One of my favourite things about the special is that he doesn’t even mention Covid or quarantine outright. We only know this because we’re living through these times right now, but someone could watch this in 500 years and witness the story of a lonely man who’s simply just stuck in his room. It doesn’t age itself by mentioning the conditions of why he’s inside.
I think the one time he references the pandemic is in All Eyes On Me, where he says "In January 2020, I wanted to reenter the world. And then, the funniest thing happened..."
@@SAMSARALIVEEEEEE Yeah, I agree. He mentions it only briefly, and it can be interpreted or replaced by any other tragedy. All of this still would've made sense a year or two ago, before the pandemic.
the thing is, hes such a good actor, there's no way of knowing which parts are planned and which parts arent but that kinda just mirrors the themes of derealisation that he refers back to. As he said before, nothing is real
Bo never once said this was a "comedy" special. He ended up calling it just a special. In my opinion, a lot of the songs in "Inside" are super depressing. Yes, there are funny moments as well but the overall feeling is much darker.
I agree that this shouldn't be labeled as a comedy special and just a special, it still had tons of comedic elements and I found myself laughing a good amount until it took a shift and I found myself crying a good amount.
This 100%. It is has plenty of funny moments, but I didn't find myself laughing as much as I initially expected. I was more so amazed at the creative ways in which he was expressing his ideas and feelings, with comedy being only one facet of it. In my opinion, "what." and "Make Happy" were bona fide comedy specials with theatrical elements, whereas "Inside" is theater with comedic elements.
I think that stream part is one of the best parts of the special. I didn't get it, at all, the first couple times I watched it. But he references derealization and dissociative complexes at other times in the special. It's where you get the sense that nothing is real and you feel like you're separated from your body and setting. You know it isn't normal but there also is no known treatment. I think in the "stream" Bo the player and Bo the character are the same, being forced to watch yourself struggle from a third person view. Works with depression too. "Go check the door". "lol OK but I'm guessing it's not that simple" then the door doesn't work. Playing piano, and realizing oh OK I guess this guy (myself) is a little happier when he does this. And the end, the win condition is making it through an entire day, again. The successes are crying four times and playing piano. It's a kafkaesque nightmare where you are forced to watch yourself attempt to succeed while people in the background heckle advice, but oversimplify the objectives and solutions. That's my take at least, no experience here lol.
7:07 this scene here where he's trying to convince "someone" to not kill their self, had me bawling my eyes out by the end of it. Something about him projecting it onto himself like that made it seem as though he was really saying it to himself. He is so totally, brutally honest that it's almost dismissive sounding. But that is kind of how someone in that situation may feel about it. I know I could relate. I think it's why I was crying so hard, because it sounded very familiar. Idk, I was grateful for the intermission right after that scene.
i rewatch the special like everyday and that scene always makes me ball it’s one of the only things keeping my actually alive and when he says “you, you unstoppable you” that whole verse made me feel like it was to me and personal so somehow no burnham is keeping me alive and he doesn’t even know and will never know but i’m alive so who gives a shit anyway sorry for the long message
I think the point is that it's him saying all that earlier, and then looking back and actually feeling that way. It's like looking at your younger self, who hasn't been through the trials of it yet.
I took the projection on himself as him putting the message on a T-shirt, mocking and calling out the empty monetization of even the deepest human emotions.
tbh i think the premise of the special goes way beyond quarantine and the effects of the pandemic. i think quarantine was a catalyst and a lens through which to show the feelings of anxiety and isolation that already affect so many, especially bo, in our digital world
Also, if one didn't know they had mental illness, they should do now. The past year was terrifying for me as a nurse. I thought, "Well, this is it. I'm walking into belly of the beast." With so many people refusing to wear masks, it forced me to face my mortality in a real way. This show hit so hard for me, even though it's also about the corruption of the internet and social media.
Completely agreed. I went through something almost exactly like what he experienced, with finally getting back into the art world in March 2020... I've been a shut in with severe ptsd and agorophobia for years and last year made me so much worse.
I dont know if he was really hiding this from us. I think this special is just screaming what he was whispering in make happy. His declining metal health, his views on the claustrophobic nature of fame, his egos need to be noticed, his parasocial love hate relationship with his fans. It was all there the main difference for me at least I thought make happy ended with a the hopeful ending of him leaving both fame and us his audience behind so he could go be happy. Then he put himself back in his box (inside) but this time when he escapes there is no happiness, just the stage and his audience and himself. Sorry long comment I just had some musings they're probably all wrong.
@@usfilms8828 there is a theme through the whole special of him watching himself, while editing, in the reaction sketch, in the streaming sketch but most importantly the last shot pulls back from himself panicking on the stage to shot of him watching it on a projector and beginning to smile. He tortures himself not only for our entertainment but his own perfectionist ego.
“Burst onto the scene with his special ‘what’.” Jeez that makes me feel old. To my 30 year old ass he burst on the scene on TH-cam back when there was way less content then there is now.
@@zoekam5499 i’ve seen Eighth Grade and thoroughly enjoyed, still haven’t gotten around to Promising Young Woman. what i meant by radio silent was in terms of his social media and public appearances it has been rather scarce outside of promotion for those projects. suppose the wording could’ve been better on that one lol
im really happy that this video isn't "reacting to bo burnhams inside" or "bo burnhams inside ending explained" cus I feel like those go against the whole purpose of the special, and instead of breaking down parts of the special you go into the thing as a whole, the special as a whole is what makes it great
He def wasn't hiding any of this from us, all of his specials have had deeper meanings. His use of metaphors and symbols are genius, he also understands how to frame his own work to be left to interpretation which is so.. damn.. hard. I'm currently on my 4th rewatch and I'm still catching fun small things. It genuinely is a masterpiece.
