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Bollazza

@Bollazza

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Tell us about a great overlooked detail in a movie or TV show!

in Film & TV

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One of the most brilliant yet often overlooked details in BoJack Horseman, my favoure tv show ever, is the subtle but consistent use of background elements to reflect emotions and situation in the show. Here's a couple fo examples:

- The "Hollywoo" Sign. The changing state of the sign is a great metaphor for the fleeting nature of fame and identity. Initially, it loses the "D" due to a drunken whim involving BoJack. This alteration is treated humorously but remains a constant visual reminder of the fragility and absurdity of the entertainment industry. Later in the series, the sign's deterioration parallels BoJack's own moral and professional downfall.

-Use of Visual Gags and Details. Animators frequently use clever visual gags that double as a commentary for the viewer, like in season 4's depiction of dementia, when BoJack's mother, Beatrice, suffers from the illness, the backgrounds in her flashback sequences become blurry and incomplete, illustrating how her memories are fading. Or in season 5, the bar's name "The Elefante," where an important plot point occurs, is a clever nod to the saying “the elephant in the room,” tying into themes of ignored problems and unresolved trauma.

-Hidden Repercussions in the Background. Another remarkable instance is the recurring depiction of characters affected by BoJack’s actions, often in the background or minor dialgoue. For example Penny's Friend's Condition: after the "Escape from LA" episode, where BoJack nearly ruins a teenage Penny's life, the show occasionaly shows the long-term impact on her and her friend, showing how the ripples of BoJack's actions spread far beyond what’s explicitly addressed in the story. This attention to detail reinforces the show’s central themes of accountability, the inescapable nature of personal flaws, and the complexities of human relationships. The brilliance lies in how these details enrich the narrative for viewers paying close attention, rewarding re-watches with deeper layers of meaning.

This is what narration at the state of art is like. This is what every show should aim for.