(risky trope) A show changes genres mid way

[u/ErlikHan6]

The 100: the show starts as a somewhat grounded post apocalypse where humans who have taken refuge in a space station return to earth after it has become inhabitable again and resources on the space station run out. At first the show is about survival in a hostile environment. It slowly introduces more and more sci fi elements. At first, it's an Aİ that wants control over humanity. Towards the end of the show, the main characters have traveled throughout the galaxy, met humans from other planets, some of which have settled among ruins of ancient alien species, where they try to contact more advanced alien species in order to achieve "transcendence": rid humans of their physical bodies and become a more advanced lifeform.

AOT: this one is less gradual than the 100 and the change comes after a massive plot twist. The first 3 seasons of the show are about a relatively primitive society of humans who live inside humongous walls. Outside the walls are titans: giant monstrous creatures which hunt and devour humans. After a big plot twist and reveal, the society finds out that there is a whole bigger world out there, and the rest of the world is plotting to genocide them. They quickly industrialize after this discovery and wage war against other countries.

[u/Jephph0624]

One of my favourite quotes ever

[u/Hurricanewriter → u/Jephph0624]

"The wacky, whimsical character has finally had enough" is also a top-tier trope

[u/ptype → u/Jephph0624]

Aaron Paul absolutely fucking NAILS the delivery on these lines, too. God the voice acting on this show was incredible.

[u/IdealOnion → u/ptype]

It really was. Idk if you’ve seen the show Shrinking, but it’s got the actress who voices Bojack’s mom in it. Every time I hear her I think “You ruined me, Bojack”.

[u/handbanana42 → u/IdealOnion]

Or, you know, that little known show called Just Shoot Me and about 200 other shows.

[u/PickledDildosSourSex → u/handbanana42]

Seinfeld!

[u/mb862 → u/IdealOnion]

She’s great in Owl House too.

[u/SarcasticCowbell → u/ptype]

Aaron Paul's vocal delivery is incredible. I was going to say he's an incredible voice actor, but that portion of his acting has always been a significant component of why he's such a solid performer, and didn't want anyone to think I was insinuating he's just a good voice actor.

[u/ptype → u/SarcasticCowbell]

I love that you say this, because originally my comment was also going to say that Aaron Paul specifically was an incredible voice actor. But I felt like that was underselling him as a fantastic actor in general, but then felt like I'd be getting into an Aaron Paul fanclub tangent 😂 so I changed it to complimenting the voice acting in the show overall. Which also works because the whole cast just knocks it out of the park every episode.

But yeah, hard agree lol

[u/Silverfire12 → u/Jephph0624]

I’ve never actually seen the show because i can’t do shows at are solely depressing but I do know the “I don’t forgive you” clip and i adore it. Forgiveness is pushed so much that hearing someone remind you that you don’t have to forgive someone who hurts you is amazing

[u/HoratiotheGargoyle → u/Silverfire12]

I feel the same way you do about overly depressing shows, but consider watching it, because it is NOT solely depressing. What makes Bojack Horseman work is that each episode’s comedic writing is so strong, so funny, and so silly, that it essentially balances out the darker aspects of the show and each side enhances the other. It also has some of the most compelling character development I’ve ever seen in a show.

[u/Triffinator → u/HoratiotheGargoyle]

Yeah, there's definitely a lot of depressing content in it, but there are capers like having dentists and clowns teach each other their profession, stealing the D from the Hollywood sign to impress your crush, and stockpiling spaghetti strainers as a financial investment.

There's also some really creative episodes, such as one that is the main character delivering a 25 minute monologue or the inverse where the main character only speaks in the first and last 5 minutes of the episode. That latter one is best described as an experiment in storytelling with sound but not dialogue and it pulls it off.

[u/lurco_purgo → u/HoratiotheGargoyle]

I was depressed when I've binge-watched it the first time and it kind of helped me and I felt better after finishing it.

Interestingly however, I've rewatched it some time ago when I was in a better place mentally, and this time I found the ending pretty depressing.

[u/Octopus_on_fire_ → u/HoratiotheGargoyle]

The Free Churro episode is the saddest thing I’ve ever watched, but manages to end on the funniest thing imaginable.

[u/TheRage469 → u/Silverfire12]

"You abandoned me, and i will never FORGIVE you for that.....now get the fuck out of my house."

Idk why, but the way Tucci delivers that line has stuck with me for years now

[u/Budsygus → u/Silverfire12]

This show plumbs new depths of ridiculous silliness AND jaw-dropping personal revelation. And it weaves them together in a way that the jokes don't feel cheap and the pathos doesn't feel forced.

Honestly I would recommend this to anyone mature enough to have their own issues they're working through because it will both validate your struggle AND hold a mirror up to the parts of you that you're refusing to acknowledge.

Don't shy away from it. It's absolutely worth the time. I've watched it through three times now and it still manages to surprise me sometimes.

[u/TheRage469 → u/Jephph0624]

Aaron Paul's delivery of "fuck, man....what else is there to say?" Just feels SO. FUCKING. REAL. Like someone who's genuinely tired of putting up with a Substance abuser's shit and just flips the switch from jokey to serious because that's what the moment needs.

[u/Budsygus → u/TheRage469]

I don't think I've ever seen a character as unserious and dopey as Todd Chavez get so many emotional lines to land so successfully.

[u/Known-Conclusion58 → u/Jephph0624]

This scene always pissed me off. What Todd is saying is 100% true, but it came from literally the worst character in the show. Todd is comic relief, but holy crap is he responsible for so many worse things than BoJack.

[u/Arbusc → u/Known-Conclusion58]

It also comes off as mean spirited, in a way. Saying the abuse suffered as a kid of the shit done to you in your career is ‘just you’ ignores the fucking awfulness of other people.

I get what the shows trying to say but imagine actually telling someone with real issues that formed from mental and physical abuse from a parent that all their problems, even from birth, it just because it’s ’you.’