheer her up by showing her a letter from her former fake pen pal that he obviously wrote.
  "Dear Diane, it's me, your old pen pal Leo. This definitely isn't BoJack Horseman writing this. You're a good person Diane, and that's the most important thing. Even if no one appreciates you, it's important that you don't stop being good. I like how you always bring your own bags to the grocery store, and how you're always organized to go places. I like how you chew gum on the airplane so your ears will pop. A lot of people might not appreciate that about you, but I do. Yours forever, Leo."
  • He then proceeds to give her good advice, telling her she was right to get away from her abusive family and that she shouldn't go back to them ever again.
• Mr. Peanutbutter goes O.O.C. Is Serious Business when Diane reveals that her family made her come to Boston to arrange the funeral. He tells her that when she gets back, he's giving her one of his patented hugs. Diane snarkily remarks he couldn't patent the hug, but can't wait to receive one from him.   

Our A-Story is a 'D' Story

• Bojack figuring out exactly the type of romantic gesture Diane would most appreciate from a partner, "surprising you with a bound album of photos & emails he's saved, that's what the Diane I know would want".
  • For that matter, Mr Peanutbutter coming to the same conclusion on his own and delivering it to her even if it's wedged between two grand romantic displays of affection that Diane clearly isn't comfortable with.

Say Anything

• It's both heartwarming and sad that Princess Carolyn goes above and beyond the call of duty to salvage BoJack's career. Despite BoJack's claim that neither were ever really in love with each other, she still wants to help her friend.
• BoJack originally allowed Todd to stay in his house because he thought Todd was a troubled gay teen runaway. He likely did this because of the guilt he felt for abandoning Herb in his time of need, which might make it even more heartwarming.

The Telescope

• While his visiting Herb doesn't start or end great, him and Herb actually had a nice time. If BoJack hadn't ruined everything by insisting that Herb forgive him, they might have eventually ended up friends again.
• Diane telling BoJack that it took guts going to see Herb even if it didn't work out. Granted it's ruined seconds later when he kisses her and she runs away from him afterwards, but it's still nice.

Horse Majeure

• After spending the whole episode scheming to ruin Diane's wedding, BoJack finally gives up, admits what a douche he's being, and ends up confessing to Vincent of all people that he's made so many mistakes that he doesn't think he can salvage his life at this point. Vincent's response in beautiful in its good-natured childish simplicity:
  Vincent: (pats BoJack on the shoulder with his broom-hand) Don't be sad. Good horsie.
  BoJack: That actually feels kind of nice...

Downer Ending

• BoJack's drug-induced dream of settling down with Charlotte in Maine. It's sweet enough to see him finally care about someone other than himself, but seeing him happily playing with their daughter and actually being a good caring father (unlike his own Abusive Parents) really takes the cake. He even proves himself the antithesis of a Boyfriend-Blocking Dad by reassuring Charlotte that "a moped is not a motorcycle" when talking about Harper's boyfriend. It's even sweeter when you realize that this is the same BoJack who, ten episodes earlier, went to hilarious lengths to shoot down any thoughts Princess Carolyn might have had about having a baby with him.
• While the rest of the sequence is either disturbing or depressing, there's one hopeful segment. While in an Art Shift that switches to a Peanuts-esque style, he asks Diane for advice ala Charlie and Lucy.
  Diane: Hey. What seems to be the problem?
  BoJack: Good grief. I'm so depressed. I just want everyone to love me, but I don't know how to make them do it.
  Diane: You can't force love, you blockhead. All you can do is be good to the people in your life, and keep your heart open.
  BoJack: I screwed it all up. It's too late for me, isn't it?
  Diane: I dunno. I'm just a crazy drug hallucination. I'll say whatever you want me to.
  BoJack: Then tell me it's not too late.
  Diane: Well, it's not too late. It's never too late.
  BoJack: Yeah, that's right!
  Diane: It's never too late to be the person you want to be. You need to choose the life you want.

Later

• The montage right before the end of season 1.
  • Princess Carolyn and Vincent preparing to go on vacation together.
  • When Pinky Penguin gets to see his three children.
  • Sarah Lynn making up with Andrew Garfield.
  • Herb enthusiastically talking to his nurse, without his IV drip, implying his cancer is doing better.
  • And Mr. Peanutbutter and Todd coming up with their next brilliant idea.
• The simple fact that at the end of the season BoJack has been put on the map again. He has the lead role in his lifelong dream project, more people are coming up to him and saying they loved the book about him and an enthusiastic kid (also a horse) tells him that he's his hero. Considering how much has happened in the show and how much BoJack was put through the wringer for pretty much all his life, it's at the very least an optimistic ending (at least for season 1).

Season 2

General

• The tagline for season 2: "Don't look back. You're not going that way."

Brand New Couch

• While mildly depressing as well, BoJack's mother calls him after reading his book to apologize for not being a better parent.

Yesterdayland

• BoJack and Wanda being Sickening Sweethearts, kissing and cuddling outrageously on set.

After The Party

• Even when she's mad at Vincent for not telling her about his "child" from a previous marriage, Princess Carolyn is nonetheless very sweet to Kevin, asking him about school and giving him chocolate.
• Mr. Peanutbutter and Diane get into a big fight after he screws up her surprise birthday party. The two of them are honest and open about how they love each other, but Diane wants to try new things in Cordovia, and Mr. Peanutbutter, while a goofy party hound, does accept it. They really do love each other.

Chickens

• BoJack treats the crew to a taco truck so that he can get one-on-one time with Kelsey. Later, to show no hard feelings about the cops arresting his friends, he hires the truck to come and feed everyone in the precinct. Even Kelsey gets a burrito in the end. 
• While driving her to save Irving, BoJack admits that Kelsey reminds him of his mother, but the difference is that she's a good person who obviously cares about her children, and he craves her approval as an authority figure. What's more, when Kelsey has a breakdown knowing they're stranded in the woods, BoJack snaps her out of it by saying that he knows bad mothers, and she is not one. 
• Kelsey reveals that she doesn't like doing big-budget commercial films, but she has Irving to worry about, namely her college tuition and future. She took Secretariat so that she could afford for Irving to go to Brown or an Ivy League. 
• When Diane and Todd prepare to break into Gentle Farms, Diane orders Irving to stay in the car. Irving complies. Who saves their bacon when they're trapped in a room of slaughter with the Farmer and his son prowling with shotguns? Irving, with some quick Car Fu. She stayed in the car, technically.
• After insisting they go back to free her, Todd finding Becca in the coop.
  Todd: Is this you?
  Becca: Bawk?
  Todd: Becca?
  Becca: T-T-Toooodd?
• Todd reassuring Diane that he thinks she's awesome.
• Any mother would be furious about their kid being arrested for righteous derring-do. What is Kelsey's first reaction on seeing a handcuffed Irving? To give her a giant hug.  

Higher Love

• BoJack and Wanda's interactions after his I "Uh" You, Too moment at the end of the episode is about as close to this as we'll get from BoJack himself.
  BoJack: I don't love you.
  Wanda: Sure you don't.
  BoJack: I don't! Come back here! I don't love you. You don't make me feel less broken!

Hank After Dark

• Despite still being angry at her for the way she wrote her book about him, BoJack does not hesitate to defend Diane from hecklers. And when he tells her point-blank why he was upset with her, she sincerely apologizes and they put it behind them (most likely because BoJack knows how much a Rejected Apology sucks). BoJack is also quick to try and deflect Diane's initial allegations against Hank back to him. At first it might just seem like a case of BoJack being BoJack but in hindsight it seems more like he's trying to get people to pay attention to his natural screwups rather than go after Diane.

The Shot

• Against all expectations, the tagalong cable repairman Alan survives the break-in and escapes to see his wife give birth (which is extra heartwarming given that he says he's from an endangered species.)
• Despite protesting the risk of Bojack's plan, Kelsey admits that it was worth the shot in the end. Bojack slyly remarks, "Didn't know I had it in me, did you?" Kelsey responds, "No, I knew." This flat-out surprises Bojack, who was clearly projecting his own self-doubt onto her, only to have it rejected; Kelsey had seen the talent in Bojack as far back as his audition.
• Sebastian's advice is egotistical and grandiose, but he's also Cruel to Be Kind to Diane. He tells her that he doesn't want her bonding with the refugees because they are dying, and it will break her to lose them. What's more, he is proven right when Kinko dies in a bombing raid, and Diane can only find a copy of The New Yorker that Kinko was reading. They can do more good if she can harden her heart, and finish her book about Sebastian's work.  But if she wants to break their agreement and go, he won't hold it against her. Diane to her credit tries to tough it out.

