BoJack Horseman has been adored by critics and viewers alike for years. It’s won numerous awards and included in many “Best Show” lists, and it has an impressive number of heavy hitters attached, voicing lead characters and guest stars. Viewers celebrate its relatable characters, the marriage of comedy and tragedy in its storytelling, and how the creators address heavy and sometimes dark issues like addiction, depression, grief, trauma, sexuality, and race. If you’re a fan and ready to binge on another show, here are some shows you should check out.
pop culture
The 12 Best Shows like 'Bojack Horseman' to Watch Right Now
1. Big Mouth
The coming-of-age animated TV series Big Mouth covers the confusing, relatable, and sometimes pretty gross time in our life that most would love to forget: puberty. The show focuses on a group of middle schoolers living in an NYC suburb as they learn about their bodies and growing up. Created by Nick Kroll, Mark Levin, Andrew Goldberg, and Jennifer Flackett, the series was derived from Kroll and Goldberg’s upbringing.
No subject is off-limits, from masturbation to impotence to menopause to periods, and what makes the show extra fun are appearances from their hormone monsters, oversexualized emotions personified into larger-than-life monster forms. There’s also some A+ talent attached: listen to see if you can spot Maya Rudolph, Jordan Peele, Jason Mantzoukas, and Fred Armisen, among others!
2. 'Tuca and Bertie'
Characters voiced by comedians? Check. Anthropomorphized animals as leads? Check. Praise for storytelling centered around adult themes? Check. (They also have the same production designer if you’re into that kind of thing!) Tuca & Bertie focuses on the friendship of two female birds, voiced by Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong, as they navigate life and love. It has a 99% Rotten Tomatoes rating and has just been picked up for Season three, so you know you’ll have something to look forward to.
3. South Park
You can’t have a conversation about adult animation without mentioning South Park. With 23 seasons under their belt, creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker have perfected the craft of storytelling, exploring their worldview through the eyes of four elementary school boys who live in a small town in Colorado. Although often criticized for the show’s subject matter and profanity-laden episodes, South Park continues to be a commercial and critical success, with tons of awards, including five Emmys.
4. Rick & Morty
Where does one start with Rick & Morty? Created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, this series focuses on an angry, alcoholic scientist named Rick Sanchez and his anxious nephew, Morty. They go on a lot of space adventures together, usually to other planets and dimensions where they typically have to fight to survive and make it back home. I mean, that’s about as vague and as detailed as you can get for a show like this. Sometimes even I don’t quite know what’s going on.
5. Archer
Say you’re looking for a workplace sitcom-meets-spy movie-meets animation but also has many, many seasons you can keep watching for a while? Enter Archer. This series focuses on a covert spy agency, their deadliest and best spy, Sterling Archer, and his co-workers. This show is another Emmy winner (four of ‘em!) and the 12th season started last month.
6. Daria
Although Daria ended in 2002, the effect that it has on popular culture remains, with a few spinoffs (like Jodie) in the works. The show is based around Daria Morgendorffer, a cynical high school student who is excited about nothing and tolerates everything. The show satires suburban America, high school life, and perfect families, and there’s something about Daria’s droll, monotone delivery that will have you coming back for more.
7. Adventure Time
Finn, the Human, loves going on adventures with his best friend and adopted brother, Jake the Dog, a magic dog who can shapeshift. As best friends do, they love to go on adventures in the Land of Ooo, a post-apocalyptic wasteland ravaged by the Mushroom Wars. With shows running about 11 minutes long, Adventure Time feels fast-paced and fun, but there are ten great seasons to binge on. Consistently ranked in Best Animated TV Show lists, this series is one of the earlier purveyors of animated fantasy for adults and kids alike.
8. Fleabag
If what draws you to BoJack are self-destructive characters that explore nuanced feelings but can also make you laugh, Fleabag might be your jam. Created and written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, this series explored dealing with grief in a fresh and…well, angry way. With a total of 12 episodes, this series is a quick binge and has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
9. 30 Rock
Any show that focuses on the entertainment industry will never lack material, with 30 Rock being no exception. With my personal hero, Tina Fey, playing a head writer of a sketch variety show while trying to manage the writers and the actors, all while fighting with upper management (the very conservative character played by Alec Baldwin), 30 Rock is eccentric, entertaining, and full of rapid-fire wit, even being noted as a show with one of the highest jokes-per-minute ratio.
10. Bob’s Burgers
Bob Belcher and his wife Linda are just trying to make an honest living. They live above the hamburger shop they own, along with their three very eccentric children. Bob’s only goal is to make sure his business survives, which is a challenge due to his long-standing rivalry with Jimmy Pesto, who owns the Italian restaurant across the street, Hugo, the health inspector who used to date his wife, and their very intrusive landlord. This series does a great job of bringing you wacky antics mixed with heartwarming moments, and as a bonus, there’s plenty of musical numbers.
11. Baskets
If you’re interested in shows about failed careers in show business, this show revolves around Chip Baskets, a man who dreams of becoming a professional clown. After not getting his clowning degree at a prestigious school in Paris, he is forced to take a rodeo clown position in California. Zach Galifianakis plays the lead, Chip, as well as his twin brother, Dale.
12. Californication
Another show about men who love to indulge in self-destructive behavior, this series follows Hank Moody, played by David Duchovny, a novelist who moves to California and falls even deeper into drinking and drug abuse after suffering from writer’s block. This show lets us follow Hank’s journey as he tries to show his family that he can grow up and be a responsible man, partner, and father and not succumb to the temptations of Hollywood.