User Reviews

The last episode of this show is also really excellent because of the emotional weight it carries, but this episode is my personal favorite because of the way it masterfully intertwines the animation and Bob's story with the themes of the Clancy's discussion with Jason the bird.

Basically, the soul prison and Bob's punishment are an analogue for the cycle of rebirth and what it means to be alive from a Buddhist perspective. A common criticism of Buddhism is that it is a depressing world view, but I think that this episode does a great job of trying to show the plausibility and positivity of Buddhist philosophy. You see Bob learn more and more about Karma and the effects of his actions as the episode progresses, and the episode culminates with Bob's enlightenment, conveyed through a very fun yet beautiful song. The concepts of no-self, interconnectedness, and impermanence are all expertly conveyed.

That being said, the episode is a complete trip. Sober or not, the sections during which Bob is being reborn are sure to make you feel a little uneasy, thanks to their atmosphere and excellent use of symbolism. I'd recommend watching it more than once to really take everything in.

And remember that the next time you feel like hurting someone else, maybe you'd really just be pissing in your own gouged-out eye!

Well that was a trip. Honestly this was a lot to take in, and I've researched and am familiar with a lot of the stuff discussed in this episode. It was expertly made, that's just undeniable. There was tonnes of symbolism, absolutely loads, and I feel like this was the first animation where what happens onscreen and what the speaker is saying are truly aligned. I agree with a lot of what was said, and I think this show in general demands the utmost attention. This episode more than the others I will definitely have to rewatch, because there's just so much to unpack and think about. That being said, I also think that this episode was missing something. Maybe the speaker just wasn't as engaging, maybe it's because it's a bit full on, I'm not sure yet, but it was still very good

Low 8