10 TV Shows That REALLY Shouldn't Have Worked

Whilst online streaming services have enabled TV’s weirder and wackier creators to express themselves, in 2014 there can’t have been many tougher pitches than Bojack Horseman. A depressed anthropomorphic horse who was the star of a hit sitcom, now living with an oddball squatter called Todd in a version of Hollywood where humans and animals co-exist. Wrap your head around that one.

Despite its interesting premise, early on it appeared unclear what BoJack really was, which this was reflected in reviews of the opening series. The gags were there but they lacked the deeper insight, moral ambiguity and juxtaposition of light and dark that would define the show in later series.

Fortunately, the second half of the first season picked up and was rewarded by further seasons. What followed was an era defining comedy that contributed massively to the sadcom format. Bojack was never afraid to confront the darkness of show business and life in general, tackling issues such as anxiety, mental health and drug addiction whilst making animal based puns and having a whale of time doing so.

The insane premise and troublesome start for BoJack Horseman could have led to Netflix’s first animated show being put down with a broken leg. But instead BoJack now resides in the stable of great TV shows, with a legacy of being one of the smartest comedies of all time.

Thankfully the show’s creators stopped all the Horsin’ Around and turned BoJack into what it is today.