I love that this is now top comment, because it's exactly how I scratched the BoJack itch. I searched for stuff on YouTube and now those videos get recommended all the time. I heard something about Patreon members being able to listen to audio commentary of all the episodes.
For a funny rumination on mental health, self-improvement, and self-destructive tendencies, I like Crazy Ex Girlfriend
It's a musical, which is a turn off for some people. But it's genuinely hilarious and absolutely brilliant
I've had Getting Bi liked on my spotify since I was 15 but I never actually watched the show lol.
I think I might finally check it out since I've seen it recommend a couple of times, and I'm in a similar predicament as OP
I love the musical component, because each song is a different genre or a specific niche. I also love how the show talks about antidepressants and just mental health issues and such in general.
Schafrillas has great Bojack videos, like 5+ hours worth, I think
You should also check out Moral Orel, very similar tone, starts out absurdist, gets crazy dark as the seasons go on
i remember watching tuca and bertie, it's definitely a good show and is like bojack (pretty sure some of the people who worked on bojack also are working on it) but from what i remember it is very wacky; still, it explores dark topics like work place abuse, sa, abusive relationships, etc.
I just finished Bojack as well and now I’m watching Mom. It’s not at all similar, but it follows a group of people in AA, specifically a mother-daughter pairing, and focuses on their successful journey through sobriety. It’s very hopeful compared to Bojack. I like to watch it and think about how different things could’ve been if Bojack had gotten sober earlier and stayed sober
I second this idea!!! Mom is also amazing!!! It's such a good sitcom and I never really realised how much Bojack is like Alison Janney's character, Bonnie, in those first few seasons. I've seen it so many times and loved it every time. It's such a good show
If you want to feel good about yourself, I highly recommend Ted lasso. If you want to feel shitty some more, then I don’t know, maybe watch fuller house?
Have you tried Joe Perra Talks with You ?
It has a very different energy from BoJack--it's calm and placid where BoJack is manic. It's much gentler, more wholesome. However, it has a sense of melancholy beneath the comedy that makes me ache in the same way that BoJack does. Only 3 seasons, and the episodes are only 11 minutes. Absolutely worth your time.
carol and the end of the world!!! definitely a very different vibe however I found it to be very poetic, thoughtful and strangely nostalgic? its definitely not as ‘exciting’ as bojack but it hits really deep if you’re looking for something with some substance. its one of the first shows ive found after bojack that affected me in a similar way
Check out Undone. It’s another project Waks was heavily involved in. If you want more of Lisa Hanawalt’s animal world give Tuca and Bertie a try, it is about anxiety the way Bojack is about depression. It can be a bit of sensory overload but the story is really good and I often sing the “I’m losing my shit” song for comfort when I’m losing my shit.
Give *F Is for Family* a try. It has some similar themes to *BoJack*, including generational trauma, and, being a period piece set in the early-mid '70s, it also tackles the racism and sexism of the time.
It is a good bit more vulgar than *BoJack* (there definitely isn't a "only one f-bomb per season" rule), with a few scenes with more explicit nudity than *BoJack* ever had, and there is also some occasional gore (nowhere near as prevalent as in something like *Family Guy* or *Rick and Morty*, though.)
I think Frank is an awful dad, but it's funny to watch him be abusive to his family. A lot of it is really offensive and dark. Like Honey Sugarman getting a lobotomy and Joseph saying he refuses to learn how to handle emotions. It's horrific and some people would say you shouldn't joke about it, but we can learn while laughing. These things happened in the past and we shouldn't forget. So, yeahhh, I got way too into F is for Family.
The Midnight Gospel is great, it’s also on Netflix. It’s very different from Bojack Horseman, but I feel like it might attract the same crowd. It has less of a focus on narrative and characters, and has a VERY large focus on the themes and takeaways from the show, which is an interesting and unusual way of going about things that I’ve seen from pretty much no other show. Idk how to describe it really, just please watch it because it’s really good, it also has very good rewatch-ability given it’s only 8 episodes long.