Yes, And

• Anyone would be annoyed at their boyfriend's friend crashing in their space for months, drinking from dawn to dusk, and rambling about nothing. Wanda is rightly irritated. Yet she doesn't push for Diane to be kicked out, or tell Mr. Peanutbutter what's going on; she knows that while Diane isn't a good influence on her boyfriend now, they're still friends.
• Wanda's last-ditch attempt to save the relationship. She sees that BoJack is guilty about getting Kelsey fired, miserable that he ticked off Abe de Catfish, and disappointed in both Diane and himself. After a long day of shooting, Wanda says they are taking the weekend off and going to Santa Barbara, and he better pack his bags. They can spend some couple-time together, and BoJack  can recharge. Of course, what happens next is a Tear Jerker as BoJack is an Ungrateful Bastard about the kindness of the gesture. 
•  Wanda quietly breaks up with BoJack. She goes to live with her sister, who tucks her in with a look of worry. Yet part of her hopes that he would come back for her, as she lights up when the doorbell rings.

Escape From L.A.

• While it was later cruelly subverted, BoJack is Cruel to Be Kind when Penny comes onto him for treating her like an adult, cutting the idea down because he knows that it would only bring heartache if he gave in.

Out To Sea

• Mr. Peanutbutter spots Diane in a restaurant, who he had believed to be overseas at the time. Instead of getting mad and confronting her for not telling him that she returned to L.A. however, he uses his acting skills to create a comical narrative that lets her know that it's okay that she's back and that he still loves her.
• After two whole seasons of navel-gazing and bouncing from one unhealthy relationship to the next, Princess Carolyn realizes, "I'm not afraid of being alone," and leaves to start her own agency.
• BoJack making peace with Todd and proving once and for all that he really does care about him.
  BoJack: Letting you stay with me was the best thing I ever did on purpose. And I don't think I ever told you that. But I should've. Because you're my best friend.
• BoJack impulsively sponsors a new orphanage. It's a good deed, but he didn't do it on purpose. At the end of Season 2, he renames it in Herb Kazzaz's memory, this proves he can do good things on purpose if he puts his mind to it.
• The jogger seen throughout Season Two approaches BoJack to deliver some helpful advice about jogging. And the look BoJack gives as he registers the significance of this.
  Jogger: It gets easier. Every day it gets a little easier. But you gotta do it every day. That's the hard part. But it does get easier.
  BoJack: (eyebrow raised) ...okay.

Season 3

Start Spreading The News

• In a display of Character Development, BoJack starts to chew out and insult Todd for inadvertently stowing away in his luggage, only to stop himself, apologize, and pay Todd a few compliments, a small but sweet reminder of how the status quo between them changed in the previous season's finale.
• Ana assuaging BoJack's feelings of fears as to whether or not winning an Oscar will guarantee that he is remembered by frankly telling him that getting that award will neither make him permanently happy nor will it solve all his problems. What it will be, is a night of accomplishment. Just a solitary transient night. But it'll be a good one.

The BoJack Horseman Show

• The beginnings of BoJack's and Princess Carolyn's relationship are rather sweet, possibly made even more so by how it's doomed to flounder and eventually implode.
• The jogger baboon is seen with a woman, possibly his girlfriend or wife. Since this is a Whole Episode Flashback, it's safe to assume that she's either dead or they broke up. This makes the "It gets easier" line above a lot more heartwarming.

Bojack Kills

• Retroactively, Cuddley Whiskers’ advice, “Only when you give up everything can you find a way to be happy” sets up his entire character arc for season 4, and it’s thanks to following it that Bojack earns his happy ending. At the end of season 3, BoJack leaves LA, giving up his friendships, and it’s his self-reflection that allows the healing process to begin between him and Todd. He later gives up his pride and agrees to be in Princess Carolyn’s new show, which allows the two of them to reconnect. He gives up at least some of his resentment toward his mother, allowing him to move past his hatred for her. And only after he gives up Hollyhock by leaving her the information she was looking for, even if he’ll never see her again, does she reconnect with him. Whether this was what Cuddley Whiskers had in mind or not, his advice ended up allowing Bojack to reconnect with his friends and family.

Fish Out Of Water

• BoJack taking care of a newborn seahorse — He helped the baby's father give birth to it while on a bus and the baby gets separated from its father and siblings, so it clings onto him instead. While BoJack initially just sees the baby as a nuisance, he goes out of his way to keep the baby safe while looking for its father. This culminates in him throwing himself head-first into a Deadly Rotary Fan in an effort to save the baby - which works due to his helmet being strong enough to stop the blades without causing him injury.
  "Kelsey, in this terrifying world, all we have are the connections that we make. I'm sorry I got you fired. I'm sorry I never called you after."
  • The fact that he apologizes for never calling her proves that Herb's Rejected Apology is one of the only mistakes he's ever learned something from.

Love And/Or Marriage

• BoJack's wedding speech to Emily's friend, as well as his (rather strange) way of encouraging one of the brides to not cancel the wedding.
• Princess Carolyn enjoying herself with her third blind date.
• Diane, while high, tells Mr. Peanutbutter about how much she really loves him.
  Diane: I know I don't always have the right words and I don't always have the right feelings, but I love you so much and I need you to know that. And sometimes I think that I know myself, but maybe that's a trap, because maybe I am "Cool sexy" Diane, or "Really in touch with her feelings" Diane or possibly other Dianes we don't even know about yet, the point is I'm all of the Dianes. I love that you do crazy things that make no sense like filling the house with spaghetti straighteners! And we're really good for each other, or at least, you are good for me. You're fun, and you're sweet, and I love you, and I need you. I don't always have the right words, but drugs help.

Brrap Brrap Pew Pew

• Princess Carolyn clearly shows a hint of envy that, despite all of her efforts to have a family, Diane, the one who didn't want children is terminating her only pregnancy and effectively "throwing away" the child Carolyn would have died for. But in spite of all of that, she makes it perfectly clear that Diane doesn't need to explain her decision to anyone.
  • It's quick, but when Diane's name gets called, Mr. Peanutbutter's automatic reaction is to put his hand on her knee reassuringly.
  • Sextina's video, while somewhat lowbrow, is shown to otherwise have the kind of positive effect on young women it was intended to give. The young woman Diane meets in the clinic even tells her that it helped her have a sense of humor about it so it'd seem less scary.
  • The video of Sextina's abortion was (so we're told) really tasteful and educational in the end. Even Diane, who was against it, had to admit that it was good for the cause.
  • Showing the concept of choice goes both ways, neither Diane or Princess Carolyn question or ask for justification of Sextina's decision to keep the pregnancy it turns out she has. The two just immediately start brainstorming how they can assist her.
• The episode as a whole has a really nice take on abortion: whether a woman decides to keep the baby or not, it's her decision, and there isn't really a wrong choice. Neither Diane nor Sextina receive backlash or are portrayed in the wrong for their choices.
• As twisted as it is, Diane and Princess Carolyn excitedly brainstorming ideas for what to do when Sextina says she wants to keep a baby.

Stop The Presses

• BoJack telling Ana that he wants to know her for real instead of allowing them to continue hiding behind their showbiz masks.

Old Acquaintance

• While the episode is a mostly Downer Ending for the main cast, one can't help but feel happy for Rabbinowitz and Gekko.
  • Rabbinowitz and his wife have gone through marriage counseling and they have successfully completed it. And when Rabbinowitz gets a call from Gekko about a new role opportunity for one of their clients, he leaves, but promises his wife (who is now pregnant) to be there when she goes into labor. And he makes good on that promise when she actually does. What makes the moment sweeter is that Gekko told him to go. Why? Because family comes first.
  • And at the hospital, where Rabbinowitz's wife has given birth to seven babies, Gekko holds one of them.
  • The whole relationship between Gekko and Rabbinowitz is pure heartwarming, coming off as Platonic Life-Partners.
• When Mr. Peanutbutter comes to bed, Diane cuddles him in her sleep.

