Already binged BoJack Horseman season 5, out now on Netflix?

Spoilers ahead in our review… On the whole, it almost works.

Walter Whites victories were thrilling, satisfying and unquestionably badass.

Don Draper is rarely presented as anything less than a genius symbol of elusive, damaged masculinity.

Their flaws are part of what makes them so alluring.

BoJack Horsemanappears to be asking itself the same question.

This, the show says, is what being a Philbert key in really means.

Its not glorious, cool or exciting.

Its horrible and toxic.

Its a strong and relevant point, well made.

Except putting BoJack in that place actively damages the show.

But, I can hear people already typing,thats the whole point!

Well if thats the point, the show made it two seasons ago.

And yet the series keeps suggesting that lasting change is not only possible, but happening.

BoJack had a rubbish childhood.

BoJack has complicated feelings towards his parents.

BoJacks mother wasnt all bad.We know.

But there are key differences.Mad Mennever really tried to convince us that Don was changing.

And unlikeMad Men, the show seems genuinely optimistic about BoJacks attempts to change, until its not.

Its a great point.

Maybe BoJacks advances were only ever intended as false victories.

But if thats the case then Ive seen enough.

I dont need another season making the same points.

I dont need BoJack to appear to improve only to hit rock bottom again.

To be back at square oneyet again?

Thats too much, man.

The morning after finishing the season I made a first pass at this review, full of furious criticism.

ThePhilbertsubplot exhibited the kind of pointed satire this show excels at.

But for the first time, the shows shortcomings threaten to outweigh the rest.

I still think the series could have ended last year and gone down as an all-time classic.

It could probably do the same at this point.

But if itisgoing to continue then it needs to genuinely move its protagonist forward.

An upward trajectory can be just as compelling as the opposite, and certainly less frustrating.

BoJack Horseman season 5 is available now to stream on Netflix.