This Is the Only Netflix Show That Absolutely Nailed Its Series Finale

The Stranger Things series finale may have been met with a collective shrug by audiences, but it’s actually one of the better received endings to a Netflix show. Even though the streaming service is responsible for some of the most popular, successful shows of the past decade, it’s had a notoriously difficult time sending them off with a proper conclusion; shows like The Crown, House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, and The Umbrella Academy ended in ways that were considered mediocre at best. However, BoJack Horseman was the rare Netflix series that wrapped up on a high note, with the final episode, “Nice While It Lasted,” considered one of the best of the entire series.

Although the first season of BoJack Horseman wasn’t that dissimilar from other adult animated shows, the series evolved into a mature, contemplative exploration of faith, addiction, celebrity, guilt, and recovery. The plot also became so depressing that it seemed like the final episode would see BoJack (Will Arnett) facing some sort of unfortunate ending, with many speculating that he would die in a manner similar to the show’s opening credits. While “Nice While It Lasted” was by no means a cheery conclusion to a very difficult show, creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg showed true bravery in leaving the series’ overall message somewhat ambiguous.

What Happens in ‘BoJack Horseman’s Series Finale?

The greatest challenge that “Nice While It Lasted” had was surpassing the praise of its immediate predecessor, as BoJack Horseman’s penultimate installment, “The View from Halfway Down,” was considered to be a masterpiece. The episode shows BoJack at his lowest, where he spirals out of control during a surrealist nightmare in which all his past demons come back to haunt him. It would’ve been very easy to conclude the show there, as BoJack had already eluded death many times. However, the final moments of “The View from Halfway Down” hint that he is still alive, setting up a somewhat unorthodox ending for the show. One of the key themes in BoJack Horseman is that moving on is often more challenging than accepting defeat; for BoJack, no lessons would have been learned if he died, as his journey would only be complete if he was forced to live with the consequences of his actions.

One of the fascinating debates hovering over BoJack Horseman is whether the titular character is meant to be sympathetic or an anti-hero. While the show certainly examined the traumatic incidents in BoJack’s childhood that gave him issues that would affect the rest of his life and career, he was often the victim of his own selfish, mean-spirited behavior. “Nice While It Lasted” doesn’t let BoJack off the hook for his behavior, even though his status as a celebrity has meant that he’s exempt from the full extent of legal ramifications. While a 14-month prison sentence seems like a rather inconsequential punishment for all the misdeeds BoJack committed, the most heartbreaking twist is that he is unable to reunite with his sister, Hollyhock (Aparna Nancherla), who decided to cut him out of her life. While it’s unfortunate that BoJack isn’t able to show her the progress he’s made, Hollyhock has spent too much of her life waiting for her older brother to mature. That she is not even featured in the finale is a sobering reminder of what it’s like to lose contact with a loved one, which is particularly gutting for BoJack, who has never recovered from the lack of love he received from his parents.

‘BoJack Horseman’ Ended on Its Own Terms

Although there have been countless Netflix shows that were either abruptly cancelled or ended too soon, BoJack Horseman came full circle in its sixth season, allowing each of the characters to grow. Princess Carolyn (Amy Sedaris) getting to have a wedding is the type of optimistic revelation that is rewarding when considering how selflessly she acted on behalf of BoJack and the show’s other characters; similarly, the fact that Todd (Aaron Paul) is back to his old shenanigans is a bittersweet joke about how little BoJack’s crisis actually affected his life. While there is some familiarity with how some of the characters end up, BoJack Horseman made it clear that it is not a return to the status quo. Even if BoJack does end up choosing to re-enter the entertainment industry, as he hints to Diane, he will have to start from scratch and work to redeem his wounded reputation. The lack of direction in BoJack’s life doesn’t mean that he’s doomed to misery, but that Waksberg found the appropriate point in which his story should be left open for interpretation.

The events in “Nice While It Lasted” might not be particularly shocking for those who had watched the series since the beginning, but BoJack Horseman concludes with one of the best scenes in the entire series. Considering that the dynamic between BoJack and Diane (Alison Brie) was what kicked off the series, seeing the two reunited for one last moment together was the perfect way to send it off. Although Diane and BoJack are both severely depressed characters who ultimately cause more harm to one another than good, the last moment they share together is a powerful moment of collective healing; nonetheless, it doesn’t imply that Diane has completely forgiven BoJack, as he is the one who convinces her to stay and talk with him one last time. Ultimately, ending with BoJack and Diane looking up in the sky silently emphasizes why this was the appropriate way to conclude the series; there is nothing left to be said by these characters. A more tragic, uplifting, or eventful finale wouldn’t have been consistent with the tone of BoJack Horseman, and to end it on such a thought-provoking note was the right decision.