BoJack Horseman (TV Series) The Old Sugarman Place (2017) User Reviews

Ghosts abound as history repeats itself in another great episode of Bojack.

[TouchTheGarlicProduction · 10/10 · 9 September 2017]

I would say that about 90% of this show's episodes are just silly little self-contained satires, which are fun enough but ultimately forgettable. However, the show always takes a couple of episodes of each season and uses them to take more of a deep dive into the psyche of our central character, and every time they've done this it's turned out fantastically. Mind you, this episode didn't have the big, shocking, "I can't believe they went there" moment of the season (I expect that will come in the penultimate like it always has), but it does have a lot of emotional resonance and intelligent commentary on the characters as well as the society surrounding them.

The most striking element of this episode is the way it uses flashbacks, and weaves them in with the present-day narrative. We see Bojack move into his grandparents' summer home and begin to bond with the nearby neighbour, and at the same time we also see a story about his grandparents set in that same location many years prior. By playing these two seemingly unrelated stories out simultaneously, it highlights overlapping themes and comments on the way history repeats itself (particularly in families, particularly in small towns). Both plots also had surprisingly emotional endings.

In summation, this is one of those episodes of Bojack that goes for a little more depth and succeeds marvellously.

I will always think of you

[facundofr · 10/10 · 6 February 2020]

One of the best episodes of the show! I don't know why is so underrated but it deserves more love! Is so sad and so necessary. Greetings from Argentina.

My favorite episode of the series next to Escape From LA.

[TibbyM · 10/10 · 10 September 2017]

I've never written a review here before, but I couldn't help it this time.

This episode was amazing, definitely the best of the season. In "The Old Sugarman Place", we see what BoJack has been doing since season 3 ended, and he doesn't disappoint.

The B story in this episode is not based around the characters we're used to, but instead is based around Bojack's grandmother, managing to create an amazing connection with the viewer in less than half an hour.

I won't say more. This is an episode you need to experience by yourself.

This is art

[jdbasilio · 10/10 · 25 October 2020]

In my opinión this is the second best episode of the series (behind The View From Halfway Down). The episode is perfectly constructed. Here we see the origin of the Sugarman family's emotional free fall: the war, which still reverberates in Bojack today. You have to have a lot of mental strength to be able to cut this chain of bad actions, something that neither Beatrice nor Bojack had until now. The scene where Beatrice's mother plays the piano key after her lobotomy gives you goose bumps. Absolutely incredible.

A New Type of Story

[colinw-84344 · 10/10 · 10 March 2019]

The first time I watched "The Old Sugerman Place" I wasn't floored by it. In fact I found myself mostly bored. To this day I can't explain why this was. All I know is that it's a perfect example as to why rewatches can be important.

4x02 is one of the best episodes of the series from my prospective and it took me three viewings to finally see that. I think my delayed reaction may have something to do with the fact that this was a different type of story for the show. We've seen Bojack out of L.A before but this time it's without any previously established characters. Of course the B story for this episode is also something new. We get flashbacks about Bojacks family's past and establish an important relationship with his mother (a young girl at the time) in the process.

For me the aspect of this episode that I like the most is how these flashbacks reflect on what's going on to Bojack in the present. It's expertly crafted and could've very easily felt too on the nose. They're well written and make the viewer care about a character none of us could've cared less about originally.

Simply put, it's a work of art. An episode I'll rewatch for many times to come.

One of the best television episodes in history

[bardy9 · 10/10 · 22 April 2020]

Having watched all the greats: breaking bad, game of thrones, the wire, Chernobyl, rick and morty etc, no show beats the impeccable writing and art of BoJack Horseman. This episode, among countless other masterpieces of the show, is one its finest, and its method of story-telling will flaw the viewer as the episode's main gimmick is beautifully introduced, develops and heartbreakingly climaxes. The storyline is also extremely sad as fantastic characters who are introduced are pushed to their breaking points.

