Bojack Horseman: POC
I recently posted a few picrews depicting how I see the characters so this is kind of a sister post to that one. Whilst making those I started thinking about some of the animal characters and what they would look like as humans and the idea of race came into play quite a lot (for context I am a half black 18 year old girl). I started thinking about this question and I wanted others opinions on it so here goes:
Are there any bojack characters that you guys see as POC? And if so for any particular reason or is it just a gut feeling?
I’ll go first. Mine are split into two categories: ones that I can explain, and ones that I just look at and go ‘yeah that seems right’.
Brief disclaimer: I do not mean harm to any of the mentioned groups and I do not mean to portray any harmful stereotypes. I am trying my best to not use harmful language but if I have said anything that could be considered offensive please let me know! Also I’m British and it’s like socially acceptable to call people black but I’m not sure if that applies to the rest of the world.
Starting off with those I can explain:
Princess Carolyn is Jewish: I’m not sure if Jewish people come under POCs but I’m including her in this post because she was the one that got me thinking about this to begin with. I believe this for two particular reasons. A. Because her voice/accent is quite similar to Lenny Turtletaub (a character designed to be jewish). B. Because the discrimination inflicted on her by Ralph’s family is an all too common experience for POCS/religious people dating white people. To me this just makes sense and I’ve seen many people say the same. Also the references to the old country in the ‘ruthie’ episode could also support this theory.
Charlotte is Black and Penny is mixed: And yes I know: we saw pennys brother and he does not look mixed at all, but I’m ignoring that. This one I can explain slightly less good but I still wholeheartedly believe it. The way Charlotte dresses not only in the flashbacks but also the present is very reminiscent of a ‘token Black character’ in a 90s sitcom. Angela from boy meets world came to mind. And also the way she swears at bojack, I can’t explain it but something in that just screams Black lady finally having enough of putting up with the bullshit of privileged white men. One last thing, may be a bit of a reach, but I feel like that would influence Charlotte’s unwillingness to talk to paige and max about what really happened with bojack because of the lack of fairness that has been historically shown towards women of colour in terms of sexuality and also sexual maturity: they are seen as sexually mature from a younger age which is just fucked in itself.
Henrietta is (I think this is the right term) Latina: This might seem insensitive because of the maid stereotypes but I assure you I don’t mean it that way. Even though we can’t see her face we can tell she has sort of olive-like skin and I think she’d either be a second generation Latina immigrant or just half Latina.
Guy is Black: I’ve seen so many people agree with me so I’m barely gonna back this one up. His voice. That’s it. Thank you next.
Baby ruthie is mixed: When we saw her dad in the Amelia airheart episode he struck me as Black. Her mum is obviously white so I think Ruthie is mixed.
Onto the ones where I can’t explain them.
- PB’s accountant is Indian
- Pickles is also Indian (she just makes me think of mindy kaling idk why)
Anyone is welcome to disagree with me or offer their own opinions of different characters I’m so curious.
(P.S. crackerjack is fucking ginger and I’m not taking any arguments /hj)