Summary: Hollyhock stops in LA to visit BoJack. She gets nervous in his house and ends up dumping all of his pain meds. BoJack can't go without them and tries numerous methods to get more pills, accidentally continuing his relationship with Gina in the process. Hollyhock realizes BoJack isn't in much pain and is likely abusing drugs. BoJack drops her off at the airport, and then intentionally crashes his car to get more drugs. Princess Carolyn meets with Ralph to get rights for a movie Mr. Peanutbutter wants to make. She is called by her adoption agent to get a baby and Ralph comes with her. Ralph wants them to get together again but Princess Carolyn doesn't want to. She doesn't end up getting the baby. Emily returns to Todd and Todd builds a sex robot to fulfill her needs so they can be together, but it doesn't work out in the end.
The Good: I really like the idea behind this episode. "Ancient History" is not only a line that BoJack says, but it ties into the fact that BoJack, Princess Carolyn, and Todd all end up meeting with characters who used to be prominent parts of their lives. This gives the episode a slightly nostalgic feel, and highlighted the theme of moving forward, especially in the Princess Carolyn/Todd stories. Diving into the individual storylines, it is BoJack's that is the most effective. Having Hollyhock back is a treat, and her presence immediately leads to several fun capers, like their trip to Gina's house, and the drug deal gone wrong. It's a blast to see these two together, and you can tell that it's good for BoJack to have her in his life again. But it's not necessarily a good thing for Hollyhock, and while she cares for BoJack, it's clear that she is unsettled by his apparent drug abuse. This reveal came as a surprise, but it has been quietly built up in previous episodes. BoJack appears to be falling off the wagon, and I thought that the show highlighted this admirably well, with the intentional car crash at the end being the final step for BoJack. This episode has a few lovely details, like the reveal that BoJack has a bottle of alcohol for each day of the week (in the season premier he has one bottle for the week), and the increasing evidence that BoJack's drug use is not for his pain. BoJack's angry rant when Hollyhock suggests that he doesn't need the drugs is exactly what you would hear from a junkie, and it's sad to hear him claim that he's been in pain his whole life as if that justifies him abusing drugs and making his life worse. It's sad that he's quietly relapsed in the background, and this episode excels in how it makes you realize the reality of BoJack's situation. The Todd and Princess Carolyn stories are quite good too. Princess Carolyn ends up face to face with Ralph again, and the story they have is quite sad. We are quickly reminded of how well they work with each other and how much they still do care for each other, but things just didn't work out. The episode does a good job of exploring how two people who loved each other ended up falling apart permanently. Todd's story is a bit sillier, especially with that obscene and ridiculous sex robot, but it contains the sad reality of Emily and Todd trying to find a solution to be with each other since they don't feel like they connect with anyone else. But because their needs are different, it was never going to work. A few little things and jokes throughout the episode amused me, as ever. I laughed at Flip telling everyone "I'm proud of what I've done here". The character's ridiculous ego is amusing to watch. BoJack wearing his Philbert costume everywhere has been pointed out a few times (see: The Unknown), and I appreciate how the show handles it. The drug deal scene is especially funny with Meow Meow Fuzzyface making a fantastic cameo return as the most blatant undercover cop imaginable. Princess Carolyn having a "La-Z-Baby" car seat is pretty funny. Dr. Hu's return is also quite fun, and it's amusing that he doesn't believe the completely true story BoJack tells him about how he lost his pills. I also quite liked how Dr. Hu threw Sarah Lynn back in BoJack's face, highlighting that BoJack's personal plan for improvement hasn't worked perfectly and that he would do well to seek outside help. But of course, BoJack can't admit that he needs help and he won't see that he's relapsing again in spite of his personal plan. The Bad: Nothing bad about this one. The Unknown: Why is BoJack in his costume all the time? This is the second episode in a row where he has been wearing it, and even the show's intro has BoJack in his costume now. Is BoJack relapsing? He is drinking more alcohol and is clearly dealing with substance abuse issues. Will he be able to get back on track, or is he on a downward spiral again? Is this the end for Princess Carolyn's relationship with Ralph? I can't see her getting back with him. Best Moment: BoJack's goodbye to Hollyhock is very well done. Hollyhock is feeling a bit upset by how things went, but she still cares for BoJack, and is happy when she hears him admit that he might have been abusing his pain medications, and she gives him some advice. This seems like a good moment for BoJack, but based on what happens right after, it's clear that the pain of Hollyhock going back is enough to prevent him from taking her advice to heart. It's also sad to see Hollyhock express her love to him, but he's still so tragically unfamiliar with wholesome interactions that he doesn't know how to respond, even though it's clear that he wants to express back. Great stuff here. Character of the Episode: Hollyhock. It was great to have her back for an episode. Conclusion: A solid episode with three good storylines and a nice overarching theme of characters interacting with other characters from their past. Another good effort from this fifth season. Score: 68
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Aaron DhillonJust a university student who loves to watch TV. And analyze it way too much. Archives
March 2024
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