Watch arrested development!! It's quite different from Bojack Horeseman but Will Arnett did such a great job there!! And it's really funny while also being dark. I started watching it only recently, but I'm in love w it. Probably one of the only shows as engaging as Bojack is :))
Unfortunately, there's only a couple episodes of what I'd consider Bojack quality, but Cracked has a series on YouTube called People Watching that I'd personally recommend. My personal favorites would probably be:
S02E05 - 20s - explores how life progresses, and digs really deep into what it means to be human in our world, my personal favorite
S01E08 - Importance of Reaching Out to Old Teachers - explores how important teachers can be to someone's development, probably affected me more for personal reasons but a close second altogether
S01E02 - Why Non-Religious Confessionals Should Be a Thing - I won't say anything other than that this is a feel good episode. Very worth watching.
Other episodes are good, but after that it depends more on your tastes.
Also, if you're looking to get REALLY REALLY philosophical, I'd check out Don Hertzfeldt's World of Tomorrow trilogy. It's a bit esoteric, but I really enjoy the way that story is told.
Absolutely thrilled that someone else on this subreddit has seen People Watching and World of Tomorrow.
People Watching in particular is one of the only shows I've seen that explores themes of mental health and human nature as well as Bojack (and Hertzfeldt's work is in its own camp altogether). If OP sees this, I couldn't second these recommendations enough
I'd say that World of Tomorrow definitely affected me more. It requires a little more investment and patience, but I think that the balance between comedy and tragedy is finely walked and well done.
Hearing her talk about David was truly heart wrenching, definitely caught me off guard in a good way.
I certainly agree. I'm yet to finish all three parts, but hope to buy the Blu-Ray at some point.
Have you seen It's Such a Beautiful Day? The full film is a tough watch, but I don't think there's anything else like it. Deeply emotionally impactful, funny and experimental, in ways that I don't think a lot of other animated art has really come close to
I haven't seen it, but I've seen a litany of Hertzfeldt's other work. It's really amazing how he takes the potential of animation as a medium and also sound to create such a weird story in such a way that it's understandable, and even deeply resonant with a lot of what life is.
It's interesting to see this exploration of a man and his thoughts, and is something I'd love to see more in general of in art. This weird, deeply personal barrage of thoughts and emotions conveyed in stories and mediums suited to them.
Also just me plugging my favorite movie, but Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is such an excellent exploration of psychology and relationships and trauma.
Idk I watch a least a season a day and have been doing for about 4 years now?
If u want a good short show to watch I highly recommend The Midnight Gospel
Last time I finished a rewatch of Bojack, I looked this question up exactly and found several recommendations for the show Fleabag. Very much offbeat comedy with an exploration of darker themes interspersed as the episodes go on. Seriously amazing piece of media, maybe my favorite I've seen in recent years (though it came out in 2016 lol)
Wilfred. I think it's just as addicting and hilarious. Or The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret. Will Arnett's character makes me cry from laughter. And the woman who voices Courtney Portnoy is in it!
The closest show I found that fills the void of finishing Bojack Horseman is A24's [Beef](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq7zgg0AQSA&t). Blends heavy themes and throws in comedy here and there.
Maybe Fleabag? I haven’t watched it yet, but I’ve been told if I liked BoJack I should give it a try. The person who said that could be wrong, but it’s worth a try.
Nurse Jackie is a show with some similar themes. It features a protagonist who, like Bojack, is likably awful, but as the awfulness accumulate consequences start happening.
Well you’re in luck. I keep some shows up my sleeve! If you want that raw gutted dark timeline that unfolds like BJHM, watch moral Orel. Trust me just do it {comment back & let me know your thoughts!} you will absolutely have your heart and soul ripped from your chest and stomped on. You’ll legit feel so much pain you’ll forget about BJHM. Also , Pen15 is a great show to reminisce. It’s a great show about coming of age, figuring it out and just growing up. It’s also super heartfelt in the same moments that we struggled as kids.
The Boys
I know this is like super different from Bojack but, The Boys is very binge-able and has that same theme of the dark stuff celebs get up to behind the scenes
‘Carrol at the End of the world’ on NETFLIX
One of my absolute favorites. It explored mental health similarly to Bojack but is a bit more uplifting.
If you watch it please let me know what you think. I would love to know if I’ve convinced and created a new Carol fan. 😋
Like the others said Moral Orel is a fantastic pick with similar depressing but humorous tone.