Bizarrely I was talking to my son about the show yesterday and I compared a part of it to a particular metaphorical message in the wall. Just weird you made the connection because I was sure I would be the only one.
I get that everyone likes this, and to his credit, Burnham writes some very good lyrics and puts together good songs.... But the content of the songs isnt like, mind blowing stuff. He puts the content and songs together cohesive in an amusing and nice to listen to way but, is the idea of say, "internet bad" or "cringy white lady Instagram is cringy" not something weve been saying forever now?
I think 'Inside' really shows Bo maturing as an artist more than anything. His act was always likeable and funny, but it was also always silly little songs, like you say a little embarrassing to be a fan of. But I think we saw glimpses of more of the kind of thing he was striving for - in songs like Make Happy's closing - Can't Handle This - where he does the Kanye rant and talks about his mental health & relationship with the audience. Or in Art is Dead where he talks about his role as a performer. It's like; the themes he goes into in Inside were always there in his work - but hidden in these simple piano songs and hidden behind his stage persona of an awkward young performer. And then in Inside - it all comes crashing down. And he tells and shows us how he really feels. It's a lot more personal than any of his other work. I think with him directing Eighth Grade and taking time away from stand-up, he learned to open his work up to much more personal topics. I think even if we didn't get the pandemic we would've got a Bo Burnham special that was a lot more raw, personal and intimate - except maybe a little less unhinged. The format really does make it something unique. This might be the first ever 'conceptual' stand up/musical comedy special. The only other thing I can think of that's similar is Hannah Gadsby's Nanette - where she uses the format of stand up to actually confront the audience about some pretty huge topics.
Man i was the same age when it came out i didn’t get a lot of it at the time, but growing up, his comedy literally made part of who i am today. The mix of “immature” shock humor, dark real world observations, and opening up about his very real, uncomfortable, and human problems (lots of which i related to), i just absolutely adored him. And this Netflix special made me feel so cathartic. Its like seeing ur favorite super hero in a bar talking about how no one cares about him just what he does, while at the same time saying that i can do anything i put my mind to. Its just bizzare. Im so happy that i was born in a point of time where i can say that i watched this when it came out. Also the fact that we’re around the same age but u are making a video essay of this caliber is amazing. U also sound 5 years older than me so there’s that.
On adapting to the challenges of the time; Bo mentions his mother talking about the season finale of The Blacklist in the song “FaceTiming with my mom.” Guess what’s interesting about the season finale of The Blacklist? Because covid disrupted the filming of the final episode, the cast and crew had to resort to voice acting and the studio then used shots that were already taken from previous filming sessions, and intermingled then with a graphic novel style animation that … left a bit to be desired. Two things are notable about this reference, one is that covid caused even the giants of media creation to scramble and forced them to innovate, much like Bo decided to do with this special. He could have waited to release something after the pandemic, but instead rose to the challenge and worked within it to create something beautiful. The second might be a stretch, but it emphasizes the focus of profit over product. I assume the studio was pressured by the powers that be to send something out, and so they settled for what they could. Is this the fault of the studio, or the fault of the audience? I’m sure there were executives and marketing specialists screaming that it doesn’t matter how the final product looks, the audience will watch it any way. But what if the audience had a higher standard ? What if they didn’t reward half-assed work and instead held their dollars for more worthy projects? Is this a reflection of our consumption habits? I think it’s not wrong to say that more people on the aggregate watched the final season of The Blacklist than will ever watch “Inside” , the former which is a fast food version of crime drama and the latter a 12 course meal of introspection and mental health exploration. That feels wrong to me. There should be a higher expectation, and patience should be rewarded. This special is a testament to that philosophy, as we waited 5 years for something never before seen. I hope this ramble is cohesive. Who knows I might edit it later when I come back to it.
It’s an art in and of itself to be so minute with details but seemingly with improvisational ease. In any creative dicipline. Intelligence, diligence, painful self awareness and the gift of perfect pitch to pull it off. Rare. And probably taxing AF.
it's an irreplicable zeitgeist of not just the covid-19 pandemic, but of the internet/social media age as a whole. he made a masterpiece combining absurdist comedy with philosophy and its genius creativity blows me away every time i rewatch it. i truly think bo made something unlike anything people have seen before and hopefully it paves a path for more philosophical and experimental comedy
I dont think Inside will feel dated. Isolation isn't only relatable in regards to COVID. Depression, suicidal thoughts and struggling to create in the face of those things will *always be important.*
I think Inside shines because it allowed Bo to give his best in every piece of the special: The directing, lighting, music, comedy and editing. He’s not just a great comedian or a great director, he’s just great.
It absolutely does transcend comedy. This special melted my mind in the most amazing and brutal ways possible. I agree there were times that were so incredibly raw and visceral that I didn't think I should be watching it either. This special also made me realize the relationship he has with his audience. In Make Happy he literally tells his audience he doesn't care for them and it's evident in Inside in how he uses the laugh track ironically. "You guys wanna hear a funny story?" *audience laughing* Then proceeds to talk about to mental health and STILL the audience is kind of laughing simply because he's just a clown or a performing monkey to the "audience". Also watching Zack Stone Is Gonna Be Famous hits A LOT differently now.
