BoJack Horseman, a popular cartoon for adults, ended in 2020, making many fans sad. The show was about a former actor who happens to be a horse, living in Hollywood. People loved it because it was funny, had deep characters, and talked about mental health. When it ended, viewers wondered why such a good show had to stop.
This article looks at why BoJack Horseman might have been canceled, including creative reasons, business decisions, and other things that could have led to its surprise ending.
Netflix’s Early Days: Taking Chances on New Shows
At first, Netflix did something risky. They would agree to make multiple seasons of a show before it even started. This meant they believed in shows even if not many people watched them right away. It was tough at first, but it worked well for shows like BoJack Horseman. The show started slow but became really popular over time.
When BoJack Horseman first came out, not many people liked it. But Netflix kept supporting it, and soon lots of people became fans. By the third season, critics loved it too. They said it was great at showing mental health issues, making fun of Hollywood, and creating complex characters.
Quantity over Quality: BoJack Horseman Cancellation
As BoJack Horseman was getting really good, Netflix started doing things differently. There were more streaming services to compete with, and Netflix was worried about losing shows from other companies. So, they started making lots of new shows quickly. This meant they had less money for each show, had to make decisions faster based on how many people watched, and were more likely to cancel shows that weren’t super popular.
Instead of helping unique shows like BoJack Horseman grow, Netflix started making tons of different shows to try to please everyone. While this gave people more choices, it also meant that shows didn’t get as much time or freedom to become great like BoJack Horseman did.
The End of an Era: BoJack’s Last Season
BoJack Horseman lasted for a while during this change, but its sixth season in 2020 was its last. The show’s creator, Raphael Bob-Waksberg, said Netflix decided BoJack Horseman cancellation, not him. He understood why they did it and was glad they told him early enough to give the show a good ending.
When BoJack Horseman was cancelled, it showed that Netflix wasn’t going to keep supporting unique shows for many seasons anymore. Now, with so many streaming services and so much to watch, it’s unlikely that a show like BoJack would get the same chance to grow and become special.
Was BoJack Horseman Based On Someone?
The creator of BoJack Horseman, Raphael Bob-Waksberg, said in 2015 that BoJack isn’t based on any real person. But some people think parts of BoJack might be inspired by real celebrities.
Some think BoJack might be a bit like Bob Saget, who was famous for sitcoms and had mental health issues. Others see similarities with Charlie Sheen, who had problems with drugs and often made headlines. Some even compare BoJack to Matthew Broderick’s role as a failed actor in a movie called The Producers.
But Bob-Waksberg has made it clear that BoJack isn’t meant to be any one person. Instead, he’s more like a typical example of a washed-up Hollywood star.
What is the Best Season of BoJack Horseman?
BoJack Horseman was special because it mixed dark jokes with deep thoughts about life, making it different from other cartoons. Many fans think the third season was the best. It had amazing episodes like “Fish Out of Water” and “That’s Too Much, Man!” These episodes told stories in new ways that pushed what cartoons could do. The “Fish Out of Water” episode was especially impressive because it showed feelings without using any words, proving that BoJack Horseman was a truly groundbreaking show.
Will there be Season 7 of BoJack Horseman?
As for more BoJack Horseman in the future, the creator says he might be open to revisiting the world of the show someday. This could be through a spin-off show or maybe a movie. But for now, BoJack’s story seems to be over. The sixth season wrapped up the main story.
It’s worth noting that another show by BoJack’s artist, Lisa Hanawalt, called Tuca & Bertie, was cancelled after just one season even though critics loved it. Hanawalt thinks this happened because Netflix’s system for suggesting shows to watch didn’t show Tuca & Bertie to the right people. This is a common problem with Netflix having so many shows to choose from.
Wrapping It Up
The end of BoJack Horseman shows how Netflix is changing. They used to support unique shows like BoJack for a long time, but now they’re more focused on making lots of different shows quickly. This change might affect how creative and innovative TV shows can be in the future, especially as more streaming services compete for viewers. Cancellation of Bojack Horseman reminds us how hard it is to balance making money and making great art in the world of streaming TV.
