Ep 2. The Old Sugarman Place

BoJack Horseman season 4 episode 2, "The Old Sugarman Place," begins with BoJack's search for inspiration. Despite his best efforts to avoid responsibility and escape his past, he finds himself drawn back to his childhood home in Michigan.

As he wanders through the dilapidated Sugarman family mansion, memories flood back to him. He remembers his cruel grandfather, Joseph Sugarman, and his unhappy grandmother, "Honey." BoJack also recalls his mother, Beatrice, and their fraught relationship.

The episode deftly weaves together flashbacks of BoJack's childhood with his present-day struggles. We see his mother's descent into mental illness and his grandfather's controlling behavior. We also see a young BoJack wrestling with his own pain and confusion, trying to make sense of the world around him.

As BoJack explores the old mansion, he discovers that it is now inhabited by a family of raccoons. They have made a life for themselves in the decaying mansion, scavenging for food and hanging makeshift curtains to block out the sunlight.

BoJack's interactions with the raccoons are both humorous and poignant. He shares a brief moment of connection with them, but ultimately realizes that he cannot stay in the past forever. He must confront his present and find a way to move forward, even if it means leaving the old Sugarman place behind.

The episode's stunning visuals and haunting musical score add to its emotional impact. The scenes in the abandoned mansion are particularly striking, as the camera lingers on the dusty furnishings and broken windows.

Overall, "The Old Sugarman Place" is a masterful episode of television. It explores complex themes of trauma, family, and memory with wit and sensitivity. It also advances BoJack's character development in meaningful ways, as he confronts his past and takes tentative steps towards the future.