10 Most Shocking Bojack Horseman Moments
5. A Fish Out Of Water
Here it is the form rather than the content that is shocking. Post credits, the entire episode is without dialogue. Set at an underwater film festival, Bojack is unable to speak or hear as he normally would on land. This sets us up for an episode which uses a completely different type of storytelling.
At first, it’s a real shock to the senses. It’s highly disorientating and uncomfortable as you settle into a story told without dialogue.
Out of his depth, Bojack struggles through the unfamiliar seascape and what opens up is a vibrant story of gorgeous visuals, where music comes to the fore to express a kinetic adventure and an emotional punch free from speech.
In moments we get a rich visual tapestry reminiscent of early silent movies such as George Méliès, 1902, Le Voyage Dans la Lun. This is juxtaposed with moments of the more mundane, nicotine starved reality, which even under the sea, Bojack can’t escape.
Bojack has often experimented with form, always to great effect, and a fish out of water is one of the most successful uses of alternative on-screen storytelling.