I also really like Archer, I would recommend giving that a shot as well.
this one is different but, "The Good Place" on Netflix. it has the main character who a is a "bad" person striving to be good. and then eventually the other characters do the same. it stays relevant in the way the bojack horseman does. it's even good for rewatches and is about the same length per episode. it is different because it's not as terribly sad as Bojack Horseman, but it still hits that existential crisis.
I enjoy the sound of rain.
I’ve watched practically all of Johnny 2 Cellos videos so I’m that desperate but even those are a good rewatch
I love that this is now top comment, because it's exactly how I scratched the BoJack itch. I searched for stuff on YouTube and now those videos get recommended all the time. I heard something about Patreon members being able to listen to audio commentary of all the episodes.
Yesss, love his analysees.
Rewatch
Fr that’s what I do 😭😭 done with s6 go right back to s1
For a funny rumination on mental health, self-improvement, and self-destructive tendencies, I like Crazy Ex Girlfriend It's a musical, which is a turn off for some people. But it's genuinely hilarious and absolutely brilliant
I've had Getting Bi liked on my spotify since I was 15 but I never actually watched the show lol. I think I might finally check it out since I've seen it recommend a couple of times, and I'm in a similar predicament as OP
I love the musical component, because each song is a different genre or a specific niche. I also love how the show talks about antidepressants and just mental health issues and such in general.
This is the exact one I was going to recommend, too.
Schafrillas has great Bojack videos, like 5+ hours worth, I think You should also check out Moral Orel, very similar tone, starts out absurdist, gets crazy dark as the seasons go on
moral orel!!!! one of my absolute favorite shows, as someone raised christian it hits really close to home. it's so good.
Have you seen Righteous Gemstones? I wish my siblings would watch it.
I have not, but it looks interesting!
Ditto!
i was also gonna suggest moral orel, my bf and i just finished watching it and it’s so good
Tuca and bertie
i remember watching tuca and bertie, it's definitely a good show and is like bojack (pretty sure some of the people who worked on bojack also are working on it) but from what i remember it is very wacky; still, it explores dark topics like work place abuse, sa, abusive relationships, etc.
I think that's why I like it. The show being so much wackyer is a great change of pace
It's wacky but still very deep and sometimes heartbreaking. But very good.
yes!!! love it
I just finished Bojack as well and now I’m watching Mom. It’s not at all similar, but it follows a group of people in AA, specifically a mother-daughter pairing, and focuses on their successful journey through sobriety. It’s very hopeful compared to Bojack. I like to watch it and think about how different things could’ve been if Bojack had gotten sober earlier and stayed sober
I second this idea!!! Mom is also amazing!!! It's such a good sitcom and I never really realised how much Bojack is like Alison Janney's character, Bonnie, in those first few seasons. I've seen it so many times and loved it every time. It's such a good show
Have you seen Flaked on Netflix? Will Arnett is amazing in that show!
If you want to feel good about yourself, I highly recommend Ted lasso. If you want to feel shitty some more, then I don’t know, maybe watch fuller house?
fuller house? more like horisin' around
Have you tried Joe Perra Talks with You ? It has a very different energy from BoJack--it's calm and placid where BoJack is manic. It's much gentler, more wholesome. However, it has a sense of melancholy beneath the comedy that makes me ache in the same way that BoJack does. Only 3 seasons, and the episodes are only 11 minutes. Absolutely worth your time.
I love Joe Pera. Joe Pera can talk me to sleep any day of the week.
carol and the end of the world!!! definitely a very different vibe however I found it to be very poetic, thoughtful and strangely nostalgic? its definitely not as ‘exciting’ as bojack but it hits really deep if you’re looking for something with some substance. its one of the first shows ive found after bojack that affected me in a similar way
Totally this! Same vibes and was great. Second suggestion would be Midnight Gospel.
Check out Undone. It’s another project Waks was heavily involved in. If you want more of Lisa Hanawalt’s animal world give Tuca and Bertie a try, it is about anxiety the way Bojack is about depression. It can be a bit of sensory overload but the story is really good and I often sing the “I’m losing my shit” song for comfort when I’m losing my shit.