It is a perfect episode, as so many shows seem to save their most magnificent writing for the final moments of an episode, however this one masterfully churns out beautiful moment after beautiful moment, creating an entirely captivating experience.

Watch it!ttttt

"I will always think of you..."

[ovexteam · 10/10 · 15 July 2022]

A heart wrenching take on grief and loss told in a very unique way. This story follows two timelines. One in 2017, with BoJack, and one in 1945, with Bojacks mum and grandparents. The 2017 storyline looks at BoJacks grief over the events of "that's too much man" and how he's trying to cope. The 1945 storyline takes a look at Beatrice, BoJack's mum, losing her brother to the war and how it affects her family. Beatrice's mother, Honey Sugarman, is completely torn up by her grief and can hardly function whilst her father, Joseph Sugarman, is continually growing annoyed with this, which ends in one of the saddest scenes of the episode where Honey is eventually lobotomised. "Why I have half a mind..." The scene where the two timelines collide and have Honey and Eddie, a friend Bojack made who is also dealing with his own loss, sing the song "I will always think of you" is one of the best scenes in the whole show, and this episode deserves a perfect 10 just for that scene alone.

Overall, yet another masterpiece in this show.

One Word: Grief

[iamanoob0 · 10/10 · 8 March 2021]

And this episode sums that up. While there are many amazing episodes of BoJack Horseman, this one has to land in my top five. The crossing storylines, the emotion, and the shock at the end makes this episode truly a masterpiece. Especially that scene with the piano, maybe one of my favorite scenes of all time.

9

[Edvis-1997 · 9/10 · 22 July 2019]

It was really nice to see ghost/back story of everything. The main idea was very nice that's impossible to fix everything what is broken something you have to remove it from your life.

One of the saddest episodes

[aidricalamea · 10/10 · 22 March 2022]

Almost made me cry. The idea to show the present and the past at the same time was very well done. The music was beautiful, perfectly done. The jokes about the 1940s were fun too. Most of all it was BoJack's true depression and refusal to contact diane that truly made this episode great. The best scene was the last one, the conclusion that the episode, and the characters work, was meaningless solidified the depression. Truly in my top 3, along with Escape from LA and Thats too much, man.

Personally, the best Bojack episode OAT

[sennecoltura · 10/10 · 18 October 2023]

Honestly, this episode is criminally underrated. I know its current rating is 9.3 but it should be at least 9.8 and maybe even a straight 10, because for me it has everything. The flashbacks intertwined with the dramatic current story, it's so haunting. And to top it off: "I will always think of you!" After seeing this episode, I cried my eyes out, and I would give everything in my possession to see it for the first time again. The fact that some people don't even consider this episode for their top 10 is an outrage. So if you read this review, do me a pleasure and watch this episode right know. PS: Also just watch the entire series because it's one of (maybe the) best series I've ever seen!!!

Heartbreaking, top television...

[pmpepe · 9/10 · 3 February 2021]

... from the first view. I had to go back to the scenes where BJH's grandmother sang the song (the 2nd time around) and when his mother "met" her mother by the piano.

Emotionally haunting!

[and_mikkelsen · 10/10 · 16 February 2024]

This episode just reached a different level of how far this show is willing to get! This was an unforgetable experience of how grief consumes you to the point of desperation!

This gave us an insight into the tragic and damageing past of BoJack's mom, Beatrice! I never thought I would see something like this in this show! I wont spoil it, but it was shocking and awfully sad! Too see someone... do something like that to a person they love!

This gave a new perspective on Beatrice, as we now know why she seemed so cold, unable to show any emotions.. cause her mom was never able too! My god..

Overall this was very well made, proving why anyone should start watching this show!

Times Arrow!

Stunning.

[FONYMAHONEY · 10/10 · 23 May 2022]

It's a shame I have to make up the word count because 'stunning' covers it perfectly. Not just a staggeringly profound piece of animated entertainment, but an unfathomably powerful statement on the nature and effects of grief and trauma.