The first time I watched a performance of his I laughed. After watching "What" and "Make Happy" I told EVERYONE that this, at the time, Boy, was a god damn genius. After he went silent, I was so upset, and genuinely afraid that he wouldn't come back. I knew he was a Great Performer and a Genius.... But I would've Never guessed this level of honesty and art would've been delivered by him. He made me ugly cry, then giggle through it.. incredible.
I am WAY old (53 and female -- not your average viewer of these sort of things but I watch a lot of comedians and can see the depth of what they are trying to say... anyway..) but this special was so ....... I just can't get the music and images out of my head (art teacher of Middle and High School students who wants to stay in touch with my students and my millennial children too...) Charlie Kauffman - yes!! and performance art of Dada movement for SURE! I've been watching a lot of reviews on his work lately (Bo Burnham) and I really enjoyed your point of view. Thank you.
Watched it not a week ago. I laughed, I cried, I felt sorry for him, I admired his bravery, and I was in awe throughout it. I haven't been touched by a piece of art like this in years, and judging by his trajectory, I love the fact that there might be decades of awesome Burnham moments in my life. He's 15 years younger than me.
I think it‘s truly timeless. Most of the issues connected to the pandemic should rather be connected to his mental state, anxiety, dealing with fame and the inner desperation he has for attention as well as affirmation he has. It really made me feel … things
This video is so on point with everything I've been feeling about this masterpiece, I feel like I could have written it myself. I wasn't really familiar with Bo as a comedian before watching Inside, but I knew his name and I had seen his movie and his role in Promising Young Woman. Now, I've watched the special four times and it still amazes me. It has moved and inspired me like no other piece of media I've seen since the pandemic started. I think that Bo is expressing himself like never before in Inside : he blends his incredible musical talent with his love for the theatrical and philosophy. He made his own art film about what the pandemic made us all feel, makes us laugh with funny songs but also doesn't shy away from being vulnerable and crushes our hearts. I very much believe that Inside is going to be a timeless classic, that everyone will try to replicate but there will never be anything else like this. I don't know if Bo will ever return on stage and do classic stand-up, and I hope he will be feeling well enough for it, but I'm certain that he has found his calling as a director and film performer.
Bo is the perfect embodiment of someone that can simultaneously be an expert at comedy and at tragedy. Pure genius. On a spiritual level, I genuinely think he might be the reincarnation of William Shakespeare.
I have a feeling that we are going to see a lot of movies about life during Quarantine in the future, and yet I think that this could be one of the best depictions of the loneliness that many experienced during this time.
I didn't know Bo before this special and I am kind of glad I started here and have been back tracking his career , Inside is absolute genius at work, these songs are amazing, I hope he wins ALL the awards for this! Grammys, Emmys, all of them. I want his heart to be awarded for this gift he shared w all of us
I love seeing new bo fans! I’ve been a fan for years and it’s been amazing seeing him grow up and go from being an edgy teenage satire comedian (prob a bit too edgy for today’s tastes) and evolve into such a nuanced performer.
Great content, loved your take. You summed it up in a way I wish could have the past week instead of clunkily trying to explain to my friends why they'll love it 😅
The way he balances comedy and tragedy reminds me of Hannah Gadsby and I love it so much and he did this in such a unique way so to find that balance AND get his lights how he wanted them finally really did make a beautiful ass special
I didn’t even pull a lot of quarantine from the special, although I get that there were huge themes about it, I really saw this perspective from the mental health aspect. Which is why I think it will age well.
Bo made one of the greatest pieces of art I have ever seen. Watched the special 5 times and have been listening to his songs over and over again. Dude is brilliant.
You mention that Bo was "hiding" this from us, and I seriously agree! But really, especially after going down a rabbit hole of Bo's content from inside to his EP Bo Fo Sho, he never really did hide this from us. We as the audience just never wanted to admit to certain aspects of Bo's performances. Bo had always hinted, and also blatantly exclaimed, how poor his mental health was. Whether you take his special Make Happy- or songs like ART IS DEAD, RANT, We Think We Know You, or Left Brain Right Brain- you can see how Bo breaks segments of his comedic stage persona with moments of his raw thoughts. Similarly, while the space was different in each, all of Bo's specials were filmed in one area for that special. Even with the lighting, it's no wonder that Bo put so much detail in Inside's lighting when you look back through his other specials. Once again, Make Happy and We Think We Know You especially encapsulate that- but Bo Burnham also added segments in his shows where he would tell the light person to do something different because he didn't like what they originally chose. Not negative; I just wanted to share this since your statement made me think!!
Great video! And yes, I also have no fucking clue as to what the hell did we do to deserve something this good. INSIDE is not only Bo's best work, I'd even go as far to say pretty much a landmark in comedy, period. I have not seen anything that was equally as funny as it was deep and introspective, and I don't think there's anyone else other than Bo that could pull that feeling off.
6:37; he definitely has never hidden it. he’s been on youtube since like 2007. Super consistent. I actually discovered him fir myself browsing youtubes in like 2011 then forgot about him for a long time amd following other interests, and have recently rediscovered him.
I’m watching “inside” everyday. Your essay was one of the very best I’ve watched on the topic, but it’s the most personal and honest. I wold like to do something like this myself!
It's like facing all your demons at once. Breakdown. Delirium. Facing death and deciding you really do want to live. Then getting full manageable clarity. It's how I felt after a week of sobriety in 2018. Clear.
There's no way this will be dated in 3 years. He didn't just capture the feelings of being trapped inside because of the pandemic, but captured the feelings of mental illness.
