There’s a moment in television where a single piece of advice can capture the essence of an entire character’s struggle—a moment that echoes long after the screen fades to black. In BoJack Horseman, this moment comes in the form of a poignant quote delivered by Secretariat to a young BoJack:

“BoJack, when I was your age, I got sad. A lot. I didn’t come from such a great home, but one day, I started running, and that seemed to make sense, so then I just kept running. BoJack, when you get sad, you run straight ahead and you keep running forward, no matter what. There are people in your life who are gonna try to hold you back, slow you down, but you don’t let them. Don’t you stop running and don’t you ever look behind you. There’s nothing for you behind you. All that exists is what’s ahead.”

Table of Contents

The Endless Marathon of Avoidance

Throughout the series, running becomes a powerful metaphor for avoidance. Characters in BoJack Horseman are often seen sprinting away from their emotional baggage—whether it’s painful family histories, broken friendships, or unhealed wounds from past relationships. BoJack himself is the quintessential runner. He chooses to ignore the echoes of his past in favor of an unending forward motion, believing that if he just keeps running, he might eventually outrun his sorrow.

Yet, as the series unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that this relentless pursuit of forward motion is not freedom—it’s a trap. The very act of running prevents BoJack (and many of the show’s other characters) from ever pausing to reflect, heal, or even acknowledge the parts of themselves they desperately need to address. The advice, “Don’t you ever look behind you,” rings hollow when one considers that the past is inescapable. It shapes us, haunts us, and, if ignored, festers into deeper pain.

The Illusion of Progress

Secretariat’s counsel is laced with the allure of progress. The idea is simple: if you keep running, if you never slow down to examine what lies behind you, then you’re constantly moving toward something better—something more promising. This is a notion many of us can relate to in our own lives. We often convince ourselves that the key to happiness lies in relentless forward motion—avoiding difficult conversations, painful memories, or the discomfort of self-reflection.

In BoJack Horseman, this mindset is portrayed as both relatable and tragically flawed. The show illustrates that while running might offer temporary relief from pain, it also results in an accumulation of unresolved issues. By refusing to acknowledge the past, BoJack and others miss the opportunity to truly understand themselves, to learn from their experiences, and, ultimately, to grow.

A Paradox of Time: Yearning for the Past, Chasing the Future, and Avoiding the Present

In BoJack Horseman, the passage of time is portrayed as a complicated landscape where characters are trapped between what was, what could be, and what is. Even as they run toward a nebulous future—hoping for redemption, success, or the promise of a new beginning—they remain tethered to their past. Many characters are seen yearning for the comfort of what once was, clinging to memories even as they attempt to forge ahead.

This relentless focus on a bygone era often distracts them from fully engaging with the present. Instead of embracing the here and now, they find themselves caught in a loop: running forward in hopes of escape, yet continually looking back in longing. This paradox creates a tension where the present becomes a fleeting moment, overshadowed by the ghosts of the past and the allure of an uncertain future.

Ultimately, this dynamic serves as a poignant reminder that healing and growth require a delicate balance. To move forward authentically, one must acknowledge and reconcile the pull of the past, while also staying rooted in the present. The series suggests that by allowing ourselves to be present, we can better understand our history and make meaningful strides toward a future that is not simply an escape, but a continuation of our true selves.

Running from Family, Friends, and Self

One of the most compelling aspects of the show is its exploration of relationships—how characters, including BoJack, run from the very people who might help them heal. Family, friends, lovers, and even their own inner selves are all targets of this ceaseless flight. Whether it’s a fear of vulnerability or an unwillingness to confront painful truths, the act of running distances characters from the connections that could offer solace and support.

The recurring theme here is clear: true happiness is not found in perpetual motion but in the willingness to pause, to confront, and to reconcile with the past. The advice to “keep running forward” is seductive in its simplicity, yet it ultimately condemns those who follow it to a life of isolation and unfulfilled potential. By constantly fleeing, the characters in BoJack Horseman lose out on the healing that comes from sitting with one’s pain, understanding it, and learning from it.

A Call to Pause and Reflect

What makes this quote—and the broader theme it represents—so relatable is its universality. Many of us have, at some point in our lives, chosen to run rather than face our own inner turmoil. We’ve seen how the pain of loss, disappointment, or failure can be so overwhelming that the easiest escape seems to be in constant motion. Yet, as BoJack Horseman so poignantly demonstrates, running away is not a sustainable solution. It might delay the inevitable confrontation with our past, but it never truly resolves the underlying issues.

For those of us who have felt the urge to keep moving forward without looking back, there is a quiet call in the series to consider a different path—one where stopping to reflect is not a sign of weakness but a step toward healing. The act of pausing, of allowing oneself to experience and process pain, is essential for genuine growth and the possibility of real happiness.

Embracing the Journey, Not Just the Destination

In the end, BoJack Horseman offers us a mirror reflecting our own struggles with escape and the elusive pursuit of happiness. Secretariat’s advice, while initially appealing, ultimately serves as a cautionary tale. It reminds us that life is not a race where the finish line is found by never looking back, but rather a journey where understanding our past is crucial to navigating our future.

By acknowledging the parts of our lives we’d rather run from—our failures, our heartbreaks, and our regrets—we can begin to build a more honest, resilient sense of self. The characters in BoJack Horseman may illustrate the cost of perpetual avoidance, but they also offer hope: that by learning to slow down, reflect, and engage with our true emotions, we might finally find a path to lasting fulfillment.

In a world that often glorifies constant forward motion, let this be a reminder to all of us: sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is to stop running and look back, not in sorrow, but in recognition of all that has made us who we are today.

Posted on Cody Deluisio’s Blog – Where Stories and Reflections Intersect