hot take... i feel like if bojack never ghosted herb, he maybe would've NEVER gotten into so much of the shit he regrets/feels guilty for. hear me out. (ಡ᎔ಡ)
the root of the problems began where he didn't stand up for herb, when he thought that letting him go would be the best for everyone. he regrets this deeply, we see this in the later seasons and everything. we know that in season 6 when angela has him at her house, he gets pissed at her because he thought he had no choice. i like to think that he didn't contact herb after that because he was too disappointed in himself, and he thought herb would've been better off not talking to him. but after bojack visited/reunited with him, we see that that was not the case. herb would've definitely been pissed at bojack (who wouldn't be?) but, he would've forgave him overtime. thats the thing.
i think we all know that charlotte and herb both had a healthy relationship, even after they broke up and parted ways. herb had a picture of her on his own home. since herb had a picture of her in maine, i would assume she kept touch with him? if that's the case, then bojack would've known that she wasn't living in maine anymore and that she had a family now. this information would've prevented bojack from going to new mexico after herb's funeral, this would've stopped the whole situation with penny.
and herb stayed in contact with sarah lynn, too. with the few scenes we see of adult sarah lynn and herb, we see that he was trying to help her sober up, i guess? and if bojack knew this, maybe bojack wouldn't have made her relapse and everything.
sorta headcanon stuff here, but i feel like bojack and herb just... understood each other. i mean, herb definitely gave some great advice and memorable moments. he literally went and immortalized his silhouette on the side of the laugh shack. we know that herb deeply cared for bojack. and im pretty sure bojack doesn't really have "best friend" relationship statuses with anyone else in the show. if bojack didn't abandon him and he was still in his life, then i have no doubt that herb would've probably guided/helped him through a lot of shit. that is if herb didn't get tired of him after a while,,, we see that they literally had a great time together when they reunited until bojack opened the wound again and got pissed when herb didn't forgive him.
and honestly? herb loved him. even when they grew distant, its obvious he did. the man literally made a show with him as the star, kissed him once and tried to kiss him another time... theres so much i want to say but im so fried its 2am,, AGHH !! also lol pls know that i forget a lot of details and stuff from tje first few seasons,, im going to rewatch the show immediately after i finish the last 3 episodes so 🤔