Best Thing That Ever Happened

• Amidst all the sadness and co-dependence, Bojack and PC do love each other, him loving her as much as he can love anyone, and her easily rattling off ten things she likes about him (including his adorably pink horse nose).

It's You

• A very nice Easter Egg: Amongst all of the joke candidates on Todd and Mr. Peanutbutter's Oscar nominee list, the Best Director category is entirely lesser known female directors.
• Despite all the crap he's gotten from BoJack over the years, Mr. Peanutbutter still saves BoJack from drowning when he drives his new Tesla into the pool.
• Even though BoJack and Diane get into an argument, there are a few subtle and sweet moments that show how they really care about each other:
  • Diane's reason for coming to BoJack's party is because she was worried about his emotional state given his self-destructive nature.
  • And two from BoJack despite accusing Diane of not being happy for him — He states on how cool he thought she was before becoming a social commentator, because she actually "cared about shit"; this is especially heartwarming since he is a walking case of cynicism. Secondly, when Diane goes on a rant about if not caring about shit anymore made her a bad person, BoJack stops her from saying she's not a bad person, just that her job isn't her.
• Princess Carolyn manages to fire Diane and tell her she wasn't a good social media coordinator in a really positive, tactful way. She says "But, in another sense, I'm promoting you to a position of finding a job somewhere else," and clearly means it: VIM is circling the drain and being a social media coordinator really isn't a good fit for Diane.

That's Too Much, Man!

• This episode is arguably the saddest episode of the show thus far, but only because there are plenty of nice things scattered throughout.
• Despite his Toxic Friend Influence, it's obvious that BoJack does love Sarah Lynn, be it romantically or as a friend, and that his uber-destructive tendencies are just his misguided way of showing affection.
• The fact that Sarah Lynn found out she has won an Oscar shortly before dying, even if it made her feel no better about herself, especially because she's made it clear by that point that she never even wanted to be a performer. It makes it easier for BoJack, who would definitely have felt the same way had he won, to relate to her.
• Sarah Lynn's body may have finally given out after years of substance abuse, with no help from BoJack, but at least she passed away in the arms of her closest friend, in her favorite place, and in a moment of genuine peace and human connection. The last thing she got to do before dying was be happy.
  • And their banter immediately prior is genuinely endearing, with Sarah Lynn gushing about how she's always loved the design of dome-shaped buildings, with BoJack quipping that he prefers rectangular buildings.
• That favorite place, the planetarium, was also where Herb gave BoJack the telescope before their falling out.
• Subtle, but when BoJack and Sarah Lynn go to Diane and Mr. Peanutbutter's house so BoJack could make amends with the former, Sarah Lynn asks if Diane is "an Asian Daria, with the horse replying Diane is more complicated than that. Even after their fight in the previous episode and being drugged out of his mind, BoJack only gives a compliment to his friend.
  • And following from the above moment, Diane and Mr. Peanutbutter return home to see both Sarah Lynn and BoJack broken into their house, are drugged out, and in their clothes. Despite being just as confused as her husband, Diane offers the two of them to stay in the guest bed.
• When BoJack goes to make amends with Princess Carolyn which consists of standing on top of his car and yelling "I'm sorry" over and over, Princess Carolyn can only sigh in exasperation at his actions. Then, her boyfriend, Ralph comes. Gives her a reassuring pat on the back before holding hands and walking back insider her house with her.
• Sarah Lynn's own arc/subplot during the entire episode primarily centered around finally going through with her architecture dreams. It begins subtly with her telling a dad the reason the playhouse he built for his son was so easily wrecked was because "you need parallel joints to support that foundation!" Later on, she contemplates possibly going to college, asking if BoJack thinks she's too old for it and reiterating that she's always wanted to be an architect. At one point, in a motel, she seems like she genuinely wants to change her way of living. She tells BoJack that the real reason she wanted to go to the planetarium was because she admired the work that went into dome buildings. Her final words are "I want to be an architect."

That Went Well

• Todd learning that he is Asexual. It's not only sweet that Emily, while disappointed that he doesn't love her the same way she loves him, is otherwise perfectly fine with it, but the fact that it's handled so tastefully is a huge deal for asexual people who have long awaited a canonically asexual character in a popular TV series.
  Todd: I'm not gay. I mean, I don't think I am, but... I don't think I'm straight, either. I don't know what I am. I think I might be nothing.
  Emily: Oh, well, that's okay.
  Todd: Yeah?
  Emily: Yeah, of course!
  • Right after this moment, Todd gets his paid bill back from the appreciative waitress - only to discover that he's tipped her all of his $8,000,000 profits. Instead of demanding a correction, he laughs it off and accepts that he's back to living on the cheap again. The next time we see that waitress, she's clad with robes and jewelry from head to toe.
• The flashback to 2007 when BoJack surprises Sarah Lynn with a visit to one of her concerts a 'la Christina Applegate getting a visit from Ed O'Neill on the set of her new show: she's thrilled to see him and immediately wants to reconnect... until she finds out that he's just there to ask her to guest star on his new show.
• In the season finale, Diane admits why she's able to put up with BoJack's antics as much as she has.
  Diane: When I was a kid, I used to watch you on TV. And you know I didn't have the best family. Things weren't that great for me. But for half an hour every week, I got to watch this show about four people who had nobody, who came together and became a family. And for half an hour every week, I had a home, and it helped me survive. BoJack, there are millions of people who are better off for having known you.
• A Freeze-Frame Bonus, but Bradley Hitler-Smith's speed dial list? His mother's two phone numbers first, ends with the local pizza place, and third? BoJack Horseman.
• BoJack giving Ethan Around another shot. Unlike his previous endeavors, he seems to genuinely like it, as he comes to terms with the fact that doing it was the only thing that ever truly made him happy. Not only does he start a great bond with Bradley, yielding the spotlight and tutoring him in sitcom acting, but he's clearly making an effort to be a better influence on the child actors in the hopes that they won't become another Sarah Lynn. Of course, nothing positive lasts on this show.

Season 4

See Mr. Peanutbutter Run

• The resolution to Princess Carolyn and Ralph's arc in the episode. While P.C. having a miscarriage is depressing, and her fears about forcing Ralph into a relationship as a result moreso, Ralph quickly reassures her that he'd love to have a family with her, and they start making plans to do so.
  Ralph: I mean, we love each other, and we enjoy having sex with each other— and we're really good at having sex with each other. And also, I think you'd make an amazing mother. Even Blake Lively thinks so!
  • For that matter, Ralph himself is proving to be a phenomenal boyfriend, as he's a genuine Nice Guy who goes out of his way to drop cards off at VIM for P.C. to read during her day.

The Old Sugarman Place

• If what Tamara and Tamera heard on TMZ is true, then BoJack took Sarah Lynn to the hospital and held her hand as she died.
  • For a made-for-TV exploitation film, The Sarah Lynn Story ultimately paints BoJack in a positive light, showing him to be a loyal friend who stayed with her until her last minutes.
• The Sugarman family in the 40s have a very sweet and loving dynamic (at least for its time). This makes it more of a Tear Jerker when Crackerjack dies and Honey subsequently goes mad with grief.
• When BoJack finally calls Diane back, they laugh like old friends over how silly and insipid people in Hollywoo can be before admitting that they've missed each other.
• Joseph was understandably furious at Honey for letting Beatrice drive and nearly killing her in the car crash saying how Beatrice is the only child they have now.
• The existence of Crackerjack gives a small nugget of sweetness to Beatrice's otherwise horrific parenting. Due to their similar names, BoJack is most likely a Dead Guy Junior variation of his uncle. Beatrice named her son after what was ultimately the only male relative in her life who didn't turn out to be a complete bastard.

Hooray! Todd Episode!