This special is the epithome of everything he's always worked on as an artist. I suggest you go down the Burnham rabbit hole once again, now that you're a bit older (and maybe once more a few years from now, as well, I mean, you're still a teenager and your life perspectives will continue to change an awful lot - also, Bo was about your age when he started, so he can walk you through your own life experiences up until his turning 30). Don't worry about your fellow tiktokers, do you.
I honestly don't think Inside will be dated soon at all. Yes it was made as a direct result of the pandemic and Bo being in quarantine, but it doesn't feel like the special is really about that, but rather about mental health under capitalism and in the modern/technological age, as well as the general impending sense of doom that it's easy to feel when looking these massive global threats of ours right in the eye (COVID unfortunately being only one of them). I don't think those things are going to feel any less relevant any time soon, as much as I'd like them to.
This makes "Can't Handle This" from "Make Happy" which was released in 2015 take on a whole new meaning knowing that he has spent the last 5 years trying to work on himself ....
thank you! the success of this video has really motivated me to get back into making videos, it makes me real happy to see people enjoying them:) thank you for watching!
I remember being in middle school hearing songs like little Adolph. I hope we can continue to see him grow and he finds the happiness he is so desperately looking for
This is my favourite movie of the decade... Yes movie. I've only watched it twice but I've been through the album a dozen times and I'm gonna watch this again.
I finally decided to watch that after enjoying Inside so much....I had to pause it halfway through because I was crying so much. I didn't expect it to have such an impact on me.
Everytime I watch it I discover something new. The music is actually good. I don't even know what to call it, that's one reason what makes it so brilliant. Bo may have created something new, if it can done again. Someone quoted Pagliacci, and I think that may be the closest thing to Bo.
I don’t think this special is about Quarantine at all. I see it as a reflection of his depressed years away from performing and his own tendencie to hide away from the world.
i can't think of anything more meaningful or deep to say, so: "Is the dude big, or is the room small?" This can symbolize things like outgrowing your limitations but not being able to expand them, but.... He is 196cm tall. So the dude is big either way.
thank you! i can only accredit it to the fact that i haven’t been doing this type of content very long, nor have i been doing it consistently. i do plan on and have been making more tho, so stay tuned!
God!! He's SO talented and raw that it hurts!!!! I laughed, and I cried. And I laughed till I cried, and I got emotionally torn up, just sat there a few times in complete awe. JUST saw it for the first time. Won't be able to sleep for a while now. I'm just completely blown away
Awesome video! It’s great to see this special has affected so many people as much as me! I have been rewatching it so many times and listening to the music nonstop! I don’t like calling anything a “masterpiece” cause it’s been so overused but as soon as I finished this, I was in awe of Bo’s genius. It is truly a masterpiece! ♥️
Loved this. How the fuck don't you have more subs. 111k views, 5k likes. Show this creator some love. Great production, voice and insight. I can't wait to see what you do going forward.
I related to his special... and relate to exactly your feelings towards it. I related to it so much and it change my view on him and comedy.... it’s fantastic. I straight away wanted to watch it again and told everyone about it. Genius it is. I even used the word magnum opus. Crazy.
Embarrassed to admit it because he fell "under the wing of those Naruto running band kids". Well spoken words from someone suffering from PTSD of being "that kid"
It is a masterpiece... But besides that... Dude...Can you tell me what that piano piece is that comes in as background at 07:27 ? behind your summation? Cheers.
@@aech-em ... Thanks... I've seen the film ( Which I'd forgotten about? Age related dementia methinks)...Anyway... Thanks for that... I shall seek it out. x ;-)
Really impressive video for such a small channel! Those are the types of comments I get on my Growing Up With Minecraft video essay (like the only video I have pushing 5k) and I know how they feel now, I was really pleasantly surprised here man and I’m glad I found it, you projected my thoughts about this film better than I could have myself :)
And literally nobody fucking cares. Nobody talks about those bits in Inside, even though they were all over the place. That’s what bothers me about all these reviews. They completely miss the point. This is a societal critique, and as is usual, people completely fucking missed the point. How the World Works? The tech critiques? The Bezos song? The off-hand socialist comments? It pisses me off that no one brings these up or only brings them up in small sections without recognizing the overall theme (Capitalism is fucking killing us). Anyway that’s my rant. Have a good day people.
1. Yes exactly. He spews ultra progressive Marxist statements like that one. Because a part of him believes and embraces those types of ideas. 2. No, exactly the opposite. He points out the absurdity of Comrade Socko’s over-the-top political views when he demonizes ALL the corporate elite by implying every single one of them are pedophiles. “Should I give away my money? NO!” 3. The big point of Bo’s that you’re missing or forgetting is that he is conflicted. He sees that different ideas have their merits and flaws, humorously exposes some of each, and finally tries to nudge his audience a little further towards where he believes the world would be a better place if nudged. Good art doesn’t tell you how to think, it gives you things to think about. The keystone of an intelligent mind is the willingness to consider new ideas and new information, change one’s opinions based on the new data/ideas, and yet still continue to search for additional information that could either strengthen or reverse the current opinion. Bo Burnham repeatedly exemplifies this quality, he expounds on his love-hate relationships with money, performing, art, privilege, gender, race, etc. His inner conflicts are what make him anxious and unhappy and are why so many of us relate to him, and he has conflict and anxiety about that too. I often wonder if it would be better to be dumb and happy… ignorance is bliss and all that…
@@musicdev Capitalism is what freed the world... Small injections of Capitalism is what is slowly improving China... Free trade and supply and demand is Capitalism... The word you might be looking for is Cronyism... Yea Cronyism can infect any and every economic system... The private property as theft bit is an Anarchist Trope...