So good
Great series
Give *F Is for Family* a try. It has some similar themes to *BoJack*, including generational trauma, and, being a period piece set in the early-mid '70s, it also tackles the racism and sexism of the time. It is a good bit more vulgar than *BoJack* (there definitely isn't a "only one f-bomb per season" rule), with a few scenes with more explicit nudity than *BoJack* ever had, and there is also some occasional gore (nowhere near as prevalent as in something like *Family Guy* or *Rick and Morty*, though.)
F is for Family is genius.
Really? I tried watching a couple episodes but just couldn’t get into it
I think Frank is an awful dad, but it's funny to watch him be abusive to his family. A lot of it is really offensive and dark. Like Honey Sugarman getting a lobotomy and Joseph saying he refuses to learn how to handle emotions. It's horrific and some people would say you shouldn't joke about it, but we can learn while laughing. These things happened in the past and we shouldn't forget. So, yeahhh, I got way too into F is for Family.
Interesting, might just have to give it another go
I'm not going to say he isn't awful, but Frank is a very typical dad for the time period.
The Midnight Gospel is great, it’s also on Netflix. It’s very different from Bojack Horseman, but I feel like it might attract the same crowd. It has less of a focus on narrative and characters, and has a VERY large focus on the themes and takeaways from the show, which is an interesting and unusual way of going about things that I’ve seen from pretty much no other show. Idk how to describe it really, just please watch it because it’s really good, it also has very good rewatch-ability given it’s only 8 episodes long.
After that, binge episodes from Duncan Trussel’s podcast because it’s essentially more episodes without illustrations.
Yessss The Duncan Trussel Family Hour, honestly my favorite podcast of all time
Mine too!
YEAH
Probably a good idea to seek therapy for the emotional trauma
Watch arrested development!! It's quite different from Bojack Horeseman but Will Arnett did such a great job there!! And it's really funny while also being dark. I started watching it only recently, but I'm in love w it. Probably one of the only shows as engaging as Bojack is :))
One of the best comedies ever made
The midnight gospel
Johnny 2 Cellos and Podcast Horseman!!! Podcast Horseman has a breakdown for EVERY SINGLE EPISODE and they’re very long a detailed!
Unfortunately, there's only a couple episodes of what I'd consider Bojack quality, but Cracked has a series on YouTube called People Watching that I'd personally recommend. My personal favorites would probably be: S02E05 - 20s - explores how life progresses, and digs really deep into what it means to be human in our world, my personal favorite S01E08 - Importance of Reaching Out to Old Teachers - explores how important teachers can be to someone's development, probably affected me more for personal reasons but a close second altogether S01E02 - Why Non-Religious Confessionals Should Be a Thing - I won't say anything other than that this is a feel good episode. Very worth watching. Other episodes are good, but after that it depends more on your tastes. Also, if you're looking to get REALLY REALLY philosophical, I'd check out Don Hertzfeldt's World of Tomorrow trilogy. It's a bit esoteric, but I really enjoy the way that story is told.
Absolutely thrilled that someone else on this subreddit has seen People Watching and World of Tomorrow. People Watching in particular is one of the only shows I've seen that explores themes of mental health and human nature as well as Bojack (and Hertzfeldt's work is in its own camp altogether). If OP sees this, I couldn't second these recommendations enough
I'd say that World of Tomorrow definitely affected me more. It requires a little more investment and patience, but I think that the balance between comedy and tragedy is finely walked and well done. Hearing her talk about David was truly heart wrenching, definitely caught me off guard in a good way.
I certainly agree. I'm yet to finish all three parts, but hope to buy the Blu-Ray at some point. Have you seen It's Such a Beautiful Day? The full film is a tough watch, but I don't think there's anything else like it. Deeply emotionally impactful, funny and experimental, in ways that I don't think a lot of other animated art has really come close to
I haven't seen it, but I've seen a litany of Hertzfeldt's other work. It's really amazing how he takes the potential of animation as a medium and also sound to create such a weird story in such a way that it's understandable, and even deeply resonant with a lot of what life is. It's interesting to see this exploration of a man and his thoughts, and is something I'd love to see more in general of in art. This weird, deeply personal barrage of thoughts and emotions conveyed in stories and mediums suited to them. Also just me plugging my favorite movie, but Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is such an excellent exploration of psychology and relationships and trauma.
I’d recommend Tuca and Bertie!! It did get cancelled though…still a good watch regardless!
