1x2 — Bojack Horseman

His opponent is a young, gormless Marine named Neal McBeal the Navy Seal (yes, a literal seal). Neal is furious because BoJack stole his breakfast muffins from the commissary. That’s the entire conflict: a horse stole a seal’s muffins.

9/10 Key takeaway: Don't steal a Navy Seal’s muffins. And never, ever try to explain nuance on daytime television. BoJack Horseman 1x2

This is the core thesis of the episode—and perhaps the entire series. The modern media landscape doesn't allow for "and." It only allows for "or." You are either with the troops or against them. You are either a hero or a villain. BoJack, the depressed nihilist, tries to exist in the gray area, and he is crucified for it. What makes this episode brilliant is that BoJack is unambiguously correct. The show goes out of its way to make Neal a petty, entitled jerk. Yet, the audience in the studio boos BoJack. His agent, Princess Carolyn, advises him to apologize. Even Diane, the intellectual love interest who agrees with him privately, tells him publicly that he is wrong. His opponent is a young, gormless Marine named

In the annals of television history, the first few episodes of a series are often a lie. They are a handshake, a polite introduction designed not to scare the audience away. The pilot of BoJack Horseman (Season 1, Episode 1) is a perfect example: it’s funny, weird, and features a talking horse drinking himself into a stupor, but it still feels like a standard Adult Swim-style comedy about a washed-up celebrity. 9/10 Key takeaway: Don't steal a Navy Seal’s muffins