By the end of the season, we know these characters, and this show, far better than ever before. BoJack’s signature tropes--the background visual jokes, the animal puns, the brutal moments of sadness--remain reliably consistent, but turns the focus largely inward, ensuring that some of the more outlandish plots support and highlight the more emotional storylines.
How did a story about a depressed, alcoholic horse become one of the most human shows on TV? ... Can BoJack Horseman pull off a fracking story line? You betcha. ... And BoJack Horseman never neglects to expand its rich, Hollywood-parallel universe, which is largely responsible for the show’s sardonic brand of humor.
BoJack Horseman never feels as if its grasping for relevancy or looking for a quick, cynical laugh to show its edge. They give vibrant, convincing life to the world that surrounds BoJack, even as he continues to struggle to look beyond his own snout.
The 12 episodes of the new season have episodes and moments equal to the show’s best. They also have ideas that don’t pan out, and an overall lack of cohesion--the main characters seem sequestered in separate story lines that don’t really mesh. A weekend binge is still recommended, but it won’t have the impact of the second or third seasons.