BoJack Horseman by Rafael Bob-Waksberg is one of the masterpieces of the Netflix library and a symbol of a time when original works from the streaming service were always considered something outstanding. It is a big omission that the story of BoJack cannot be watched on Netflix in Ukrainian. However, now the situation has become a little better, because Bob-Waksberg's new work Long Story Short will be available for Ukrainian Netflix subscribers to watch in their native language. And it is a funny, touching and incredibly life story that evokes the best memories of BoJack Horseman.
| Name | Long Story Short |
| Genre | drama, comedy, animation |
| Director | Raphael Bob-Waksberg |
| The roles were voiced | Ben Feldman, Angelique Cabral, Abby Jacobson, Nicole Bayer, Max Greenfield, Lisa Edelstein, Paul Reiser and others |
| Channel | Netflix |
| Episodes | 10 |
| Year | 2025 |
| Link | IMDb |
Long Story Short tells the story of an ordinary Jewish family living in the United States: father Elliot, mother Naomi, and their children – Avi, Shira and Yoshi. The plot constantly jumps between different years, so we see this family in a variety of situations. The center of the animated series is the relationship between the main characters and their loved ones, so there is no clear overarching plot in the show. Instead, through various situations, we will observe how the characters conflict with each other, strive for something, get disappointed, try something new, constantly change, but in an almost mystical way remain themselves.
After finishing BoJack Horseman, Bob-Waksberg was in no hurry to start a new project. Yes, he did manage to work on the animated series Tuca & Bertie and Undone, but Long Story Short is the creator's first original work since BoJack Horseman. And you'll feel it from the very first episode.
The show is able to reach into such dark depths of our hearts that you might not even suspect their existence, but you definitely felt their impact on everyday life. That is the great achievement of Long Story Short – it is a complex, multifaceted show that at the same time remains as prosaic and accessible to the audience as possible, always communicating with us in a language that we understand.
And this despite the fact that the script relies heavily on the nuances of Jewish culture, which will not be understandable to everyone. After all, the average person has heard more about life under the sights of Hollywood cameras than about bar mitzvahs or Jewish cuisine. This may confuse some viewers while watching or even when reading the synopsis, but I assure you that there is nothing critical in the chosen focus. The authors of Long Story Short use unconventional main characters, but everyone has encountered the problems they talk about in one way or another.
Sometimes while watching, you are genuinely surprised at how aptly and capaciously the series depicts some nuances. For example, about additional washing of dishes before loading them into the dishwasher, because the latter sometimes does not work very well. Or about inconvenient requests to hold the line or take seats, which often only cause additional stress. In such situations, the main advantage of Long Story Short over BoJack Horseman is revealed: it is a story about ordinary people, so almost every scene is able to resonate with you better than the problems of a scandalous Hollywood star.
However, one should not think that in Bob-Waksberg's new work everything happens on a mundane level. Even from everyday moments, the creators of the series can make something absurd and eccentric – and the viewing becomes all the more interesting. Let's not forget that Bob-Waksberg is also a talented comedian, so you will laugh regularly while watching Long Story Short. And the jokes in the show are smart and relevant. Therefore, yes, according to the modern system of the USA, the show will also be held in an uncompromising manner, especially during the depiction of the coronavirus pandemic in America.
However, for every moment of laughter, there will be some sad scene, provocative thought or awkward phrase that you want to think about for days, and maybe even weeks after watching. Long Story Short does not play with the feelings of the audience, and it is noticeable that this is a more subtle work even in comparison with BoJack Horseman, which also cannot be called straightforward in any way. I am not sure how aptly it would be to call Long Story Short a more "adult" story, but this simplest association comes to mind first.
The creators of the show could have made it into a series with live actors, but Bob-Waksberg once again decided to work with animation. It is relatively simple, even primitive in places, so you shouldn't go for visual riots in Long Story Short. Animation in the series is just a storytelling tool, and its minimalism is perhaps due to the authors' desire not to distract you from the most important thing.
Long Story Short has great dialogue, likeable characters, constant dynamics thanks to the unconventional narrative through different times, and incredible attention to detail. This is a show in which everything is in its place, and the little things and individual phrases will definitely find a response or become an impetus for something important. Even the music in the animated series is a pure pleasure, but after BoJack Horseman no one doubted this.
I realize that I'm comparing Long Story Short and BoJack Horseman too often in this text. But the latter is a unique work of art, and millions of viewers have been wanting something like it for years. I'm certainly one of those viewers. However, Long Story Short is not just "something like it." The first season demonstrates a level of sophistication and emotional tension that almost all modern shows can only dream of. And this is just the beginning.
It is known that Long Story Short was extended for at least a second season. Moreover, this was done even before the premiere of the first, which is always a good sign. And if the dynamics of development remain positive, which is already noticeable in the episodes of one season, then soon we will get another immortal masterpiece. Because the conversations that the animated series has with the audience exist outside of time and are able to reach even the most ardent skeptics.
