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**Mild Spoilers Ahead**

Bojack Horseman has never shied away from the darkness. Even in the more screwball satire centric first season, the darkness of addiction and mental illness was hovering just around the periphery. Though the dark seemed to be on a short hiatus last season, with BoJack finally turning over a new leaf, it returns with a vengeance in the second part of season 6.

Though the final arc of Netflix’s best animated show may be too dark by half for some, for those who have fallen in love with the adventures of this grim, goofy world over the years, it offers a satisfying if hard-won, conclusion.

As viewers will recall, the final episode of season 6, part 1 seemed to be teasing a comeuppance that would upset BoJack’s healthy, serene new life. Indeed, the reckoning that is threatened does arrive in season 6, part 2, and boy does it bring a storm of pain and misery with it.

Like waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop, BoJack Horseman‘s final arc gives its titular character just long enough to enjoy the last vestiges of his new, happy life before dropping the hammer on him and smashing his life to bits. Of course it wouldn’t be that easy for BoJack to escape from his demons, and just because he’s turned over a new leaf, that doesn’t erase all of the pain and anguish caused by years of selfish, irresponsible behavior.

Hell, one episode even sees the central cast trying to help BoJack catalog a full list of all of his indiscretions over the years on a blackboard. That blackboard eventually multiplies as the list continues to spill over, filled mostly with events we’ve actually seen in the run of the show. This sobering list of painful and often silly mistakes shows what a damaged person BoJack truly is, and illustrates that for all the wackiness of the show, the central character of BoJack Horseman has caused some very real pain for the people he has crossed paths with over the years.

Sadly, this is the double-edged sword of recovery from addiction. While the addict achieves something resembling personal contentment and a newfound value for life, the destructive path they have carved over the years threatens to undo all of their hard work by tempting them back into the darkness through guilt, sorrow and (often deserved) restitution.

Ultimately, this seems to be the lesson of BoJack Horseman‘s final round of storytelling: that there are no quick fixes or easy solutions for the heaviest and hardest of life’s problems. However, with good friends and some support, even the longest and toughest stretches of darkness can be survived… or at least faced up to.

Though the characteristically silly humor remains intact, it does take something of a hit in this final run of episodes. Amid all of the despair and heartache, there aren’t as many laughs to be had in season 6, part 2. Those that do come still offer some sardonic and cynical cheer, if you can call it cheer, but if there’s any valid criticism to be had for a show firing this hard on all cylinders, it would be that those cylinders can be pretty hard to take without the usual levity.

Most fans who have been with BoJack Horseman this long, though, will see this as sort of par for the course. BoJack Horseman has been this show since season 2, it’s just been leaning a little further into the abyss as the seasons have passed. Luckily though, there are slivers of light that shine through this final batch of episodes.

While the titular character is truly put through the wringer here, the rest of the cast is allowed to find surprisingly happy resolutions for their stories, even if there is some pain to be had along the way. Diane, in particular, struggles as she adjusts to being medicated for depression while trying to finally write her book. Though it doesn’t exactly turn out how she expects, she’s able to grow this season perhaps better than anyone by the end.

Todd too settles things once and for all with his personal demons, though he does so in an unsurprisingly Todd way. Leave it to the show’s silliest character to try and solve his problems with fake kidnapping schemes, Frito pies and character actress Margo Martindale.

Speaking of silly characters, Mr. Peanutbutter’s plan to fix things with Pickles by allowing her to cheat on him with charming idiot Joey Pogo does, of course, blow up in his face. This leads Mr. Peanutbutter as close as he’s ever been to the Sad Dog of his depression campaign from last season, but ultimately, he too is able to grow, recognize his co-dependance and start a road toward self-care and personal growth. A touching phone call between Mr. Peanutbutter and Diane, in which they pore over their relationship, is one of the season’s best moments for both characters.

Finally, Princess Caroline struggles the least this season, but perhaps this is well earned. Few characters have had the stress, heartache and disappointment in their lives that Princess Caroline has. Her relationship with long time loyal subordinate and confidante Judah is paid off wonderfully here, if a bit too quickly, leading her to perhaps the happiest ending of all.

Yes BoJack Horseman has always been a show about mental health, addiction and the darkness inside us all. However, it’s also always had rays of hope peaking through these abject, sinister shadows. This is, in the end, the legacy that the show leaves us with in its final episodes: a journey through darkness with just enough light to guide the way.

Though the final arc of Netflix’s best animated show may be too dark by half for some, for those who have fallen in love with the adventures of this grim, goofy world over the years, it offers a satisfying if hard-won, conclusion.