Tl:Dr don't hype things you want people to see, just get them watch it or whatever, they'll like it, if they didn't you can argue for fun. Downplay it but let em know it should really make their list. Then let go of controoooool and live! ?☺️
Hyping unintentionally ruins many good things too often I've seen, it's a manipulative tactic (though born of excitement, sharing, and connection of course).
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It sounds, Lurid, like you may have had a plot and story already written in your head before starting this show, based on the expectations raised by those who praised it so highly to you. And understandably, it is difficult and often annoying when an expectation does not match up to the reality of any given situation.
If it helps, I've had certain shows I was very much unwilling to try out based on first episodes, and after knowing more of the plot, after asking those who had watched it and heard grand reviews of the show, still I wasn't as convinced.
So I just didn't. I wasn't ready to, or in a state of mind open enough to give the show any limelight.
And I really, really wanted to enjoy the show as much as everyone around me had.
So that's what I missed out on.
But the show still exists, is streamed.
So one day I was more curious. It had been a few or more years since it's release, the seasons tacking on one after another, fans everywhere crying out about the next season, episode, and "dear God please no spoilers!"
And time went on.
And it was fun to watch them all love this show so much, because I love good stories. I'm not sure where I heard the phrase, "every story is just a retold story," art changing from one interpretation to another but with a mixed amount of similarities and core features. So now it made sense why many get frustrated when a movie or show seems to copy other shows or movies in whatever variety they may.
And I noticed that those who watched more and more throughout life began to slowly and year by year like ever fewer of them. And that made me sad to think I will be that way someday, should I know too much, or expect something so particular, that I no longer enjoy them much at all. This seemed like a grave loss to me.
So once I remembered this phrase though and it clicked, my expectations of every story changed from then on. Because stories do have a constistancy to them, all just variations of each other.
People telling stories seems to be, at this point, practically in our core of being.
So with that in mind, I went about my days enjoying many other shows than that one.
Then that show ended, or was nearing it seemed.
And then people slowly calmed down about talking about it, they forgot about it more now, but still seemed they were glad to have been part of watching it.
And soon after, it looked...a little interesting actually. I'd given up on it, but now too so had everyone's fervor.
And I think that's why I loved the show. I liked it because I watched it for me.
And it could very well have been a tedious and frustratingly bad show to watch anywyas. But asking others to push you in does not help you really watch the show itself, from solely your point of view, to interpret.
(I figure if I get through season three of a show and still manage to try to procrastinate it, then that show isn't for me and I tried, no harm no foul. If I hear future reviews that differ then who knows, but that can be dealt with at any such time, at that time.)
All in all I'm very sorry you haven't liked the experience of BoJack Horseman as it stands.
I wished people had told you how silly it can be, and how vital that silliness is to the harsher darker tone the show tends to take, the exact INjustice of it all.
This feeling is not a comfortable one, especially when cast agianst the usual stories we hear, where justice is served and good wins, at least a bit more often than bad at least. But the feeling of futility? That it's all for naught? A slimy feeling to sit with, let alone for as long as this show takes you down that experience. But as well as so many other nearly intangible, fleeting feelings we tend to skip over when communicating with others and our world around us. It is something dark and sad and filled with so much empty potential at times, that we still have a little space to hope, to hold out that it gets better, that a light turns on, or at least that the light hasn't gone out entirely; the potential is there. Because the fact that we can hold hope that we may yet see something good happen, justice served or our solutions rendered and understanding gained, as we've seen time to time in our own lives, means that we are holding hope. And that is a very good feeling to have too.
And I think a lot of us need that feeling. Or at least crave it more as our world continues to change and problems seem abound everywhere- as well as so, so very many options regarding...well, everything really. We have the internet now. The first of any species we know of. We created it and it can tell us so, so much.
So it's a lot, and for us now, a little hope goes a long way. And in a combined effort these artists (both animators, and writers, and actors, producers, etc.) gave us this; mostly by giving us hope in little tiny grain sized morsels to keep us hooked and focused on our desire for just a speck more, by reminding us like a slap-kiss to the face that the world IS shit sometimes. And is unfair, chaotic, and indecipherable; and yet still, hard to take serious at times. People are silly, joy exists, and laughing such an odd way to expell air, yet we still love it- even when cluching our bellies against the pain, uanble maintain breathing at times when it's just so...so funny. Tears roll down our faces. And feels utterly ridiculous and wholesome. And that too is a treasure we should all have the pleasure of the experience to keep with us. And sometimes yes, it would be a huffing laugh at just the feeling of futility of it all sometimes. And that's normal too. Even those we would deem bad, reprhesible, and unforgivable, laugh. Experience joy. And that may also feel unfair to you. But it is a reality, there are far too many people on the planet and throughout history for this not to be a thruth at some point.
