BoJack Horseman Christmas Special: Sabrina's Christmas Wish

In BoJack Horseman Christmas Special: Sabrina's Christmas Wish, the creators of the acclaimed Netflix series, BoJack Horseman, unravel a brilliant, clear-sighted festive-themed episode that successfully infuses humor, heartfelt commentary, and holiday vibes.

The Christmas special revolves around the lead character BoJack Horseman, voiced by the brilliant Will Arnett, who is a perfectly imperfect anthropomorphic horse. Formerly a 90's sitcom star, in the present day BoJack is a washed-up, stumbling, and often discontented Hollywood species, grappling with life's absurdities while trying to make sense of his tepid existence.

The episode brings in a contextual twist, focusing its lens not on the familiar BoJack storyline, but on a fictional 90's sitcom within the show, titled "Horsin' Around." BoJack and his hanger-on housemate Todd, voiced by the iconic Aaron Paul, decide to indulge in nostalgia and watch a Christmas episode of "Horsin' Around," wherein Sabrina, one of the horse's adopted human children, aired her Christmas wish. The sitcom within a sitcom trope serves as a meta-narrative, a unique strategy to deliver an insightful narrative about the hollowness of picture-perfect, holiday-themed sitcoms.

Determined to add a magical glimpse of Christmas in her life, Sabrina, voiced by Alison Brie, wishes that every day would be Christmas. The sitcom's characters, including BoJack/Dad, try to teach her the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of its fleeting nature, which makes it special. The story funnels the '90s TV clichés into a broader, multi-layered perspective, filled with laughter and keenly observed chuckles.

Will Arnett's voiceover work in this special is impressive, adding depth to his complex character. His distinctive voice personifies BoJack's melancholy, sarcasm, and moments of vulnerability, offering the audience a complex figure who is more relatable through his flaws. On the other hand, the enthusiastic, naive, and eccentric Todd, voiced by Aaron Paul, serves as a perfect complement to BoJack's cynical realism, amplifying the comedic elements of the narrative. Todd's endearing haplessness and constant enthusiasm inject the narrative with playful energy that balances the melancholy of BoJack's existential crisis.

Alison Brie's performance as the innocent, hope-filled Sabrina is genuinely heartening. As she navigates her story, she effortlessly paints a picture of an innocent child trying to grasp the adult concept of the preciousness of rarity. The dialogues, the humor, and the plot twists are deftly executed and strike a chord, reflecting the ethos of the beloved holiday season.

While the episode serves as a Christmas special, it doesn't shy away from maintaining the show's deeply introspective nature. Besides all the frolicking, laughter, and funny one-liners, the episode manages to encapsulate the bleakness, melancholy, and search for meaning that are intrinsic to the show’s overall narrative, allowing viewers not just an opportunity to laugh but to think deeply.

The creators skilfully employed animation, adding vivid, colorful visuals that contrast with the darker undertones of the narrative. The anthropomorphic characters, humorous setting, and the playful animation style all work together to draw the audience into the world of BoJack Horseman.

The BoJack Horseman Christmas Special: Sabrina's Christmas Wish is not just a hilarious trip into the past of a 90's sitcom, it also offers a deep, insightful, and unique narrative about the mundane reality behind picture-perfect holiday narratives and an introspective exploration of its characters' lives. Bursting with characteristic wit, humor, and subtly tucked-in social commentary, this Christmas special is an imperative watch for fans of BoJack Horseman.