• Todd, in the time between season 3 and 4, has become The Ace, capable of doing anything due to his positivity and luck, but that came at the cost of caring for others' instead of his own needs, which include never dealing with his own identity issues after noticing to feel no sexual attraction to anyone. At the end of the episode, he finally takes time to himself by not showing up at an orchestra to play the triangle and instead, for the first time, go to an Asexual Meeting, to meet and talk to others like him.
  • Incredibly sweet: upon noticing that Todd is not there, the lion clarinetist, who previously showed concern about Todd's Chronic Hero Syndrome, is simply happy that Todd is finally taking time to deal with his own issues, not others'.
  Other musicians: (gasp at Todd's absence)
  Clarinetist: (smiling) Hm. Good for him.
• Todd's arc as coming to terms with his asexuality as a whole, specially considering the lack of asexual representation in media as a whole:
  • He doesn't feel comfortable being called asexual, despite Emily never meaning to offend him with the term. At the end of the episode, he even manages to get BoJack's support, who says that it's okay to be asexual and identify with the label, briefly mentioning he sometimes wished to be asexual because sex has only complicated his life. Todd finally feels comfortable with what he calls himself and with his own sexuality, finally going to a meeting to socialize with others like him.
• BoJack acknowledging all the things Todd's done for him, telling him how much he appreciates him and being completely supportive and even enthusiastic about Todd coming out lead to them taking the first steps in repairing their friendship. It's not much, but...
  Todd: Welcome back, BoJack. *smiles earnestly* It's good to see you.
  • Tying into this, while Todd mostly forgives BoJack for sleeping with Emily, he points out that it was just The Last Straw in a long line of grievances. But instead of insisting that Todd forgive him, BoJack simply accepts it as something he has to deal with, proving that he has learned something in the wake of "The Telescope".
  • The fact that this is the first time someone who dropped the f-bomb of disownment on Bojack accepts him back into their life. It's the first sign that his hard work to better himself is finally paying off.
• While a throwaway gag, Tom Jumbo-Grumbo snarks that Randy must have passed out at his keyboard when the teleprompter stops working. When he's informed that is what happened, he immediately asks if Randy's okay and if anyone had contacted Cynthia.
  Tom: For Christ’s sake, this isn’t just a newsroom, this is a family!

Commence Fracking

• As Diane feels increasingly marginalized at home, her boss advises her that she has to stop worrying about hurting Mr. Peanutbutter's campaign and do things for herself, which leads to her coming into her own as a blogger.

Stupid Piece of Sh*t

• Mr. Peanutbutter giving BoJack some sincere empathy, showing some drastic Character Development since the first episode of the series.
  BoJack: All I can think about is every shitty thing I’ve ever done and I think, "I don’t deserve that kind of love".
  Mr. Peanutbutter: Look, BoJack, I don’t know anything about how to balance a state budget - or how a bill becomes a law. I don’t know a lot about a lot of things! But I do know this: everybody deserves to be loved.
  • Just the fact that Mr. Peanutbutter thinks that BoJack, who has already been called out for his shit on live TV, is a genuinely fun person to be around.
  BoJack: I just know I'm going to BoJack things up.
  Mr. Peanutbutter: BoJack things up? You mean show up somewhere, and be the life of the party, and then share a laugh with your good friend Mr. Peanutbutter?
• While the episode reveals the depths of BoJack's self-loathing, he and Hollyhock end up having a heart-to-heart when she feels like she's the cause.
  BoJack: No, Hollyhock, I'm glad you're here. If I'm shitty, that's just because I'm shitty. And you're allowed to be mad at me, but you need to know that, whatever I do, it's not your fault.
• While it's downplayed, Princess Carolyn just resignedly accepts it when Todd calls off his upcoming wedding to Courtney Portnoy. She doesn't object or try to reason with him - she recognizes that he'd made a decision and she can't in good conscience force him into a loveless marriage.
• Judah clearly doesn't like Rutabaga showing up in Princess Carolyn's life again, and when Rutabaga leaves PC to deal with the problem of Todd not wanting a sham marriage (and insulting her again about her desire for motherhood), Judah offers to "get rid of him" just so PC doesn't have to deal with him anymore. Granted, his one way of doing that is politely asking Rutabaga not to come back (he may have exaggerated about his number of ways), but it's the thought that counts.
  • He even reassures her that she's always going to be better than Rutabaga because she actually cares about people other than herself, and that she'll make a great mother.
• It's still painful to watch considering the awful way she treated BoJack, but senile Beatrice's treatment of the doll at least indicates there may have been a shred of maternal goodness in her all along, underneath the terrible life decisions. It's likely she thought the baby was Henrietta's baby and this is the way she may have treated that baby if she weren't so detached. Then again, this might just make things sadder...

Underground

• While stuck underground thanks to Mr. Peanutbutter fracking his house, BoJack tells Diane that the reason he didn't want to see her even though he came back a month ago is that he wanted to be better before seeing her though it hasn't happened yet. Diane admits that even though BoJack's the "biggest asshole" she's met, he's also the only person that makes sense for her and she wants him in her life. She even cuddles up to him as she says this and BoJack gives her a warm smile as she nods off. Awww...

The Judge

• Princess Carolyn and Ralph are in a bit of a rocky place when she finds out that his family is strongly Anti-Cat, to the point that "The Feast of St. Squeaky" is all about a heroic mouse slaying an evil cat. But their visit ends with this exchange.
  Mimi: And your little companion was darling— for a week. But I do hope the next one you bring home knows how to appreciate a good Feast of St. Squeaky.
  Ralph: Well, for your information, there won't be a "next one", because I love Princess Carolyn and we're having a baby and I couldn't be happier!
• Tom Jumbo-Grumbo berates Randy yet again for an insipid pun before exclaiming that he missed him, even darting off-camera to give him a hug as applause can be heard from the rest of the news studio.

loving that cali lifestyle!

• It's very sweet to see Princess Carolyn getting some of her hope back. She gets attached to a strange writer named Flip Mc Vicker who created a script for a series focusing on a gritty detective mystery called "Philbert", coincidentally the name of her and Ralph's fantasy-son, and promises to explore this misunderstood writer, and for the first time, make use of her manager position and produce her first series.
  Princess Carolyn: I don't know how else to describe it other than this feeling of supreme warmth came over me like this is what I've been waiting for my whole life.[...] Todd, the world is dark and scary and full of creepy clown dentists,[...] but when I hold this script in my hands, I have hope.
  • Todd, knowing of Princess Carolyn's grim situation and her newly found alcoholism, resolves to help her. She doesn't have Judah, and her current assistant Stuart doesn't care at all and is overall useless, so he and his crew of clown dentist get together to get her to her meeting and have all opportunities she needs to make Turtletaub accept her pitch.
• BoJack's heartfelt speech describing Hollyhock after finally remembering her name
  BoJack: Guerrero! Hollyhock Manheim-Mannheim-Guerrero-Robinson-Zilberschlag-Hsung-Fonzarelli-McQuack, that's her name! And she's about 5'8'' and she’s 17 and her birthday is in September and... she looks like me. And she loves apples, but hates apple sauce. And she's funny! But she isn't... mean, which is pretty remarkable, because a lot of 17 years old think they have to be mean to be funny but Hollyhock is very... sweet. Even if she is being sarcastic, but she has this smile... does that help?
  Attendant: No man, are you her legal guardian?
  BoJack: I am not leaving here until I get to see her.
  • We get to meet Hollyhock's 8 fathers. They are eccentric and understandably jerks to BoJack, but for once, someone in the Horseman family is being raised with love and affection in a caring home.
• BoJack happily playing Uno with his mother and her caretaker. Not only does he look like he's genuinely having fun, but he's able to put aside the bile he has for Beatrice so he can enjoy himself with Hollyhock. Even when he's ribbing his mother, he sounds like their old friends.
• When BoJack bursts into his house mid-panic attack after being turned away by Hollyhock's dads, Tina Bear stands up and reaches out to him as if to ask if he's okay.

