BoJack Horseman Season 1 Episode 12 Later

BoJack Horseman season 1 episode 12, titled "Later," explores the aftermath of the previous episode's events, where BoJack's sitcom, which he had been desperately trying to revive, was cancelled once again. BoJack is, unsurprisingly, devastated by this. He's been struggling throughout the entire season with finding meaning and purpose in his life, and this latest setback feels like the ultimate proof that he's never going to achieve anything meaningful.

As BoJack is wallowing in his self-pity, he receives a call from Princess Carolyn, his agent. She tells him that a director named Kelsey Jannings wants to meet with him about a potential movie role. BoJack is initially hesitant, feeling like he's not in the right headspace to audition, but Princess Carolyn insists that he needs to seize any opportunity that comes his way.

So BoJack goes to meet with Kelsey, and they end up having a great conversation. Kelsey tells BoJack about her vision for the movie, which involves exploring the darker side of humanity and delving into the complexities of the human psyche. BoJack is intrigued, and they schedule a screen test for the next day.

But, as usual, things don't go as planned. BoJack ends up getting drunk the night before his screen test, and he wakes up the next morning hungover and flustered. He tries to pull himself together, but he's not at his best during the screen test. Kelsey tries to coach him through it, but he keeps stumbling over his lines and he can tell that he's not doing well.

After the disastrous screen test, BoJack goes back to his house and retreats into himself. Diane, his friend and ghostwriter, comes by to check on him, and they end up having a heartfelt conversation about what it means to feel like a failure. Diane, who is also struggling with her own feelings of inadequacy, tells BoJack that sometimes it's more important to just keep going than to be successful.

BoJack takes Diane's words to heart, and he decides to try again with the screen test. He goes back to the studio and asks Kelsey for another shot. This time, he's more prepared and focused, and he nails the screen test. Kelsey is impressed and tells BoJack that she wants him for the role.

But, of course, there's a catch. Kelsey is having trouble securing financing for the movie, and she needs BoJack's help to convince a wealthy investor to back the project. BoJack reluctantly agrees, and they go to meet with the investor.

The investor turns out to be a wealthy oil tycoon who wants to use the movie to promote his own agenda. He tells Kelsey that he's only interested in financing the movie if she includes a scene where the main character drinks from a bottle of his own brand of oil. Kelsey is disgusted by this, but BoJack sees an opportunity to further his own career. He convinces Kelsey to include the scene, telling her that it's better to compromise on a small detail than to let the entire project fall apart.

The episode ends with BoJack feeling triumphant, having secured his role in the movie and helped Kelsey secure financing. But there's a lingering sense of unease, as we see the true cost of BoJack's success: compromising his own morals and values.

"Later" is a somber episode that explores the theme of compromise and what it means to sell out. BoJack's journey throughout the season has been one of self-discovery, and this episode is a testament to how far he's come. But it's also a warning that success comes with a price, and that sometimes it's not worth sacrificing your own integrity for a shot at fame and fortune.