Tfw you're watching the 53rd essay on this special and Bo in general and you are showing no signs of stopping
I will never stop watching video essays about things im even a little interested about
there's no turning back now :)
I hope you stop to eat sometimes
Can't stop won't stop.
It’ll stop any day now… :)
One of my favourite things about the special is that he doesn’t even mention Covid or quarantine outright. We only know this because we’re living through these times right now, but someone could watch this in 500 years and witness the story of a lonely man who’s simply just stuck in his room. It doesn’t age itself by mentioning the conditions of why he’s inside.
Agreed, 100%! Well said.
He’s also not only stuck inside his room; he’s stuck inside his own head.
I think the one time he references the pandemic is in All Eyes On Me, where he says "In January 2020, I wanted to reenter the world. And then, the funniest thing happened..."
@@-butterfly-594 Yeah but it’s ambiguous. It could elude to him falling in deep depression or him losing a loved one or something.
@@SAMSARALIVEEEEEE Yeah, I agree. He mentions it only briefly, and it can be interpreted or replaced by any other tragedy. All of this still would've made sense a year or two ago, before the pandemic.
@@SAMSARALIVEEEEEE It is ambiguous, but the pandemic's definitely what he's referring to. He also says "and the other thing" in one of his monologues.
the thing is, hes such a good actor, there's no way of knowing which parts are planned and which parts arent but that kinda just mirrors the themes of derealisation that he refers back to. As he said before, nothing is real
Art is a lieeee NOTHING is real
@@ajsosnowski5616 you are a lie, nothing is real
@@niko-ni6ps you lie
very well put, didn't actually think of it like that.
I think they are all planned, but reflect real feelings
Bo never once said this was a "comedy" special. He ended up calling it just a special. In my opinion, a lot of the songs in "Inside" are super depressing. Yes, there are funny moments as well but the overall feeling is much darker.
I agree that this shouldn't be labeled as a comedy special and just a special, it still had tons of comedic elements and I found myself laughing a good amount until it took a shift and I found myself crying a good amount.
@@timhoffman1169 exactly. it is both things
This 100%. It is has plenty of funny moments, but I didn't find myself laughing as much as I initially expected. I was more so amazed at the creative ways in which he was expressing his ideas and feelings, with comedy being only one facet of it. In my opinion, "what." and "Make Happy" were bona fide comedy specials with theatrical elements, whereas "Inside" is theater with comedic elements.
Yell it left me feeling bummed out. Could only watch it in parts.
I didn’t laugh at any point. I just felt deeply uncomfortable and after was left feeling traumatised. Not that that’s a bad thing I guess 😅
I just realised that when he does his "stream" of a game it says "SSRI presents" which is an antidepressant.
This special is too good
Another hidden gem is that the air conditioner is set to 69 degrees in the video for "Sexting". Just perfect!
I think that stream part is one of the best parts of the special. I didn't get it, at all, the first couple times I watched it. But he references derealization and dissociative complexes at other times in the special. It's where you get the sense that nothing is real and you feel like you're separated from your body and setting. You know it isn't normal but there also is no known treatment.
I think in the "stream" Bo the player and Bo the character are the same, being forced to watch yourself struggle from a third person view. Works with depression too. "Go check the door". "lol OK but I'm guessing it's not that simple" then the door doesn't work. Playing piano, and realizing oh OK I guess this guy (myself) is a little happier when he does this. And the end, the win condition is making it through an entire day, again. The successes are crying four times and playing piano. It's a kafkaesque nightmare where you are forced to watch yourself attempt to succeed while people in the background heckle advice, but oversimplify the objectives and solutions.
That's my take at least, no experience here lol.
@@djs2085 That's very well explained, but what does 'Kafkaesque' mean?
7:07 this scene here where he's trying to convince "someone" to not kill their self, had me bawling my eyes out by the end of it. Something about him projecting it onto himself like that made it seem as though he was really saying it to himself. He is so totally, brutally honest that it's almost dismissive sounding. But that is kind of how someone in that situation may feel about it. I know I could relate. I think it's why I was crying so hard, because it sounded very familiar. Idk, I was grateful for the intermission right after that scene.
i rewatch the special like everyday and that scene always makes me ball it’s one of the only things keeping my actually alive and when he says “you, you unstoppable you” that whole verse made me feel like it was to me and personal so somehow no burnham is keeping me alive and he doesn’t even know and will never know but i’m alive so who gives a shit anyway sorry for the long message
Omg yes, I teared up and needed a damn break after that scene.
I think the point is that it's him saying all that earlier, and then looking back and actually feeling that way.
It's like looking at your younger self, who hasn't been through the trials of it yet.
i had the same thought. just really hope he doesn't kill himself
I took the projection on himself as him putting the message on a T-shirt, mocking and calling out the empty monetization of even the deepest human emotions.
tbh i think the premise of the special goes way beyond quarantine and the effects of the pandemic. i think quarantine was a catalyst and a lens through which to show the feelings of anxiety and isolation that already affect so many, especially bo, in our digital world
i agree wholeheartedly, i think it’s what’s going to make it a timeless classic
Also, if one didn't know they had mental illness, they should do now. The past year was terrifying for me as a nurse. I thought, "Well, this is it. I'm walking into belly of the beast." With so many people refusing to wear masks, it forced me to face my mortality in a real way. This show hit so hard for me, even though it's also about the corruption of the internet and social media.