Time's Arrow

• When Beatrice learns that Butterscotch impregnated their maid Henrietta, while she does tell her she’s fired she doesn't stay mad at Henrietta, but encourages her to leave Butterscotch, give the baby up for adoption, and go to nursing school like she always wanted (even promising to pay her tuition!), because she doesn't want Henrietta to make the same mistakes she did. Similarly, Butterscotch knows he's fucked up impregnating the maid and after trying to pass off the blame to Beatrice accepts that it's his fault, that he fucked up, and after breaking down crying asks Beatrice - while admitting that he knows she hates him - to see if she can help Henrietta so that she won't be stuck in a life of a single mother.
  • You see her even holding Henrietta's hand as she enters the final stages of labor. When Hollyhock is born, Beatrice smiles and actually sounds proud.
    Beatrice: You did it, Henrietta!
  • She was overstepping her bounds in making Henrietta give up Hollyhock for adoption, in exchange for paying for her nursing school tuition, but Beatrice actually did so because she asked And Then What?. Henrietta's plans to finish school and become a nurse didn't account for the Surprisingly Realistic Outcome that raising a child requires your full attention, and there’s no way Butterscotch will be any help. A crying Henrietta admits that she doesn't know what to do, and she already got an ultrasound of the baby. Beatrice tells Henrietta that Butterscotch is a deadbeat and that if she wants kids, it should be with a good man, one who will help her raise a family. She begs the woman to believe her that Henrietta shouldn't repeat Beatrice's mistakes. 
• Although it's certainly tainted by the knowledge of what happens afterward, it's a pleasant surprise to see Beatrice and Butterscotch looking genuinely delighted by newborn BoJack in the delivery room. Likewise, the scenes of the young, happy, in love, and excited to start their new life together are very sweet.
• During the flashback, we see a younger BoJack encouraging his mother to simply divorce Butterscotch, as it's clear they make each other miserable.
• At the end of the episode, BoJack realizes what his mom is right now: just a sad, sick old lady who has lost touch with reality and that mistreating her now won't make up for what he, she or Hollyhock suffered. Before leaving her in a dump of an apartment where he had initially intended to let her rot, he decides to do the right thing and comforts her by telling her that they're in her childhood house in Michigan, surrounded by her loved ones who are telling everything will be fine, in a nice summer night, eating her favorite vanilla ice cream.
  • What makes this even more powerful is knowing that being cruel to her would've not only been easy, but in that moment, justified. After what happened to Hollyhock, nobody would blame BoJack for saying "Fuck you, Mom." But instead, he chose kindness over cruelty. He chose to let go of the past.
• In the flashback, young Beatrice fainted in her father's arms and he was horrified to find out Beatrice had Scarlet Fever and quickly carried her to the doctor.
  • This shows beside his jerkass ways, and his horrible way of showing it (as in this example he ignored her cough/complain of sore throat and assumed she was lying to skip school to avoid her bully and demanded she get dressed)he truly does love his family.
  • His reassurance to Beatrice that "this illness is but a hiccup in what will be a long and happy life...I promise." It's arguably the kindest thing we ever hear him say.
  • Shown again when Beatrice mentions her father arranged for Butterscotch to have an office job with a six-figure salary. Joseph had to have been furious over such a common person like Butterscotch getting his daughter pregnant and then suddenly marrying her, but he still wanted his daughter's family to be well off financially.
• When Clamelia Bloodsworth and the twins call her fat, Beatrice rebuffs it at first, saying, "Father says I'm just growing." It's a small touch, but considering what we know of Joseph, it's a remarkably tactful and sensitive way to handle a daughter who raised complaints about her body, especially from somebody who wasn't taught to deal with a woman's emotions and refused to learn.
  • This moment is ruined however when he remakes her swollen throat being almost swollen shut from her scarlet fever means she’ll lose some of her weight that’s been troubling her, which reaffirmed her Weight Woe that would affect her through her adult years.
• Despite everything that follows, Butterscotch's proposal to Beatrice.
  Butterscotch: Say, did you ever hear the story of the couple who moved to California?
  Beatrice: I can't say that I have.
  Butterscotch: Oh, it's a marvelous adventure! You see, they hardly knew each other, but they shared a certain sensitivity and a taste for the unknown. They were living in a one-horse town, so they headed west, towards a town that could accommodate three horses.
  Beatrice: Oh, yes, I think I have heard this story. They got a small house in San Francisco near the bookstore.
  Butterscotch: He got in good with Squirrelinghetti and his scurry.
  Beatrice: He wrote his Great American Novel
  Butterscotch: While his wife took care of the baby.
  Beatrice: His wife? Oh, well, I didn't hear about that part.
  Butterscotch: Well, if she'd have him. If a beautiful creature like herself could ever love an oaf like him.
  Beatrice: I think she could.
  Butterscotch: Yeah?
  Beatrice: Well isnt that how the story goes?
  The two share a passionate kiss as Butterscothc holds and dips Beatrice
• One scene cut shows that Joseph Sugarman died, and he left a painting to his daughter in psychedelic colors. Beatrice told Butterscotch that she wants Henrietta to pack it up so that she can gift it to BoJack. It's a paltry gesture to her son after a lifetime of abuse, but it showed that Beatrice was capable of acts of kindness.

What Time is it Right Now?

• After all the shitty things Princess Carolyn has been through this season, it ends in a positive note: she is considering adoption and BoJack wholeheartedly accepts to work on the first project she is producing. BoJack even mentions that he thinks she'll make a great mother.
  • Todd is also on her side. Upon seeing her alcoholism taking over, he takes her out to the woods to give her a pep talk, like she gave him in the first season. While his attempt is misguided and he ends up not making a Rousing Speech as good as hers used to be, she does gets the message, and uses this to push herself forward.
    "The woods are dark and scary, but the only way out is through!"
• After a while getting used to the reality of being asexual, and even thinking that he can't be in a relationship, before having it explained to him that while some asexuals are also aromantic, some also have very fulfilling romantic relationships (which is also great to see a mainstream TV Show acknowledging both of these orientations), Todd gets asked out by an axolotl girl who is also asexual. He seems pretty happy to be on the dating game again.
• BoJack going to San Francisco and searching relentlessly to find Hollyhock's birth certificate— so he can help her find her mother— displays a level of selflessness atypical of his character. The most notable aspect is that the style is portrayed in the same manner as his depressing Inner Monologue from "Stupid Piece of Sh*t", meaning that this came from the innermost depths of BoJack's personality.
  • He even states flat-out that he doesn't care if her dads want to lie to her about how they got the information — he just needs to make sure she has it. His initial phone call supports this, as he wants to make sure they know it's not Hollyhock's fault — he doesn't proclaim his own innocence, he proclaims hers.
    • Her dads are still understandably upset about what happened to Hollyhock, but they still listen to BoJack when he finds out who her birth parents are (which is the whole reason why she went to Hollywoo in the first place) and agrees to give her the contact information about her birth mother on the condition that BoJack leaves the house immediately after he hands it over.
• The final telephone conversation between BoJack and Hollyhock, where they bond over their mutual hatred of honeydew. At the end of the season, BoJack has had a relationship with someone that didn't end with him destroying it with his toxic personality, and in fact helping her in the way that they had both wanted.
  Hollyhock: I told you from the beginning that I have eight dads.
  BoJack: Yeah... yeah. Good.
  Hollyhock: But... I've never had a brother.
  (We finally see BoJack give a completely sincere smile. And it just keeps getting bigger).
  • The fact that the entire last episode is the antithesis of the last season finale. BoJack is in the best place he's ever been, having patched up several friendships, managed to not screw up one new one, made peace with his mother and land a new acting job. Most importantly, he earned it by finally putting the needs of others before his own. Judging by that huge smile at the end, he looks like he's finally on his way to being happy.
• It also helps that this is the first episode that gives a genuinely happy ending for BoJack.
• This may also be the first time BoJack realizes that he has a half-sister as he has been really focused on getting the information of Hollyhock's mother to her rather than think about how that makes the two of them related.

Season 5

Entire Season

• Bojack makes a strong connection with his co-star Gina, and helps her out of the goodness of his heart to become a better actress and person. When he actually stays in their relationship after their first season on Philbert wraps, she remarks it's the first time that's ever happened.
• After Season Four shown hope for Bojack making amends with Todd, here we see them interacting like old times again. Todd willingly goes with one of Bojack's schemes in "The Light Bulb Scene" (and irritates Bojack by screwing it up) and is seen at Bojack's Halloween party in "Mr Peanutbutter's Boos".

The Light Bulb Scene

• When its revealed that BoJack and Hollyhock call each other at least once a week on Sunday. How this scene is played is adorable and really sweet.
• BoJack admits to Princess Carolyn that he's uncomfortable playing Philbert because the character is a JerkAss, and he doesn't want to be known that way anymore. PC then reassures BoJack that just because he's playing a JerkAss, doesn't mean he has to be one in real life.
• Upon doing the title scene, BoJack is shown much more confident on set, having playful banter with the crew, making peace with Flip, and throwing a party at his house. For the time being at least, he seems much more at ease.

