“ | You can live your happy Zelda life in this happy Zelda town, and pretend you're a happy Zelda. But I know you, and this isn't you. People don't change, Diane, not really.
Mr. Peanutbutter's a Zelda. He's happy and he's carefree and he's loving. But you and me, we're Zoës. We're Zoës, Diane. We're cynical and we're sad and we're mean. There's a darkness inside you, and you can bury it deep in burritos as big as your head. But someday soon this darkness is gonna come out, and when it does, I want you to call me. |
” |
—Wayne to Diane Nguyen |
Zoës and Zeldas is the fourth episode of Season 1 of the Netflix original series, BoJack Horseman. Zoës and Zeldas, along with the rest of Season 1 premiered August 22, 2014.
Synopsis[]
BoJack decides to mentor Todd; Diane's ex-boyfriend writes a Buzzfeed article about Mr. Peanutbutter.
Plot[]
A younger BoJack is shown in the year 1985, trying to make it as a stand-up comedian. He is heckled by Herb Kazzaz, who also kindly gives BoJack advice afterward, believing BoJack has a lot of potential. Herb says, "It's the responsibility of big shots like me to always be looking out for the little guy."
In the present, BoJack, after pouring a glass of alcohol, trips over Todd's stuff and proceeds to berate him for "not cleaning up his shit." This adds to the irony that BoJack's younger self told Herb he didn't drink. Todd protests that he doesn't have anywhere to put his stuff and BoJack says it's not his problem and that a wise man once said, "It’s the job of little guys like you to look out for big shots like me." BoJack gets frustrated when Todd questions who said that and repeats that Todd should "clean up his shit," after which he trips over Todd's things again.
BoJack and his group attend A Roast of Gloria Steinem, where they ask each other if they're a "Zoë or Zelda." This refers to a pair of twin sister characters with opposite personalities on Mr. Peanutbutter's 80s sitcom. After Todd says that he's a "Zelda," BoJack remarks that Todd is neither and disdainfully reminds Todd of his freeloading. Todd sadly agrees that he is a failure with no prospects and mentions how he may never finish his rock opera. BoJack scoffs at the idea of him writing a rock opera, but immediately regrets drawing attention to it.
Back at BoJack's house, Todd performs his rock opera to the group. BoJack heavily criticizes Todd's work and a dejected Todd gives up. At the following memoir interview session, Diane inquiries about Todd and claims BoJack is harsh with Todd because he's afraid of living alone and Todd's success would lead to him moving out. BoJack denies the claim and sets out to help Todd with his rock opera, mainly to prove Diane wrong.
BoJack gradually helps Todd clean up and refine his rock opera, at the same time spending more time with Todd and improving their friendship. The two go out to lunch where Todd reveals some of his wacky adventures and also how he became a screw-up due to an unhealthy obsession with video games. Todd also tells BoJack how he has now gotten Princess Carolyn to invite a celebrated name in rock opera, Virgil Van Cleef, to attend his next rehearsal. Upon hearing Todd's rock opera, Virgil is delighted and invites Todd to debut his rock opera next month at a theater Virgil owns.
BoJack is dismayed about Todd's sudden success, but still tries to show his support. After hearing news that potential financiers were coming to see a rehearsal, BoJack takes Todd to get snacks at a convenience store before he sits down to work on the third act showstopper. It is at the store that Todd discovers Decapathon VII, the newest game in the video game series that destroyed his life. A woman standing behind Todd asks him to get a tape for her out of the ten cents bin and Todd notices the Decapathon VII game underneath. BoJack staunchly warns Todd not to relapse, but Todd buys and secretly plays the video game in an all-night binge. Todd ends up groggy the following morning, giving a shabby performance and disappointing Virgil and the financiers. BoJack stands up for Todd and then takes him home where he consoles Todd and finally gives him that closet space so he can put away his stuff.
Diane's ex-boyfriend Wayne had followed Mr. Peanutbutter around since the night of the Gloria Steinem roast, claiming he is writing a BuzzFeed article about Mr. Peanutbutter. Instead, he had simply been trying to reunite with Diane, claiming they were good for each other. Using the "Zoë or Zelda" comparison for personalities, Wayne claims Diane has the same personality he does and is incompatible with Mr. Peanutbutter, no matter how much she denies it.
At the same time, it is shown that BoJack had not changed for the better by supporting Todd, as he bought Decapathon VII from Beast Buy and placed it in the convenience store bargain bin. He had also paid off the store clerk and Character Actress Margo Martindale to manipulate Todd into getting the game so he could jeopardize his chances of ever having a successful career. After Todd goes to sleep, the receipt for BoJack's purchase of Decapathon VII is seen underneath the couch.
Cast[]
Actor | Character | |
---|---|---|
Will Arnett | ... | BoJack Horseman |
Amy Sedaris | ... | Princess Carolyn |
Alison Brie | ... | Diane Nguyen |
Paul F. Tompkins | ... | Mr. Peanutbutter |
Aaron Paul | ... | Todd Chavez |
Wyatt Cenac | ... | Wayne |
Kelen Coleman | ... | Zoë / Zelda |
Adam Conover | ... | Convenience Store Cashier |
Margo Martindale | ... | Herself |
Dave Segal | ... | Paparazzi Robin |
Stanley Tucci | ... | Herb Kazzaz |
Mike Hollingsworth | ... | Additional voices |
Caroline Williams | ... | Additional voices |
Trivia[]
- Wayne's gibberish notes discovered by Diane say the following: xxzzzicchxopyzz fojseiixxxospjgoooifxztioeiojfooejjpipoisonxxffefxqefqwberryyyKdfjpifffheeAustraliazxxolwhoareyou,;;Burg dianeiloveyouleavethatdumbdogalreadyyysgooseberrytartfffdisastrism4evrr779//ioioidjrrivefwewiidvjjvdfkssksiidviiffttziftyIamtypingtypingtypinggg'sretrelyyiyoonoo"llhisfh63endso39'don'treally.tivandwhllneetoislentllhisalotmoreexwl'tLFG>/yuuwtsupposerrdsaiffliuoutheti
- The concept of "Zoës and Zeldas" was previously mentioned on the characters' blog, discussing Tia and Tamera from Sister, Sister, http://boringoldraphael.tumblr.com/post/1606551060/heres-a-good-first-date-question-are-you-a-tia .
- Decapathon is based on Tetris.
- Gloria Steinem appears in a non-speaking cameo:
- Princess Carolyn probably provided the seats for The Roast of Gloria Steinem, which were mentioned in a previous episode.
Goofs[]
- In the beginning of the episode, before the intro scene, BoJack tips over Todd's bag and smashes a bottle of whiskey right next to the bag but when he stands back up the bottle has disappeared.
Intro Differences[]
This is the first episode, where the intro changes, to reflect the show's changing status-quo. Both changes reflect the damage, done to the furniture in BoJack's house, in the previous episode:
- BoJack's bed is held up by a stack of books after Todd cannonballed on it and broke one of the posts.
- The ottoman in BoJack's living room is scorched after having been set on fire by Sarah Lynn.