For those who are fans of Raphael-Bob Waksberg’s 2014 dark comedy sitcom, you’re probably wondering, “Umm.. Cosette? This entire SHOW is about harsh realities.” And yes, it is. But I’m here to specifically discuss one episode.
In S05E04 (“BoJack. The Feminist”), we are introduced to a side character named Vance Waggoner who is—ahem—a Mel Gibson type. He is an exact model for problematic male behavior from various celebrities in Hollywood, sexist, anti-Semitic, bigoted, any such behavior. Throughout the years he is constantly given easy passes for his behavior even going as far as earning a “Forgivie” Award. During these awards in which BoJack, Princess Carolyn, and Diane attend, BoJack is given a palette of cubed cheese, visibly grimaces by his repulsion of said cheese, and a picture for the news is taken and taken out of context as news anchors headline “BoJack Refuses to Forgive at Forgivies.”
From there on, BoJack goes on a talk show similar to The View in an attempt to clear the air but miscommunication between him and the talk show hosts, he instantly gets on board with the idea that he’s the male-feminist rival against Vance.
An important thing to understand is that BoJack was only strung along in this usual scenario of misunderstandings because a picture that was taken of him making a disgusted look at some cheese was taken out of context, meaning that BoJack initially never had any initial end game against Vance. This is what I mean when this episode describes very well the harsh reality of feminism in our culture: that women constantly have to bend over backwards and go out of their way to explain why others should be encouraged to be feminists and to “prove” that they themselves are the “real” feminists yet if a man simply says “don’t choke women,” everybody applauds. This situation may definitely apply to any other scenario, where a marginalized group has to seemingly go out of their way to hopefully be able to make a point land but the majority is applauded for basically doing the bare minimum of activism if that’s what you can still call it. It’s a disgusting double standard that, unfortunately, does happen and proves more and more why on any important issue it’s important to have allies of the majority in order to have our backs, as much as we want our own voices to be heard as well.
This isn’t even the only episode where more harsh realities and biting satire really sting. In S04E05 (“Thoughts and Prayers”), an episode about gun violence in America today, near the end of the episode Diane is at a congressional hearing persuading that women should be able to feel safe on their own or “you can just ban all guns.” As you’d expect, guns are made illegal shortly after. Just like how Diane puts it, “I can’t believe this country hates women more than it loves guns.” Oof.