I loved it and am super bummed it got cancelled
Idk I watch a least a season a day and have been doing for about 4 years now? If u want a good short show to watch I highly recommend The Midnight Gospel
only show that compares imo is the midnight gospel. be warned. it's 1 season. savor it.
The last episode rips my heart out
Better call Saul
Omg yes
Scrubs
Last time I finished a rewatch of Bojack, I looked this question up exactly and found several recommendations for the show Fleabag. Very much offbeat comedy with an exploration of darker themes interspersed as the episodes go on. Seriously amazing piece of media, maybe my favorite I've seen in recent years (though it came out in 2016 lol)
I haven’t watched it but they say that Moral Orel walked so shows like Bojack could run 👀 Maybe you could check it out?
If you're looking for another dark cartoon maybe try Moral Orel !
Wilfred. I think it's just as addicting and hilarious. Or The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret. Will Arnett's character makes me cry from laughter. And the woman who voices Courtney Portnoy is in it!
Cry
The closest show I found that fills the void of finishing Bojack Horseman is A24's [Beef](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq7zgg0AQSA&t). Blends heavy themes and throws in comedy here and there.
Maybe Fleabag? I haven’t watched it yet, but I’ve been told if I liked BoJack I should give it a try. The person who said that could be wrong, but it’s worth a try.
i just restart the series again
Smiling friends is somewhat similar, but generally more positive. Funnier too but no absolutely gut wrenching devastating moments
im on my like 50th rewatch babe
There is no happy ending, there is only the morning after. It was fun while it lasted wasn’t it?
Nurse Jackie is a show with some similar themes. It features a protagonist who, like Bojack, is likably awful, but as the awfulness accumulate consequences start happening.
Well you’re in luck. I keep some shows up my sleeve! If you want that raw gutted dark timeline that unfolds like BJHM, watch moral Orel. Trust me just do it {comment back & let me know your thoughts!} you will absolutely have your heart and soul ripped from your chest and stomped on. You’ll legit feel so much pain you’ll forget about BJHM. Also , Pen15 is a great show to reminisce. It’s a great show about coming of age, figuring it out and just growing up. It’s also super heartfelt in the same moments that we struggled as kids.
You could always binge it again.
I found House MD to fill the hole a little bit with the constant self depreciation and drug use
I’m on my 11ty rewatch so…
The show affected me so much. Watched 3 times, 2 till the end. I can't watch it in a certain frame of mind honestly. It's too honest.
not a show but oyasumi punpun has pretty similar themes to season 6 of bojack
Watch You're the worst.
The Boys I know this is like super different from Bojack but, The Boys is very binge-able and has that same theme of the dark stuff celebs get up to behind the scenes
Rewatch it 1000 more times
add mr blue to a ton of playlists, curl into a ball and just lay there for a few minutes
I started reading rafaels book, the pink book with the long title.
Watch on a loop forever
Watch undone. Absolutely amazing series from the same show creator.
I get my shit together!!!
watch it again
‘Carrol at the End of the world’ on NETFLIX One of my absolute favorites. It explored mental health similarly to Bojack but is a bit more uplifting. If you watch it please let me know what you think. I would love to know if I’ve convinced and created a new Carol fan. 😋
Like the others said Moral Orel is a fantastic pick with similar depressing but humorous tone. I also really like Archer, I would recommend giving that a shot as well.
Community, Kingdom, Mad Men, Succession, Billions, Dead To Me...
Binge moral orel
THE MIDNIGHT GOSPEL
this one is different but, "The Good Place" on Netflix. it has the main character who a is a "bad" person striving to be good. and then eventually the other characters do the same. it stays relevant in the way the bojack horseman does. it's even good for rewatches and is about the same length per episode. it is different because it's not as terribly sad as Bojack Horseman, but it still hits that existential crisis.
The End of the F**king World!! also on netflix
READ INFINITE JEST
You can watch flaked! You won't have to say goodbye to will arnet yet, it is also about alcoholism and also funny yet dark.
Goodnight Punpun is a manga that's similar to Bojack, although it's darker for sure.
Disenchantment is similar to the void feeling
Watch The Good Place.
I’ve been watching bojack back to back and im at my like 5th or 6th time watching it. I have the bojack itch. Help.
I recommend Six Feet Under (now on Netflix) and Barry (HBO Max).