Hey, everyone. This is a series where I will be sharing my thoughts as I go through a show everyone in my circle recommended for the first time. It won't be exactly a first impression as whatever episodes I talk about will be watched at least three times before sharing these thoughts

Episode 1 - The Light Bulb Scene

The show opens with a clear "It's the same, but also no" as in, yes, it is the same BoJack Horseman but also not as he is less in control of his surroundings and more considerate. The addition of the show "Philbert" and the dynamic there should be interesting.

Todd's purpose in this season seems to be finding a purpose. Princess Carolyn is a producer on the show while still attempting to adopt a child. So, yes, it is the same that they still have a relationship with BoJack it is also no because it's just not the same as before. The same thing can be said about Diane and Mr. Peanutbutter as they still have positive feelings toward each other, but it is not the same because they got divorced.

The focus on the show within the show and the changes in the intro do send that message loud and clear. Like Flip McVicker said, "It's going to be an interesting season".

My Rating: 7/10

It's a good season-opening, it set up the season nicely. But going into the show itself makes me wonder what Princess Carolyn saw in it that she convinced everyone to produce the movie and made the sacrifice of having BoJack. That was her entire reasoning for making the show in the first place and it seems pointless.

This season reminds me of House M.D season 4 where things start also similar but different. All the elements are still there but feel a little bit off. Not that it is a bad thing as that seems intentional.

Episode 2 - The Dog Days Are Over

Diane goes to Vietnam after her divorce from Mr. Peanutbutter is finalized. She is set to write an article about the benefits of traveling to Vietnam so the story is told with a guide article-like style which adds a nice flavor to the episode.

This Diane-focused episode gives a clear dive into Diane and what her place in this world might be, or what she feels her place in the world might be. What starts as a self-discovery journey for Diane to find her roots ends up just being an admission that she is just lost.

My Rating: 8.5/10

This is the best Diane-focused episode I have ever seen on this show. This one tells you clearly how she doesn't belong anywhere she goes. We knew she stuck out in her family growing up, we knew she didn't really get along with Mr. Peanutbutter, so finding out that step also failed delivers that frustration feeling perfect.

Bonus point for what the show did with the outro song. The little details this show puts definitely add a rewatchability element to it.

Episode 3 - Planned Obsolescence

The A story and B story are mismatched but completely balance each other out.

The B story shows Todd, an asexual, spending the night with his asexual girlfriend Yolanda. The whole dynamic puts a whole spin on the old style of parents preventing their offspring and significant other from having sex as this one is about Yolanda's absurdly sexual family. It is a funny and fun story to follow. The comedy in it balances the lack of it in the A story.

The A story follows BoJack and his costar/partner Gina Cazador as BoJack encourages Gina to pursue her musical dream by compelling her to sing in front of Princess Carolyn and Flip McVicker. The result of his attempts comes crashing down as they don't end the way he was hoping.

My Rating: 7/10

While it was fascinating watching BoJack attempt to do something nice for someone and watching the blowout, this episode still lacked an enormous sense of direction. It felt like a typical sit-com episode which is something this show always claimed that it is not doing.

Episode 4 - BoJack the Feminist

Now it's time for BoJack's woke episode of the season.

Philbert's showrunner Flip and producer Princess Carolyn start the search for a partner for BoJack's character Philbert. In their search, they end up finding Vance Waggoner, a disgraced celebrity who keeps getting second chances after performing stage apologies.

BoJack objects to the hiring of Vance Waggoner, although not for the right reasons. He also ends up unintentionally showing disapproval to Vance Waggoner getting a "Forgivie", an award given to people forgiven.

These little events end up making BoJack the face of feminism in a funny episode.

Part of the story is Diane's journey as a principled feminist and how she deals with everything. Also, BoJack says something that I believe to be a commentary about the show itself and how people justify BoJack's behavior by saying that you shouldn't be glamourizing the character.

My Rating: 8/10

I guess the fifth time is the charm with these social commentary episodes. This was actually done in an excellent fashion as we do seem to hear male feminists louder than we do female ones. Seeing BoJack and Vance Waggoner fight over who is a feminist for all the wrong reasons makes this episode a well-done irony episode.

In Conclusion

Individually, these episodes aren't the best opening episodes I have seen. But, collectively, they do make the best opening 4 episodes so far. The show shows the people around BoJack deal in an almost professional manner creating an interesting dynamic that I believe to be worth exploring.

I said before how this show reminds me of House M.D's fourth season because BoJack, much like House in House M.D season 4, seems to struggle to find his place in the new world he is in.

Overall, this was a great and fun watch.