Part 1 of ‘Bojack Horseman’ season 6 is a sign of sad things to come

It is the beginning of the end for one of Netflix’s most acclaimed series, with the first part of season 6 of “Bojack Horseman.” Having been in rehab following his intense drug and alcohol abuse from the previous season, Bojack must now try to reenter society as a reformed and cleansed individual. But for Bojack, as well as the many other characters that populate the show, running away from their demons may not be so simple.

The first part of “Bojack Horseman”‘s final season decides to take a step back, reflecting over where the characters are and what ultimately makes them, well, themselves. The tone, while less intense than season 5, has a strangely haunting feel to it. With the many troubles and dilemmas our characters have come across throughout the show’s run, this season makes it abundantly clear that their problems are not always caused by the world around them, but rather by their own faults, and no amount of seemingly life-changing situations will change that fact.

The way this season goes about pacing itself in telling this story feels, for the most part, very appropriate. With the series not yet being over entirely, this first part moves the chess pieces into place for what is likely to be an explosive finale come the final part. This contemplative method of storytelling allows for plenty of time to breath and digest what is being said, while still being done creatively enough to prove engaging. In particular, the second episode, entitled “The New Client,” takes an extended look at Princess Carolyn’s lifestyle with the addition of her newly adopted baby and does so in an audaciously creative manner that utilizes both inventive visuals and sound to fully immerse the audience into her mindset.

At the same time, the story does have its moments where it needs to find something to do while awaiting any major developments, leading to some clunkier plot points that feel a bit shuffled up in all the drama. The final episode of this part, “A Quick One, While He’s Away,” makes a daring decision to focus only on minor and new characters who have not been revisited since the last season. While it is nice to see how they have held up since the previous events, as well as end things off with some intriguing story points that may intensify the plot leading into the finale, their stories felt largely crammed in, resulting in the major story to feel halted.

There’s not much more to say regarding the first part to the final season of “Bojack Horseman,” but it is clear that there is more in store for down the line. Despite some minor gripes, this was another great season for this gripping series, with plenty to chew on and wonder about as the show comes to its, more than likely, soul-shredding end.