The Dog Days Are Over

• BoJack shows some Character Development when a drunk Diane offers for them to make out (while he's equally drunk to boot) but doesn't take any advantage of her, asks if she wants to stay in the guest room and covers her with a blanket when she falls asleep. Later in the episode, he tells a Diane being doubtful of her new haircut that he thinks she looks wonderful.
• Diane is still devastated by her divorce from Mr. Peanutbutter and not finding what she was looking for in Vietnam, but she gets through it and she realizes she can survive, wishing him the best in his new relationship.

Planned Obsolescence

• While Yolanda's convoluted plan to trick her family into believing she and Todd are having sex backfires, it does lead to her finally being honest with them about her asexuality.
• Todd and Yolanda decide to break up once they realize that all they had in common was their Asexuality; however, Todd suggests that if they both don't find someone else by the time they're 100, they can give it another shot.
  Yolanda: I guess I'll see you when we're 100.

BoJack The Feminist

• BoJack bursts into Diane's apartment and begs her to work on his show because not only does he want her to change the show into something everyone can be proud of, but he wants Diane to speak her mind to her largest ever audience. Diane argues with him, feeling like nothing she does changes anything, but BoJack simply tells her that she changed him. This is all Diane needs to take the job.

Free Churro

• Bojack begins the eulogy with an anecdote of how while he as in the drive-thru at a Jack in the Box restaurant, a nice girl working there burst into tears when he (casually) mentioned that he needed to go to his mother's funeral, and then gave him a free churro out of sympathy for him. Though it's made more depressing by the fact that, not only did this random stranger feel much more sorry for his mother's fate than he did, this small act of kindness showed much more compassion than Beatrice ever did in her whole life.
• The fact that BoJack was with his mother when she died. At least she wasn't alone with complete strangers in such a scary moment.
• Bojack admits his mom looked beautiful when she did dances for the Supper Club meetings. He also mentions that his dad hated these parties but always came out to watch her dance. Looking back at Beatrice's past from Season 4, that actually makes that moment even more heartwarming.
• At the end of the episode, he decides to abide by Beatrice's wishes to have it be an open-casket service, opening it himself.
  BoJack: Beatrice Horseman was born in 1938, and she died in 2018, and I have no idea... what she wanted. Unless she just wanted what we all want: to be seen.
• A tiny moment, but BoJack mentions an interaction he had with a fan of Horsin' Around back in the day, who'd noticed that in one particular episode, a coffee cup appears and reappears in the kitchen in different characters' POV shots. They speculated that this was intentional, to show how subjective memory is and how people can remember the same incident differently, and asked BoJack they were was right. They were so enthusiastic about this interpretation that he didn't have the heart to tell them it was just a blooper, so he said "yes," before musing on people's tendencies to assign meaning to random things as a way of making sense of everything.

Mr. Peanutbutter's Boos

• Katrina and Mr. Peanutbutter's loving and happy interactions with each other before they leave for BoJack's party.
• Compared to the first two post-party blowout fights with Katrina and Jessica, Mr. Peanutbutter and Diane's departure from BoJack's party is considerably more peaceful, and they easily resolve that argument. Though it's made sadder later on when you recall how much Mr. Peanutbutter remembers Diane's hatred of grand gestures and big parties...
• Sure, he only enjoys it because he's drunk, but it's nice to see BoJack getting along with people for most of the episode.

Ancient History

• BoJack picks up Hollyhock at the airport, complete with a sign with her entire last name on it.
  BoJack: It's cool that you ended up coming through Los Angeles on your way home.
  Hollyhock: Yeah, I guess we got lucky the only fight from Connecticut to Kansas had a one-night layover in California.
  BoJack: Really?
  Hollyhock: No, dummy. I wanted to see you.
  BoJack: Oh. (chuckles quietly)
• Hollyhock and BoJack in general. Every scene with them is genuinely sweet, adorable, and endearing.
  • BoJack teases Hollyhock about a guy at her college she has a crush on.
  • Hollyhock says to BoJack "I love you". This is the first time someone has genuinely said and meant that to BoJack. BoJack responds with an embarrassed grin.
• Princess Carolyn and Ralph meet up again. It's as awkward and confusing as it is snarky and intimate.
  • The fact that, while Princess Carolyn shoots down the idea of getting back together and ultimately ends up riding home alone sadly, she lets him wait with her for the cab to arrive. In a show that steers away from fixing what's broken, one gets the sense that the door for them isn't entirely closed.
• Todd and Emily discuss a hypothetical relationship.
  Todd: Maybe I figured if you had some other way to satisfy yourself sexually, then you could spend more time with me. Like we did in high school.
  Emily: Todd, we were dating in high school.
  Todd: Do you ever think about what it would be like if we dated now?
  Emily: I don't know...what would it be like?
  Todd: I guess we'd hang out together, like we already do, and you'd be my favorite person, like you already are. And when something good happened to me, like if I got a promotion at work, you'd be the first person I'd tell. And you'd smile and say, "That's my boyfriend".
  • The reason Todd tried to make a sex robot? He wanted to thank Emily for making a dating app for Asexuals.

Head in the Clouds

• When at the premiere, the photographers want a picture of BoJack alone. His first instinct is to glance at Gina for approval then, uses Star-Making Role as a Discussed Trope after she excuses herself amicably, immediately stating that "that 39-year-old actress is going places."

The Showstopper

• In a brief bit in the middle of pure Nightmare Fuel, we find out that, at least as far as her father knows, Penny is doing much better than the last time we saw her in Season 3, being able to actually move on in a healthy manner from the whole situation with Bojack.

The Stopped Show

• Princess Carolyn finally adopting a baby, an adorable baby porcupine girl. After two seasons of her struggling to become a mother, it's so rewarding to finally see her with her own adoptive daughter now.
• While their conversation at the end is bittersweet, Diane among other things tells BoJack that he's her best friend.
• BoJack going into rehab in the finale, after so many colossal mistakes, as well as his recent pain killer addiction, it's amazing to finally see him admit he needs help.

Season 6

A Horse Walks into a Rehab

• At the start of rehab, BoJack puts little to no effort in any of the activities due to going through withdrawal. When the groundhog receptionist tries to get BoJack to take a selfie with him to add to his wall of clients, BoJack refuses, only to notice one of the photos on the wall to be Sarah Lynn, showing that she was in rehab at one point (which BoJack offered to take her to in the third episode). It is after this that BoJack starts to do somewhat better at all the activities.

The New Client

• Bojack consoling Mr. Peanutbutter of all people, after the latter inadvertently admits cheating on Pickles in BJ's group therapy session.
  Bojack: Look, I don't know what's going on with you, although I'm pretty sure either you or Doug cheated on Pickles, but I understand that feeling of needing to bottle up your guilt, not burden other people with it.
  Peanutbutter: Yeah?
  BJ: You think you're protecting them from your toxicity, you convince yourself that you're being selfless, but...it comes out in other ways and it infects everything.
  • Of course, this is brushed up by PB not reading the environment and asking if the REHAB CENTER had a bar, but for all of BJ's disdain and annoyance against PB, it was rather sweet.
• Princess Carolyn asks why BoJack didn't tell her about the "Friends and Family Meetings" at his rehab center, and BoJack says he didn't want to bother her. She smiles to herself and says that she would have come. He calmly thanks her.
• Princess Carolyn gets some advice on motherhood from Vanessa Gekko, of all people, and it helps her put things in a new light.
  Princess Carolyn: I mean, I love her. Of course I do. Of course I love my daughter, but... but I don't know if I... love her. I know I'm a terrible person for even thinking it, but... What if it never happens?
  Vanessa: Do you love all your clients' projects?
  PC: Of course.
  Vanessa: No, you don't. But you take care of them, and you keep them alive, because that's your job, right?
  PC: Yeah?
  Vanessa: So now you've got a new job, and it is a ruthless one. And I mean ruthless. You don't have time to waste second-guessing how you feel about it. You just have to do it the best that you can, and know that that's the best you can do.
  • Princess Carolyn wonders why they hated each other so much despite everything they had in common. Vanessa reveals that she never hated PC; Were they rivals? Sure. But they were never enemies. Of course, she then asks if PC hated her, and PC tries to change the subject.
• Princess Carolyn finally decides the perfect name for her daughter: Ruthie.
• Ruthie is absolutely fascinated with Princess Carolyn's tongue twisters, so Princess Carolyn starts to lovingly repeat them to her to calm her down.
• The episode's ending credits song is set to the tune of a lullaby.

