BoJack Horseman Creator’s New Netflix Series Is a Time‑Jumping Tearjerker with Dark Laughs
Raphael Bob-Waksberg’s new Netflix series Long Story Short is a 10-episode family drama that uses dark humor and time-jumping storytelling to follow the Schwooper family across decades. It opens in 1996 with the family driving home after a funeral, premiered on Aug. 22, and has already been renewed for another season. Bob-Waksberg told Polygon that “My guiding light has always been: Be specific and be honest.”
- What the series is, who made it, who’s in it, and the themes it tackles — grief, COVID, and family dynamics.
- How the show’s structure works: decade jumps, multiple perspectives, and specific cultural references.
- Notable cast mentions and direct quotes from Bob-Waksberg and actors about the show’s tone and approach.
Format and premise
The series consists of 10 episodes that jump back and forth through the decades and alternate between multiple characters’ perspectives. For example, one early scene set in 2004 follows aspiring music critic Avi Schwooper listening to Paul Simon’s “The Obvious Child,” and a later scene shows him listening to the same song decades afterward to underscore the passage of time. The show also includes sections set in 2021 and 2022 that address the COVID-19 pandemic directly, including politics around masking and indoor gatherings.
Tone, themes, and influences
Bob-Waksberg has previously explored grief in his other work, including the psychedelic series Undone and in BoJack Horseman, which features an episode that is a 26-minute-long monologue. He told Polygon, “Grief is interesting and scary, and I’m interested in writing about the things that scare me personally.” The series uses time jumps to show how small moments gain meaning later, and it treats COVID as a societal event that should not be forgotten.
Cast and characters
The cast includes Ben Feldman, Angelique Cabral, Michaela Dietz, Max Greenfield, Abbi Jacobson, and Lisa Edelstein. The article names Avi Schwooper with Ben Feldman in parentheses, and later refers to Ben Feldman as the eldest Schwooper sibling, Ari. Michaela Dietz plays Hannah, the daughter who struggles with online learning during the pandemic. Max Greenfield plays Yoshi, whose absurd plotlines provide broad comedy at times.
Notes from cast and creator
Bob-Waksberg said the show can make people laugh and cry: “If you like to cry, this is the show for you. If you like to laugh, this is the show for you.” He also related some character traits back to himself, noting that both Todd (from BoJack Horseman) and Yoshi are personal in part because of his own ADD. Abbi Jacobson described her role as easy and emotionally resonant given her background, and the article links to her previous thoughts on Jewish identity on The Cut.
Where to watch
Long Story Short is now streaming on Netflix. The first season ends with another funeral and leaves room for future exploration, and the series has been renewed for a second season.
