DOCTOR REACTS TO BOJACK HORSEMAN | Psychiatry Doctor Analyzes Depression on Bojack

I love Bojack Horseman. I truely believe it is one of the most accurate depictions of depression and addiction I have seen on a TV show. This episode focuses in on Bojack's depression, including how it makes him feel, think and act. There's also some interesting stuff about addiction and dementia too.

There are many shows that use mental illness as a basis for plots and characters, but often, it simply depicts cliches and stereotypes that can misrepresent what being mentally ill is really like. What's incredible about this episode is the non-stop internal monologue where you can see how Bojack's thoughts influence his emotions and his behaviour. It's accurate, real and respectful. Amazing!

[Brisbizzle]

The saddest thing about rewatching this episode is that he's so completely afraid of losing Hollyhock.

Which then he does.

[craZgirl]

I think "insight doesn't equal change" might actually sum up the entire series XD

[tiltingplanet]

I've never seen Mr. Peanut butter be described as having toxic positivity and that is such a good descriptor for him and his nonsense

[yes]

I find it interesting how at around 3:15 Bojack calls himself an "oaf" in his inner monologue, and not long after his mother also refers to him as an oaf. Self loathing is a learned behavior

[strangerdragos]

I just realised that in this conversation :
- Give me back the baby, you worthless waste of my husband's j*sm!
- ah so you do know who I am!
- govern yourself, Henrietta.

That was foreshadowing, she was really insulting Henrietta and not Bojack

[relaxationstation]

The nurse is a bear... making her a Care Bear.
I love this show so much - you can re watch it over and over and notice new little things every time.

[JaredJonesAZ]

It's sad at the end when Bojack lies to Hollyhock and tells her the depression she has will fade as an adult, knowing full well that's not what happened with him.

[QueenGoldnGreen]

"Do you ever feel like, to know you more is to love you less?" Oof, that one stuck with me.

[droptherapy]

It's also worth mentioning that Bojack definitely has a ton of symptoms of borderline personality disorder

[lonely_viking]

Free churro is one of the best pieces of media i've ever watched

[quinnchaos]

As someone who has an abusive mother, I get why he didn’t indulge her delusions

[samlinsubmersible]

"He's jealous of the doll"
the subtitles : He's jealous of the dog.
The dog : Is this a crossover episode ??

[howthetubbiestelly]

Around the time I was watching this show, I was an alcoholic, and I was okay with allowing my depression and PTSD to just swallow me up. But this show helped me connect with Bojack, and once I recognized it, DISconnect from that. I’ve been sober for a year now, I’m much happier with myself now that I can use my triggers and learn how to more healthily cope. :)

[MrsDerpina]

"The old sugarman place" is a really good depiction of how trauma passes on from generation to generation. It sums up beatrices childhood, and what made her become the cold, distant person she is. Also how this eventually got to fuck up bojacks childhood. This episode somehow hit really hard, as it shows how trauma isn't anybodys fault - and the roots go back genereations.

[chrissessions]

It's obvious this guy is a quality psychiatrist, because as he watches Bojack, his face exudes pure empathy. He feels and understands Bojack's pain.

[gigahorse]

The grandma with the baby reminds me of this cute old lady I met in the nursing home. She had a stuffed cat and offered to let me hold it. It was clear she thought the cat was alive, so I treated the cat as if it was real. I even asked if it was a he or a she. The old lady had so much joy in her face. I was happy she had something that made her feel less alone.

[KingCorbinCosmos]

The fact that you get everything about the show so accurately because you study psychology is a testament to the writing of the show and it’s depiction of mental illness

[womanofseakea]

Thank you for also talking about Mr. PB's toxic positivity too. I feel like that's something that so often gets overlooked in this show and in society in general

[jblask]

I feel like bojack is honestly more genuinely mature and adult than most other adult shows I've seen so far.

[relaxationstation]

If you watch the full show you'll find out that each of the main characters is one of the five stages of grief.
Denial is Mr Peanutbutter
Anger is Diane
Bargaining= Princess Carolyn
Depression=Bojack
Acceptance=Todd