Feel-Good Story

• Diane finally finds a suitable romantic partner in her Girl Croosh cameraman Guy, who seems to genuinely respect her, engaging in witty banter with her, and supporting her crusades for justice even when she feels she's going crazy. The reason Diane hesitates to move to Chicago with him is because she thinks of him as the only good thing in her life. However, after reading BoJack's letter from rehab about how he wished he hadn't dwelled in his own sadness for so long, she calls up Guy. She tells him the story of how she used to love making grilled-cheese sandwiches when she first moved to L.A. and that even when she had nothing else going for her, she could at least focus on perfecting the art of the grilled cheese. Guy gets the message.

Surprise!

• Princess Carolyn decides to hire Todd, who's already living on her couch, as Ruthie's nanny because he's really good at helping take care of her.
• Diane tracks BoJack down so she can make sure he's okay with her moving to Chicago. He assures her that she can go if she wants to, and he'll be fine, showcasing his Character Development from earlier seasons.
  Bojack: I'll be okay.
  Diane: But what if something happens?
  Bojack: That's not a friendship, that's a hostage situation. Go to Chicago. I'll be fine.
• When Bojack first received his two month sober chip, he said he wishes Diane could see it. She does, and calls it amazing.

The Kidney Stays in the Picture

• Just the fact that P.C. still has Judah's number even after their falling out in Ruthie. Even if Judah's judgement was not his call at the time, P.C. still respects him enough to hang onto his number and give it to Stuart in an way to turn the strike negotiations to the assistants favor.
• Princess Carolyn hires Judah back, this time as an executive with a share in the company. She realizes that, despite what happened, she missed him and he's too valuable to let go of again, in many ways.  Since he argued to keep office birthday cakes, she promise that one of the perks is he gets personalized cake on his birthday. Judah accepts these terms and goes back to work like he never left. 

The Face of Depression

• Most of this episode is dedicated to showing how Bojack's sobriety has changed him for the better. Bojack holds a conversation with Todd and doesn't get upset at his antics, he talks with Diane and tries to help her through her depression (similarly to how she helped him), and most notably he finally decides to humor Mr. Peanutbutter with a crossover episode.
  • Mr. Peanutbutter is so overwhelmed at finally getting his dream of a crossover episode with BoJack that he stutters his way through only a few improvised lines before breaking down into Tears of Joy.
• Diane, who spent much of the episode anxious to take antidepressants due to hating what they did to her emotions and body in college, greets Guy at the airport with a noticably larger figure, but a big smile, indicating that she decided to take the meds after all.
• During the Alcoholic Anonymous meetings, Bojack reunites with Sharona, his old hair stylist during the Horsin Around days. While she treats him coldly at first, she starts to warm up to him, and their next scene together is her cutting his hair like the old days.
  • On his way out of California, he overhears the Cinnabunny cashier dealing with a guy she'd dated but wouldn't sleep with, saying it's "Not a Jesus thing" - so he mentions the Asexuals app to her. She matches with Todd towards the end of the episode.
• Princess Carolyn tells Judah he's the best assistant she's ever had (which is completely accurate) and at the end of the episode, she hires him as her Chief of Operations on the spot.
• Princess Carolyn decides that from now on, she won't work every third Friday of the month, in order to give herself a day to spend some quality time with her daughter.
• Hollyhock glomps Bojack when she meets him at the airport and invites him to hang out at a concert.

A Quick One, While He's Away

• Kelsey finally, finally gets a break, with a major superhero studio agreeing to her introspective and realistic take on their female superhero.
• When Hollyhock starts having a panic attack while at the party, Pete Repeat rushes up to her to help her calm down.
• While it's part of a slow burn, bad scene near the end, in explaining what happened at prom, Pete makes a point of clarifying that he realized soon after the fact that it wasn't his or Maddy's fault she got alcohol poisoning; rather, it was "some shitty dude"'s fault...
  • It also turns out that Maddy, fortunately, did survive the alcohol poisoning, calming viewers' fears that Maddy died from Bojack enabling her drinking.

Good Damage

• Diane is doing a lot better on antidepressants. She's still a Soapbox Sadie but not letting the world weigh her down anymore. When a retail employee refuses to help her find clothes in her size, Diane writes "Ivy" as a Nice Girl Amateur Sleuth. Character Development is great.
  • Her weight gain is also never mentioned negatively by her or anyone else, or really mentioned at all, even when her intrusive thoughts are at their worst. The most it’s drawn attention to on is when she’s trying on a tube top that doesn’t fit (which she acts as if it’s just a minor inconvenience) and the cashiers act unhelpful as the store apparently “doesn’t put numbers on bodies”, and when Diane, on the verge of a panic attack from withdrawal, says there’s a weight on her chest and not just because her boobs are heavier now. She’s never presented as less attractive or is shown trying to lose the weight and by the finale she is still chubby, showing a rare case of positive representation of weight gain in media.
• Symbolically, this episode shows Diane finally being able to toss away her family's shitty influence. Season one had her reveal to BoJack that she works hard and is a Type A because she saw how her brothers were a bunch of Lazy Bum bullies that still play a video of her crying at her homecoming date, a hobo they hired pretending to be her pen pal "Leo" when it was really the three of them sending her letters, and her parents enabled them and treated her as The Unfavorite. She attempts to get her revenge on all of them by revealing they were all terrible people that ostensibly made her into a stronger woman, but comes to the epiphany that it's not making her happy, or feeling better about the catharsis. Diane abandoning the project to focus on Ivy Tran at Princess Carolyn's recommendation shows immense character development and a realization that she is finally free of the toxic environment that raised her. 
• Guy is also the most decent boyfriend Diane has had. He tries offering advice when she suffers Writer's Block, gives her space when she's trying to note her worse memories, and puts her to bed after she suffers withdrawal from her meds. Guy also sets boundaries, saying they'll talk when she's stable. Diane later tries to apologize for being "Diane" but Guy says she doesn't have to apologize for anything.
• While trying to write her memoir, Diane ends up writing a tangent about a Vietnamese-American girl named Ivy Tran who solves mysteries at a mall. Guy likes it well enough for him to send it to Princess Carolyn, who instantly likes the idea and is the one who ultimately convinces Diane to give it a chance.
• We've seen the main five characters have a heartwarming interaction together before, but never from Princess Carolyn, and never between her and Diane. But here, towards the end of the series, we see Princess Carolyn have a heart-to-heart with Diane after PC tells her what her writing means. PC is very reassuring as Diane's agent, who relates with her about not having a great childhood. She seems to truly care, telling Diane that her book is fun, and that she should write what she feels will help other girls with damage like what she dealt with when she was younger. Even after Diane laments that this would mean all her trauma was All for Nothing, PC counters that maybe her young detective series could help them feel less alone.
  Princess Carolyn: All I know is that this book, about the girl detective, is fun! I liked it! I like thinking that my daughter could grow up in a world with books like that. Or if she's not a reader, a lucrative film adaptation.
  Diane: (taking a seat on a bench) When I was a little girl, I thought that everything - all the abuse and neglect - it somehow made me special. And I decided that one day, I would write something that made little girls like me less alone... And if I can't write that book...
  Princess Carolyn: Then... (she sits next to her) Then maybe write this other book. Maybe this book does that too. (PC puts her hand on Diane's to comfort her)
  Diane: Yeah?
  (PC nods reassuringly)
• Penny and Charlotte have a true heart-to-heart about what nearly happened on the boat. It's obvious that Charlotte is more concerned about her daughter's wellbeing (since she has only recently gotten her panic attacks under control) than her former friend's betrayal while acknowledging that Penny is an adult now. They discuss if Penny would feel better telling the reporters about what happened; Charlotte tells Penny to think about it for a few days and then call the reporters if she likes.
• When Bojack faints, Todd is immediately at his side and trying to rouse him.

