The penultimate episode of every season has become known as the climactic epic of the series and ‘Downer Ending’ begins this tradition. We hit a point where BoJack has put himself in an impossible situation out of pure spite and refusal to admit the truth of his character. The first part of the episode sees numerous attempts at BoJack procrastinating writing this book, until he decides the best way to do this is by getting Sarah Lynn and Todd to help and get extremely high, thus resulting in an absolute joy of an episode for an animator, nothing is held back as the visuals indulge in the crazy possibilities of BoJack Horseman’s craziest trip. Yet we see BoJacks truest fears and ambitions recreated throughout the bender which offers extreme emotional impact. The three of them struggle with the concept of an autobiography with no ending which results in a visually hilarious fight scene. Until, in the space of 6 minutes we see all sense of realism broken and BoJack’s fears and hopes are exposed. From all the moments of embarrassment and regret in his life, a glimpse of Herb and his fear of Mr Peanutbutter’s fame. And then he’s transported back to “Horsin’ Around”, we finally see the embodiment of blame for who Sarah Lynn has become and his hope for the simple sitcom-like reality and subtle glimpses of Charlotte. This is such a beautiful moment of really digging into his psychosis, as an audience we are constantly reminded about how BoJack lusts for the life presented in “Horsin’ Around”, and to be confronted by it and the changes present since those days offers a moment of clarity. We see a small flashback with one of my favourite characters: Beatrice Horseman, as she forces BoJack to perform rather ironically due to her hatred for him being a ‘clown’, this is followed by a brilliant small ‘Peanuts’ reference. Then the episode goes in a very interesting and heart-warming direction. BoJack is transported to Maine, he imagines an idyllic life in which he lives with charlotte at a lake house. It’s a very emotional scene as we witness BoJack have a daughter: Harper, and we see her grow up and get a boyfriend as BoJack and Charlotte watches on in old age. And then with a single line, the illusion is shattered, Charlotte says “How happy things would have been if you had chosen this life,” and it cuts to black. Immediately we sympathise with BoJack, everyone has that life they wish they could live, if certain situations had gone through as planned, it’s devastatingly cruel to the audience and BoJack. He awakens in the middle of nowhere and with little care to the news of his book failing we see him go to the person whom he seeks the most comfort from, Diane. This scene feels like a direct antithesis to the rest of the episode, it’s smaller, quieter, more subtle. Arnett pulls off his best performance in the series yet, his emotional pleas to Diane, begging her to tell him he is a good person and he’s not doomed to be this person forever are truly heart-breaking. With a final deathly silence the camera zooms out as we hear the soft giggling of Harper in the background, as if the answer to his question is in that life, as if he can change, he can have Harper and live that life. Until he’s brought into the reality as a member of the audience obnoxiously interrupts with “Are you the horse from “Horsin’ Around””, dragging him back to the idea that that show keeps him here. Truly a phenomenal episode.