Stunning.

My Review

[savagejason-33728 · 10/10 · 24 December 2021]

I'll talk about the backstory of honey sugarman beatrice Joseph and crackerjack not bojack and the flys part

It was so heartwarming to see crackerjack and honey play the piano directly together then crackerjack leaves for world war 2 and dies so honey goes into a serious deep mouring and goes insane that he dies so beatrice and honey leave the lake house and go to a barn with the music they were playing on the piano so she starts singing and it's beautiful but then they go to the car honey is going crazy so she says to maybe 7 year old beatrice drive go faster i want to feel something and they crash horribly and they get back and Joseph is in a rage at honey for letting her drive and getting them injured badly and honey says I don't know whats wrong with me and beatrice steps in to say it wasn't that bad then it cuts to bojacks part but after it goes to joesph and beatrice sitting on the front porch and beatrice asks if her mom is going to be alright and he says yes she is fine she just let her womanly emotions take her over and then he says the operation made her all better and beatrice says what operation sadly and runs into the house to see her mother lifeless and no personality from getting a lobotomy and beatrice runs to her and says what did they do to you in a crying voice honey says they made me all better and she says with a monotone voice love does terrible things to people please promise me you will never love anyone as much as i did crackerjack and this was one of most depressing moments of the show to see this backstory and it was the only thing to make me cry throughout the series.

A perfect episode

[jakejaketheman · 10/10 · 16 February 2024]

Every time i watch this episode all i can do is bawl my eyes out because of how brutally emotional it is. It's very very underrated and it should be in every persons top three episodes and in my opinion the ending scene the last scene is so raw and perfect that when my card declines in therapy my therapist just shows me the scene. It's the greatest scene not only in adult animation not only in television as a whole but it is the best scene in anything i have ever seen. This episode delivers such a perfect palette of emotions thats only enhanced by the VA's performances. This episode is art, pure art and there is nothing in any medium that can top it. With that said free churro is in fact better.

easily a fav episode

[shwhwhtbbfxjis · 10/10 · 11 July 2022]

Bojack is trying to escape himself, throughout this episode we see into the past of bojacks mother and about her brother crackerjack and her mother and what happened to her after crackerjacks death, this episode shows some of the reasons beatrice turned out the way she did. Also we follow bojack as he becomes friends with a fly.

Outstanding

[amartinez-24934 · 10/10 · 4 July 2021]

Bojack Horseman has never been shy about covering psychological issues, but up until now this episode has hit the hardest. The parallels between Bojack and his grandmother displayed side-by-side are simply amazing, it provides a depth to how far the Sugarman's generational trauma truly goes. Honey's breakdown while Bojack was being chased in the background by the crabs reflects a premise the show: a comedy deep rooted with heavy hitting moments.

... polio and blackface

[snoozejonc · 9/10 · 31 March 2024]

BoJack visits an old family home and reflects on his mother's upbringing.

This is a great episode of character reflection with strong backstory.

The Old Sugarman Place is a mostly bleak episode with strong moments of dark humour. Two stories are cleverly written to run parallel with connecting themes. It is impressive to see the writers include key aspects of family history that shaped their central character's personality. It makes me interested to find it out more of the writers ideas about the impact of nurture in future episodes.

Visually it is very impressive, with good symbolism and when the characters from different eras share the screen together it is quite seamless.

Feeling the emotions.

[FeatherMcgraw · 10/10 · 7 March 2024]

I felt compelled to write a review on this episode because it was directed to utter perfection. There are only a few episodes in TV that I can truly say are masterpieces. Ones that I will always remember. This is definitely one of them. No intense action, no unnecessary drama. Just pure greatness in story telling. Character development at its finest. Theres just something about this show that is so unique. I've never seen anything like it in any form of media. Truly and origional masterpiece. It makes you feel so many emotions that no other show can bring out convincingly. Its so relatable that it really makes you think about your own life. Fantastic episode.