The Simpsons have been known to predict the future for more than a decade, but another animated series, BoJack Horseman, may harness some psychic abilities as well.
Season 4’s “Thoughts and Prayers” episode shines light on U.S. gun violence and reactions to gun violence from Hollywood.
While this episode could easily be cataloged into another bold statement about current issues and events, this plot loosely played out in real life: Marvel decided to pull the its Punisher panel at Comic Con this week following the Las Vegas shooting. Netflix’s The Punisher focuses on various violent revenges played out by veteran Frank Castle. Many scenes with lead Jon Bernthal, playing Castle, include gun violence.
Netflix and Marvel issued a joint statement on the topic:
“We are stunned and saddened by this week’s senseless act in Las Vegas. After careful consideration, Netflix and Marvel have decided it wouldn’t be appropriate for Marvel’s The Punisher to participate in New York Comic Con. Our thoughts continue to be with the victims and those affected by this tragedy.”
The eerily similar BoJack episode follows a recent mall shooting, and how it will impact the premiere of a new movie: Ms. Taken (a spin-off of the Taken trilogy featuring the on-screen niece of Liam Neeson). The movie’s final scene revolves around a mass shootout, ironically in the same mall location that this shooting they are now dealing with occurred.
“This is so sad,” Courtney Portnoy, lead of Ms. Taken, says to the other characters in their emergency PR meeting. “You always hear about mass shootings affecting other people’s movie openings, but you never think they’re going to affect your movie opening.”
She soon after adds, “Of course, my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims.”
The room goes around offering their own (repetitive) thoughts and prayers, both bringing attention to the episode title and the recurring answer from elected politicians whenever a shooting occurs. Soon after, they decide what next steps are for the future release of their movie.
BoJack Horseman‘s fourth season debuted in full on Netflix last month. No word yet on when the long-teased Punisher will get to the streaming giant.
