Rhetorical Analysis //The View from Halfway Down

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Looking Back Up from Halfway Down

“The View from Halfway Down” is the 15th episode of the 6th and final season of BoJack

Horseman, a popular American adult cartoon. “Bojack Horseman” follows the life of famed 90’s

sitcom star Bojack Horseman, and his strife in Hollywood, his repeated intentional and

unintentional villainous acts, and an overall character redemption arc. The episode takes the

audience through the subconscious of Bojack after his accidental attempted final hurrah. The

writer’s convey the message of our impending morality and the assortment of complex emotions

associated with death through layered imagery, intricate symbolism, and unique metaphors.

Intricate symbolism is nothing new to the Bojack Horseman universe. It is seen in many

episodes and the symbolism attached to the ailments in BJ’s life. The writers use symbolism in

order to convey subtle messages and lessons without blatantly having to say it. However in this

episode, symbolism was used in an entirely new way, foreign to frequent watchers. All of the

characters featured in the episode are important people in Bojack’s life that have passed on. The

first example of symbolism is the opening scene, where Bojack and a very young Sarah Lynn are

knocking at a door, this is assumed to be death's door, and the choice the writers made to have

Sarah Lynn be the one to take him is because Bojack was the only one with her in her final

moments on Earth. This is important because Bojack always saw Sarah Lynn as one of his own

and someone he needed to protect, and eventually ends up failing her, a very common theme for

him. This theme of failure is meant to tug at the heartstrings of the audience and force them to

empathize for those Bojack has failed, like many have failed another. Within just minutes the

audience is meant to feel this wave of emotion and a sort of paternal love. The next important
form of symbolism that is seen is the use of Bojack’s father, Butterscotch, being portrayed as

Secretariat, someone BJ idolized as a child. His father was emotionally absent, and Bojack often

saw Secretariat as more of a father than Butterscotch, so it would make sense that as he is

fighting for his life his subconscious associates his father with his childhood hero. His dad acts

as a wakeup call for both Bojack and the audience, mentioning that he doesn't understand and

that he isn't going to be waking up. The use of his father being the one to tell him is strictly

logos. Butterscotch Horseman may not have been a good father or husband, but he had a good

head on his shoulders and always told Bojack the truth even if it was disappointing or obscene

for a child. But the use of cinematic and literary devices doesn't stop with just symbolism; we

also see beautiful layered imagery.

The use of layered imagery certainly pulls the episode together to give it the flare that it

deserves. In this episode all of the characters are portrayed as the best version of themselves;

Sarah Lynn gradually ages because all versions of her were inherently good, Herb is healthy,

Beatrice is a young debutante, and so on. This is an interesting take that the writers chose

because for once doesn't show all of these people through Bojack's perspective, everyone is

shown exactly as they were. Showing this different view forces the audience to not side with

Bojack, but to look at a character who may have been villainous to him such as his mother, as a

young innocent girl, to take off the lens and see them as just another person with their own

unresolved traumas and issues. Another one of the best examples of layered imagery is the black

drip that is constantly hitting Bojack, at first it’s a pesterance and then it’s his fate. The drip is

meant to be the grips of death, a sort of dark black mysterious void that Bojack cannot escape,

and neither can anyone else. At first Bojack is annoyed because he's the only one being hit, but

then as the episode progresses each character either jumps into the drip voluntarily or is pulled
into it. The characters such as Herb, Cracker Jack and Beatrice, who willingly choose to go into

the black drip have found their peace in their life and accept their demise and are ready to finally

be at rest, whereas those who haven't felt satisfied with their life or their death like Bojack and

his father fight aimlessly to stay out. The anxiety that is shown in characters along with the use

of flashing lights appeals to pathos, the watcher can begin to feel the emotion and the stress that

the character is feeling. This again reminds the audience of how complex the human emotions

associated with death are, people are constantly doing everything they can to lengthen their lives

and say that they had a good life, and to be fulfilled, but the writers ask the question of when our

time is up are we truly satisfied and how do we become at peace with dying? This episode does

a wonderful job to fairly represent those who are at peace with death and those who just need

more time.

Last but certainly not least the different metaphors are used to create a beautiful ending

for a show loved by many. As the episode begins to come to a close Bojack realizes that he is out

of time and he is alone. “The drip finally stops..” says Herb Kazaz, Bojacks friend and former

producer, this quote is meant to hint to the watchers that this is most likely the end for Bojack,

that there is no going back, further pushing the notion that you cannot escape death no matter

how hard you try, and that if there is one thing certain in life it is that no one makes it out alive.

The most notable metaphor that dwarfs all of the others used, is Bojack's literal call for help. As

he is being consumed by the black drip Bojack notices a phone, which just so happens to be

placed in the kitchen of his tv show Horsin’ Around. The writers use this as a metaphor for what

was one of the best and most innocent periods of his career and life; this kitchen is where he

stole America's heart and made lifelong friends and changed his life for the better or worse, truly

pivotal moment. Then he picks up the phone and calls Diane. Diane is his friend, confidant and
truly the only person Bojack can find comfort in. The writers use her as his last call for help,

knowing that if these truly are his final moments he would want to spend them in the presence of

the only person he found solace in. This can be relatable for the audience, oftentimes people are

surrounded by those they love when they are dying, in order to find comfort in an uncertain

future. Diane is the whole reason Bojack is dying, although she didn't do anything to physically

influence his decision to take pills and jump in his old pool, but she emotionally influences him,

by not picking up the phone. Diane had a huge impact on Bojacks life because she had the best

ethical standing. She called him out and even left when she felt he did wrong by her, but

ultimately no matter how much it had hurt, Bojack appreciated her for it. Because at the end of

the day she was who wrote his book, who he fell in love with, and ultimately another person

Bojack failed, and again the theme of failure continues. The final scene ends with the void

consuming Bojack and he speaks to the diane in his mind and we hear the dial tone of his phone

which also represents a flatline.

In conclusion, the use of different literary devices portrayed cinematically speak a

harrowing message of one's own mortality and the confusion, denial, and overall flood of

emotions associated with death. “The View from Halfway Down” represents this message

through different metaphors, intricate symbolism, and layered imagery, every scene has a

specific meaning and each character plays an important role to tie the entire semi-finale together.