| “ | 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
The episode begins showing a younger BoJack 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 much potential. Herb says, "it's the responsibility of big shots like him 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 berates him for "not cleaning up his shit." This adds to the irony that BoJack's young self told Herb he didn't drink.
Todd protests he doesn't have anywhere to put it, while BoJack says it's not his problem, and a wise man once said, "It’s the job of little guys like you to look out for big shots like me." He gets frustrated when Todd questions who said it, and repeats Todd should "clean his shit up," and then trips over it 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. When asked of Todd, BoJack remarks that Todd is neither, and disdainfully reminds Todd of his freeloading. Todd sadly agrees 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 inquires about Todd and claims BoJack is harsh with Todd because BoJack is afraid of living alone—if he loses Todd through Todd's own success. BoJack denies the claim, he sets out to help Todd with his rock opera, to prove Diane wrong.
BoJack gradually helps Todd clean up and refine his rock opera, at the same time while improving their friendship. The two go out to lunch, where Todd reveals how he became a screw-up due to an unhealthy obsession with video games. He 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 shows support. He takes Todd to get snacks at a convenience store, after hearing news that potential financiers were coming to see a rehearsal tomorrow. It is at the store that Todd discovers Decapathon VII, the newest game in the video game series. It is the same series that ruined him in the past, in the ten cents bin. A woman standing behind him asks him to get a tape for her out of said bin.
BoJack staunchly tells 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, disappointing Virgil and the financiers. BoJack consoles Todd and takes him home.
Diane's ex-boyfriend Wayne had followed Mr. Peanutbutter around since the roast, claiming he is writing a BuzzFeed article featuring 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 as 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 store clerk and Character Actress Margo Martindale, to manipulate getting the game into Todd's hands, the entire time—in order to jeopardize his chances of ever having a successful career. After Todd goes to bed, 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 |
| Mike Hollingsworth | ... | Additional voices |
| Margo Martindale | ... | Herself |
| Dave Segal | ... | Paparazzi Robin |
| Stanley Tucci | ... | Herb Kazzaz |
| 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.
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.
Gallery