This. Yes.
Completely agreed. I went through something almost exactly like what he experienced, with finally getting back into the art world in March 2020... I've been a shut in with severe ptsd and agorophobia for years and last year made me so much worse.
I dont know if he was really hiding this from us. I think this special is just screaming what he was whispering in make happy. His declining metal health, his views on the claustrophobic nature of fame, his egos need to be noticed, his parasocial love hate relationship with his fans. It was all there the main difference for me at least I thought make happy ended with a the hopeful ending of him leaving both fame and us his audience behind so he could go be happy. Then he put himself back in his box (inside) but this time when he escapes there is no happiness, just the stage and his audience and himself. Sorry long comment I just had some musings they're probably all wrong.
You’re not wrong at all. You’re actually pretty dead on in my view.
I had this thought too, I'm actually pretty concerned of bo
Very much. He’s not been hiding anything.
I see where you’re going and I like it so how would you interpret him as also being part of the “audience” at the end?
@@usfilms8828 there is a theme through the whole special of him watching himself, while editing, in the reaction sketch, in the streaming sketch but most importantly the last shot pulls back from himself panicking on the stage to shot of him watching it on a projector and beginning to smile. He tortures himself not only for our entertainment but his own perfectionist ego.
“Burst onto the scene with his special ‘what’.” Jeez that makes me feel old. To my 30 year old ass he burst on the scene on TH-cam back when there was way less content then there is now.
This. Also Bo wasn’t radio silent. He released a movie in 2018 called Eight Grade and was in Promising Young Woman in 2020.
@@zoekam5499 i’ve seen Eighth Grade and thoroughly enjoyed, still haven’t gotten around to Promising Young Woman. what i meant by radio silent was in terms of his social media and public appearances it has been rather scarce outside of promotion for those projects. suppose the wording could’ve been better on that one lol
I had to pause and reflect in quiet solitude when he said this
Bo was 23 when 'what' was released. He was making funny youtube videos before then.That's how he got so famous.
I mean he had a Comedy Central standup special at 18. I think he still holds the record for youngest to do it.
im really happy that this video isn't "reacting to bo burnhams inside" or "bo burnhams inside ending explained" cus I feel like those go against the whole purpose of the special, and instead of breaking down parts of the special you go into the thing as a whole, the special as a whole is what makes it great
He def wasn't hiding any of this from us, all of his specials have had deeper meanings. His use of metaphors and symbols are genius, he also understands how to frame his own work to be left to interpretation which is so.. damn.. hard. I'm currently on my 4th rewatch and I'm still catching fun small things. It genuinely is a masterpiece.
This is the comedic equivalent to Pink Floyd’s The Wall, CHANGE MY MIND-
Bizarrely I was talking to my son about the show yesterday and I compared a part of it to a particular metaphorical message in the wall. Just weird you made the connection because I was sure I would be the only one.
That’s one of the first things I thought about while watching it
Nailed it
This right here. I showed this to my wife and immediately had to get out the wall to show her. You never get the same feeling twice from it.
I get that everyone likes this, and to his credit, Burnham writes some very good lyrics and puts together good songs.... But the content of the songs isnt like, mind blowing stuff. He puts the content and songs together cohesive in an amusing and nice to listen to way but, is the idea of say, "internet bad" or "cringy white lady Instagram is cringy" not something weve been saying forever now?
I think 'Inside' really shows Bo maturing as an artist more than anything.
His act was always likeable and funny, but it was also always silly little songs, like you say a little embarrassing to be a fan of. But I think we saw glimpses of more of the kind of thing he was striving for - in songs like Make Happy's closing - Can't Handle This - where he does the Kanye rant and talks about his mental health & relationship with the audience. Or in Art is Dead where he talks about his role as a performer. It's like; the themes he goes into in Inside were always there in his work - but hidden in these simple piano songs and hidden behind his stage persona of an awkward young performer.
And then in Inside - it all comes crashing down. And he tells and shows us how he really feels. It's a lot more personal than any of his other work.
I think with him directing Eighth Grade and taking time away from stand-up, he learned to open his work up to much more personal topics. I think even if we didn't get the pandemic we would've got a Bo Burnham special that was a lot more raw, personal and intimate - except maybe a little less unhinged. The format really does make it something unique. This might be the first ever 'conceptual' stand up/musical comedy special. The only other thing I can think of that's similar is Hannah Gadsby's Nanette - where she uses the format of stand up to actually confront the audience about some pretty huge topics.
underrated comment
Man i was the same age when it came out i didn’t get a lot of it at the time, but growing up, his comedy literally made part of who i am today. The mix of “immature” shock humor, dark real world observations, and opening up about his very real, uncomfortable, and human problems (lots of which i related to), i just absolutely adored him. And this Netflix special made me feel so cathartic. Its like seeing ur favorite super hero in a bar talking about how no one cares about him just what he does, while at the same time saying that i can do anything i put my mind to. Its just bizzare. Im so happy that i was born in a point of time where i can say that i watched this when it came out. Also the fact that we’re around the same age but u are making a video essay of this caliber is amazing. U also sound 5 years older than me so there’s that.
On adapting to the challenges of the time; Bo mentions his mother talking about the season finale of The Blacklist in the song “FaceTiming with my mom.” Guess what’s interesting about the season finale of The Blacklist?