But again, it doesn't take away those darkest depths. Death, destruction, malice, mayhem, and the other various qaulities we loathe to endure very much still exist, and must be dealt with and faced head on in this case. So that's the dark sweep of this show as well. They don't shy away from being unlikable, dark, disorienting, and down right even a bit confusing. As well as a type of honest that isn't often spoken aloud about, (especially with their dishonesty, as we are often in the knowing loop as the viewer, we know secrets, but not what happens next! Or sometimes even what's happening, or why- much like at critical juctures in people's lives, turmoils we all may may inevitably face, but together we face it, every day.) People die, we can grieve. Things are destroyed, we can rebuild. People hurt us, we can forgive. We don't like these feelings but choosing to do these tasks can feel entirely too monumental, require too much strength &/or endurance. So we cave a bit, use just a small shortcut for resolve, and the cycles continue until somewhere somehow, we decide to fix whatever it is rightly and face it head on, or it grows a life of it's own and overpowers us completely. Some people decide to give up control of their actions completely, much like BoJack or worse perhaps. But that does not mean those who do this aren't still trying, even if in vain, to resolve things, make things better for themselves somehow. That need and drive to feel secure and safe, fed and sheltered, loved and valid, understood, all apart of how we are present in the world, we still require those needs to be met in order to help every bit of our growth or recovery through life's tribulations, to be better (in what ways any one may desire to be, that one can be through their own thoughts and actions).
For example, Diane's purpose as a character steadfastly throughout the seasons could be simply stated that she is there and fundamentally important because she is someone who almost truly gets BoJack, if not completely, at least from BoJack's perspective; and that's still harshly oversimplifying Diane just to be clear.
But as the show continues to demonstrate, habits are difficult to break, as many well know. So we do this to ourselves. And the worst thing ever for some, would be to give up their lack of control, take control and then also trust themselves to do the work, to resolve something correctly- or at least begin learning to, and take responsibility in any given situation. To do the work its takes. To take responsibility for thier life, thier whole person and actions and consequences, good and bad. Which can be wholly terrifying- as shown by BoJack's almost insistant desire to be better and understand and converse so fixatedly about himself, about what it is he can do to fix things- that are notoriously his fault, nearly all of the time, and yet he nearly always caves. To do it his way and how he wants, sufficiently sabotaging most of his life. Because the other option is change.
I may be speaking out of turn, and if so forgive my ignorance of who you are and your own life experiences, but it seems to me that we fans may be the most afraid of that. Or at least, enough to drive us to keep watching, hoping it pans out, hoping they'll be okay, so we can see that we'll be okay too, if he can do it. If they can.
And I really like the feeling of little hopes scattered along the show like caught-out-of-the-corner-of-your-eye falling stars that say maybe, just maybe with a little work or luck or love, and probably a bit of it all, will get us by, because if it doesn't, then we either face our lives head on and take complete responsibility for ourselves with ourselves; or otherwise flounder, peeter out, or combust as detrimentally as Sarah Lynn did.
And we don't want that for ourselves, to be Sarah Lynn.
Sorry for the dissertation, but the complexity of the show does not lie solely in the animation, or the actors, or the individual "meatiness" of any given episode. It's the combined work of all that's in it that gives us this feeling, and maybe can teach us how to be better or at least hold the hope of it. If you don't feel it, then you may not need it, which I guess you could consider a positive thing. But I like the hope, and the darkness, and the satire that helps me laugh at it all with acceptance and humility. I wouldn't wish it any other way.
And it may also be a way to really find our compassion and connection to those around us who are more like these characters than not, that trouble us and frustrate us to the point of never thinking they may be in search of help and as fearful of changing themselves as we may be. Everyone looking around for the damn guide book or recipe or something to show us the way out from being lost.
And yet, some probably like it just because the animals look funny, and PC has the best longest sentances. Who knows?
So you may not like it based on it's merit as a show, or based on expectation levels for various factors, but it's blossomed into a show many love and I think above are just a few reasons why. (Not to mention individual character arcs...I need sleep more than I need to spew analysis on that or much more of anything for now. ??)