The speaker, identified as Jared, begins the discussion by introducing the topic of the show "Bojack Horseman," a popular series on Netflix. The show is celebrated for its colorful animation and talking animals, but Jared points out that its light-hearted veneer hides a deeply depressing reality.
Bojack Horseman is portrayed as a narcissistic character who is constantly trying to keep himself occupied to avoid confronting the ugly reality behind Hollywood's glamour. Jared discusses Bojack's character and how he represents a metaphor for existence, mirroring the facade of Hollywood that hides its ugly reality.
The speaker also introduces the concept of existential nihilism, which is foundational to Bojack Horseman. He suggests that if life is truly meaningless, how are we supposed to deal with it? This leads into a discussion about Bojack's struggle to find meaning and purpose in his life. Despite his success and fame, Bojack is portrayed as a character who is constantly distracted and unable to find happiness.
The speaker also discusses the character of Todd, Bojack's best friend, who is content as long as he has something to do. In contrast, Ray, another character, becomes depressed when he doesn't have a job or task to keep him occupied. The speaker suggests that the key to happiness isn't the search for meaning, but rather keeping oneself busy with unimportant tasks.
The discussion also delves into the concept of radical freedom, a term introduced by 20th-century French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre. Bojack's life is seen as an embodiment of this concept, as he has the freedom to make his own choices but is also responsible for the consequences of those choices.
The speaker concludes by suggesting that Bojack might be ready to start becoming happy and embrace the absurd, following the advice of the character Cuddly Whiskers. However, he also hints at the possibility that even family might not be able to fill the void in Bojack's life. The discussion ends with a call to action for viewers to subscribe to the channel and explore other videos.
Here are some key facts extracted from the text:
1. The text is about the philosophy of Bojack Horseman, a Netflix show about a depressed talking horse.
2. The text explores different philosophical concepts such as existential nihilism, radical freedom, and absurdism, and how they relate to the characters and themes of the show.
3. The text references several philosophers such as Blaise Pascal, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Albert Camus, and their ideas on how to cope with the meaninglessness of existence.
4. The text also uses metaphors such as water, running, and family to illustrate the choices and challenges that Bojack faces in his quest for happiness.
5. The text is sponsored by Best Fiends, a game app that supports the charity Oceana, and it also promotes Looper, another YouTube channel that covers movies, TV shows, and video games.