Because covid disrupted the filming of the final episode, the cast and crew had to resort to voice acting and the studio then used shots that were already taken from previous filming sessions, and intermingled then with a graphic novel style animation that … left a bit to be desired.
Two things are notable about this reference, one is that covid caused even the giants of media creation to scramble and forced them to innovate, much like Bo decided to do with this special. He could have waited to release something after the pandemic, but instead rose to the challenge and worked within it to create something beautiful.
The second might be a stretch, but it emphasizes the focus of profit over product. I assume the studio was pressured by the powers that be to send something out, and so they settled for what they could. Is this the fault of the studio, or the fault of the audience? I’m sure there were executives and marketing specialists screaming that it doesn’t matter how the final product looks, the audience will watch it any way. But what if the audience had a higher standard ? What if they didn’t reward half-assed work and instead held their dollars for more worthy projects?
Is this a reflection of our consumption habits? I think it’s not wrong to say that more people on the aggregate watched the final season of The Blacklist than will ever watch “Inside” , the former which is a fast food version of crime drama and the latter a 12 course meal of introspection and mental health exploration.
That feels wrong to me. There should be a higher expectation, and patience should be rewarded. This special is a testament to that philosophy, as we waited 5 years for something never before seen.
I hope this ramble is cohesive. Who knows I might edit it later when I come back to it.
great find
It’s an art in and of itself to be so minute with details but seemingly with improvisational ease. In any creative dicipline.
Intelligence, diligence, painful self awareness and the gift of perfect pitch to pull it off.
Rare.
And probably taxing AF.
You are overthinking this, just get some sleep
Fucking love this take
Don't over think this, look in my eye. Don't be scared, don't be shy, come on in, the water's fine.
It's the perfect way to describe how 2020 went for the majority of us. Bleek hours of hopelessness followed by "JEFFREY BEZOS YOU DID IT :D"
"...in 2013 when I was TEN." I feel so very old lmao
it's an irreplicable zeitgeist of not just the covid-19 pandemic, but of the internet/social media age as a whole. he made a masterpiece combining absurdist comedy with philosophy and its genius creativity blows me away every time i rewatch it. i truly think bo made something unlike anything people have seen before and hopefully it paves a path for more philosophical and experimental comedy
I dont think Inside will feel dated.
Isolation isn't only relatable in regards to COVID. Depression, suicidal thoughts and struggling to create in the face of those things will *always be important.*
I feel this special is timeless and can relate to any person any time. He never said covid or pandemic.
I think Inside shines because it allowed Bo to give his best in every piece of the special: The directing, lighting, music, comedy and editing.
He’s not just a great comedian or a great director, he’s just great.
I love this comment. I think you nailed why it worked so well, we’ve never seen bo literally do all the things at once.
I think this special gave light to Bo’s genius for those who were too dense to notice before.
"is the dude big, or the room is small?" exactly.
It absolutely does transcend comedy. This special melted my mind in the most amazing and brutal ways possible. I agree there were times that were so incredibly raw and visceral that I didn't think I should be watching it either. This special also made me realize the relationship he has with his audience. In Make Happy he literally tells his audience he doesn't care for them and it's evident in Inside in how he uses the laugh track ironically. "You guys wanna hear a funny story?" *audience laughing* Then proceeds to talk about to mental health and STILL the audience is kind of laughing simply because he's just a clown or a performing monkey to the "audience". Also watching Zack Stone Is Gonna Be Famous hits A LOT differently now.
"this might feel dated when covid isn't a thing anymore"
me, having felt isolated for years before covid hit: huh?
F u n n e
I love how you were like “It kinda did” because this special legit I say is the best of our generation. Bo is a genius. It’s so good.
This movie needs to be nominated for an Oscar or Grammy or something!
The first time I watched a performance of his I laughed.
After watching "What" and "Make Happy" I told EVERYONE that this, at the time, Boy, was a god damn genius.
After he went silent, I was so upset, and genuinely afraid that he wouldn't come back.
I knew he was a Great Performer and a Genius.... But I would've Never guessed this level of honesty and art would've been delivered by him. He made me ugly cry, then giggle through it.. incredible.
I am WAY old (53 and female -- not your average viewer of these sort of things but I watch a lot of comedians and can see the depth of what they are trying to say... anyway..) but this special was so ....... I just can't get the music and images out of my head (art teacher of Middle and High School students who wants to stay in touch with my students and my millennial children too...) Charlie Kauffman - yes!! and performance art of Dada movement for SURE! I've been watching a lot of reviews on his work lately (Bo Burnham) and I really enjoyed your point of view. Thank you.
I love how this has resonated with so many age groups! I’ve seen 13 year olds and 70 year olds all finding something to connect on
Watched it not a week ago. I laughed, I cried, I felt sorry for him, I admired his bravery, and I was in awe throughout it. I haven't been touched by a piece of art like this in years, and judging by his trajectory, I love the fact that there might be decades of awesome Burnham moments in my life. He's 15 years younger than me.
Inside is so good that I’ve watched as much commentary on it as I have watched Inside itself
I think it‘s truly timeless. Most of the issues connected to the pandemic should rather be connected to his mental state, anxiety, dealing with fame and the inner desperation he has for attention as well as affirmation he has. It really made me feel … things
This video is so on point with everything I've been feeling about this masterpiece, I feel like I could have written it myself. I wasn't really familiar with Bo as a comedian before watching Inside, but I knew his name and I had seen his movie and his role in Promising Young Woman. Now, I've watched the special four times and it still amazes me. It has moved and inspired me like no other piece of media I've seen since the pandemic started. I think that Bo is expressing himself like never before in Inside : he blends his incredible musical talent with his love for the theatrical and philosophy. He made his own art film about what the pandemic made us all feel, makes us laugh with funny songs but also doesn't shy away from being vulnerable and crushes our hearts. I very much believe that Inside is going to be a timeless classic, that everyone will try to replicate but there will never be anything else like this. I don't know if Bo will ever return on stage and do classic stand-up, and I hope he will be feeling well enough for it, but I'm certain that he has found his calling as a director and film performer.