Sunk Cost and All That

• This episode is basically a testament to how much BoJack's friends care about him. The episode begins with the three who went to his show helping him into his office after he passes out. PC and Diane carry him on their shoulders, and Todd keeps the students from swarming BoJack by telling them that they're talented. The rest of the episode is almost a bottle episode from their side, as they spend the bulk of the episode in the office, trying to figure out what the reporters are going to dig up on him so that they can help him deal with it. Todd and Diane eventually leave, but Princess Carolyn stays and explains that she's still there and not leaving his life (in fact, she provides the episode's Title Drop as she does). Mister Peanutbutter, in his own way, tries to help at his restaurant because he only thinks good of BoJack.

Xerox of a Xerox

• BoJack wanders into a comedy club and meets another horse who recognizes him from Horsin' Around. Despite hating it, the guy tells him it meant a lot to him emotionally, and he ends up inviting him to do a performance on the stage:
  Horse: Horsin' Around. Hated it. [...] But my baby brother loved it. I'd be in my bedroom, sulking, and I'd... hear him laughing his ass off in the living room. He had this great laugh. Drugs took a lot from him, but... he still had that laugh. Right up to the end... Now every time I hear about that show I... hear my brother's laugh. Thanks for that.

The Horny Unicorn

• Diane finally bonds with Sonny when he finds her Ivy Tran manuscript, reads it and genuinely likes it. He even tells Diane how she can make the Chicago setting more authentic.
  • In addition, up to that point Diane had considered herself a failure for not being able to write a memoir about her traumatic childhood, and instead "selling out" and writing a kids fiction series. Sonny being able to find emotional fulfillment through her writing showed her there's value even in happy children's literature. When sheepishly complimenting the book he says it’ll be good for girls who have low self-esteem, something that Diane wanted to accomplish with her writing.
• Mr. Peanutbutter is the only one of the main cast, and in fact all of Hollywoo, who is still on friendly terms with Bojack. He even allows BoJack to live at his house when he's rendered homeless through all of the lawsuits he has to go through.

Angela

• Diane has a book signing at a local bookstores. She’s shown smiling in pride at the advertisement poster for it outside, and later at the end she’s shown signing a book for a walrus girl with braces on her tusks, with Diane writing in her note that she thinks her braces are really cool.
  • When she’s arriving to the bookstore she gets a call from Guy revealing his ex wife got a new job in Houston and is taking Sonny with her. Diane says they can move as well, and assures Guy she wants to since she can write anywhere and if Sonny is going to be there they will too, further showing how committed she is to her relationship with Guy and her improved relationship with Sonny as seen in the previous episode.
  • When her book signing wraps up, sees a cardboard cut-out of Mr. Peanutbutter, who has just written a memoir of his life. She gives him a call, and they talk for several hours. At one point Diane remarks if they got together as the people they are now things would be different, but Mr. Peanutbutter says if they didn’t meet when they did they wouldn’t be the people they are now. Despite getting divorced and a blip of awkwardness/an affair on PB's part due to unresolved feelings for her, the two remain on friendly terms with one another, and Mr. Peanutbutter is more than happy for Diane and her relationship with Guy. Diane doesn’t even argue with Mr. Peanutbutter when he calls writing easy, even thought she does look a bit annoyed especially with what she went through writing her book a few episodes earlier.
• While they do not completely get over their issues with each other, Todd and his mother actually start to bond over the former's new daycare ideas and she even makes recommendations for them, showing that she is truly impressed by how far her son has come, even if she can't say it yet.
• Judah's band is performing and the whole office is invited, but Princess Carolyn can't make it, due to a once-in-a-lifetime offer from Lenny Turtletaub that requires an answer by the following morning. When we see him at the show, he visibly misses her. PC later decides to drop the offer altogether, and go see the show, only to find that Judah isn't even at the concert; having returned to work anyway because he'd rather be at the office with her.
  • When she returns to the office, PC asks Judah to play a song for her to help her think. Judah plays a gentle serenade, and tells Princess Carolyn that he loves her. They get married in the finale.

The View From Halfway Down

• A minor one from Beatrice, of all people. After BoJack coughs out black tar and onto the dinner table, instead of reprimanding him for making a mess, she joins in with everyone laughing awkwardly. For a brief moment, BoJack and Beatrice were even smiling to each other.
• Butterscotch/Secretariat has a talk with Bojack. He apologizes for not being the father Bojack wanted, and tells him he loved him and his mother but was bad at showing it. Despite Bojack saying he knows this isn't real, he feels better about it.
• Bojack has some decency to apologize to Sarah Lynn for what he did to her. When she tells him not to interrupt her show, he complies.
• As the M.C. of the show, Herb sometimes breaks character to comfort the players, gently telling Secretariat to make his peace as the door draws closer, and makes his final farewell to Bojack without any of the bitterness he had towards him in life.

Nice While It Lasted

• In a quick Freeze-Frame Bonus, Gina is starring in Fireflame, the superhero being directed by Kelsey.
• BoJack's final scene with each of his friends. We can see how much they and their relationship with BoJack have grown since the start of the series:
  • Mr. Peanutbutter picks BoJack up from prison, treats him to dinner and buys him a suit. Before they go to the wedding, he shares some of his own realizations in therapy with BoJack and reaffirms he's there if he ever needs him... unless he gets distracted by his friend Erica at the reception. They are both flawed and self-centered, but end up accepting each other for who they are. BoJack only makes one snide comment and treats him like he does any other friend.
  • Todd steals BoJack away to the beach because he notices he's overwhelmed at the party, but also requests to be carried on BoJack's shoulders - showing he's attentive to both other people and finally his own needs and boundaries. After six seasons, it seems they have finally figured out their friendship: Todd shares hopeful advice, they muse about art together and while BoJack ribs him about his intelligence, Todd's fine with a friendly jab.
    • Todd somehow makes "The Hokey-Pokey" poignant, by pointing out that the song isn't necessarily about the titular dance.
      Todd: You do the Hokey-Pokey, and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
  • Princess Carolyn is, for once, encouraging of BoJack's plans to volunteer at the prison and, while she's concerned about his Attention Whore tendencies rising up, she says she'll recommend some excellent people if he wants to return to showbiz, indicating that she’s also setting boundaries for herself. They share a dance together, roleplaying a scenario in which Princess Carolyn needs emotional support from BoJack before the wedding, and end up hugging as ride-or-die friends.
  • Diane's is the most bittersweet since she ultimately ends her relationship with BoJack. Diane calls BoJack out on his bullshit and the emotional power he held over her for years, including the fact he left her a voice mail begging for her help before his suicide attempt that took a toll on her mental health for a while (what’s worse is that the evening before in "Angela" we saw she was in a good place with her mental health, career and her boyfriend and his son, whom she was going to move to Houston with), but she's now happy and confident enough between being Happily Married to Guy and as the author of the Ivy Tran series not to be bitter about it. She accepts that she probably wouldn't have grown to this point without their relationship. BoJack, for his part, gets something he never got from all other people he lost: closure, as he accepts Diane's decision to cut him out and that there's a clear limit to her forgiveness. After saying his story better be very funny, BoJack tells her that it's only kind of funny, and she sits anyways. They share a laugh about BoJack's prison drama club and a fight that broke out over movie night, and then sit together in awkward, loaded, but ultimately mundane, gentle silence while "Mr. Blue" by Catherine Feeney plays.
    • Their last real conversation hits hard. Diane, despite knowing everything he's put her through and how much he's done, still takes the time to reassure him and make sure he knows how much their friendship meant to her. And BoJack, with one line, shows how much he's grown since they met by acknowledging that she's not his Manic Pixie Dream Girl and that he knows how to check his ego.
  Diane: I need to.. tell you...
  BoJack: I-I... No, you don't have to... you don't owe me anything...
  Diane: No, I need to tell you... thank you... and... it's going to be okay... and... I'm sorry... and... thank you...
• A small one, but after spending the entire series vocally hating it, Bojack tries honeydew...and finds out he doesn't mind it.

Special Episode

BoJack Horseman Christmas Special: Sabrina's Christmas Wish

• BoJack and Todd happily watching the Horsin' Around Christmas Episode together, and preparing to watch more together at the end.

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