I absolutely love the special, admittedly i spent 80% of it crying but its a masterpiece for sure. I hope bo is proud of it
Bo is the perfect embodiment of someone that can simultaneously be an expert at comedy and at tragedy. Pure genius. On a spiritual level, I genuinely think he might be the reincarnation of William Shakespeare.
I have a feeling that we are going to see a lot of movies about life during Quarantine in the future, and yet I think that this could be one of the best depictions of the loneliness that many experienced during this time.
I didn't know Bo before this special and I am kind of glad I started here and have been back tracking his career , Inside is absolute genius at work, these songs are amazing, I hope he wins ALL the awards for this! Grammys, Emmys, all of them. I want his heart to be awarded for this gift he shared w all of us
I love seeing new bo fans! I’ve been a fan for years and it’s been amazing seeing him grow up and go from being an edgy teenage satire comedian (prob a bit too edgy for today’s tastes) and evolve into such a nuanced performer.
Great content, loved your take. You summed it up in a way I wish could have the past week instead of clunkily trying to explain to my friends why they'll love it 😅
thank you so much! took a lot of rewrites to get my thoughts into something that wasn't three hours long haha
@@aech-em so when is the 3 hour version dropping?
@@bdmatsterrr #ReleaseTheHaydenCut
@@aech-em hell yeah!
I love this special. People don't think of comedy as an art form but it really is.
The way he balances comedy and tragedy reminds me of Hannah Gadsby and I love it so much and he did this in such a unique way so to find that balance AND get his lights how he wanted them finally really did make a beautiful ass special
Also we were both 10 at the same time so happy graduation! Congrats to us
Somewhere, Zach Galifinakis is watching this special and wondering why he didn't think of it first 🤣
I didn’t even pull a lot of quarantine from the special, although I get that there were huge themes about it, I really saw this perspective from the mental health aspect. Which is why I think it will age well.
Bo made one of the greatest pieces of art I have ever seen. Watched the special 5 times and have been listening to his songs over and over again. Dude is brilliant.
Fantastic. Seen a ton of reviews and this is in the sweet spot
You mention that Bo was "hiding" this from us, and I seriously agree! But really, especially after going down a rabbit hole of Bo's content from inside to his EP Bo Fo Sho, he never really did hide this from us. We as the audience just never wanted to admit to certain aspects of Bo's performances. Bo had always hinted, and also blatantly exclaimed, how poor his mental health was. Whether you take his special Make Happy- or songs like ART IS DEAD, RANT, We Think We Know You, or Left Brain Right Brain- you can see how Bo breaks segments of his comedic stage persona with moments of his raw thoughts. Similarly, while the space was different in each, all of Bo's specials were filmed in one area for that special. Even with the lighting, it's no wonder that Bo put so much detail in Inside's lighting when you look back through his other specials. Once again, Make Happy and We Think We Know You especially encapsulate that- but Bo Burnham also added segments in his shows where he would tell the light person to do something different because he didn't like what they originally chose. Not negative; I just wanted to share this since your statement made me think!!
Well said, you took the words out of my mouth.
Man this is one of the best video essays I’ve seen so far. I love it I look forward to more from you
how the fuck do this channel only have 500 subs, it feels so much more professional. this video is amazing
Great video! And yes, I also have no fucking clue as to what the hell did we do to deserve something this good. INSIDE is not only Bo's best work, I'd even go as far to say pretty much a landmark in comedy, period. I have not seen anything that was equally as funny as it was deep and introspective, and I don't think there's anyone else other than Bo that could pull that feeling off.
6:37; he definitely has never hidden it. he’s been on youtube since like 2007. Super consistent. I actually discovered him fir myself browsing youtubes in like 2011 then forgot about him for a long time amd following other interests, and have recently rediscovered him.
I’m watching “inside” everyday. Your essay was one of the very best I’ve watched on the topic, but it’s the most personal and honest. I wold like to do something like this myself!
Summed up the show super well, in my opinion.
Excellent video essay, man. I look forward to what you might have in store next.
It's like facing all your demons at once. Breakdown. Delirium. Facing death and deciding you really do want to live.
Then getting full manageable clarity. It's how I felt after a week of sobriety in 2018. Clear.
There's no way this will be dated in 3 years. He didn't just capture the feelings of being trapped inside because of the pandemic, but captured the feelings of mental illness.
This will make him legend.
He has matured so much.
This special is the epithome of everything he's always worked on as an artist. I suggest you go down the Burnham rabbit hole once again, now that you're a bit older (and maybe once more a few years from now, as well, I mean, you're still a teenager and your life perspectives will continue to change an awful lot - also, Bo was about your age when he started, so he can walk you through your own life experiences up until his turning 30). Don't worry about your fellow tiktokers, do you.
I honestly don't think Inside will be dated soon at all. Yes it was made as a direct result of the pandemic and Bo being in quarantine, but it doesn't feel like the special is really about that, but rather about mental health under capitalism and in the modern/technological age, as well as the general impending sense of doom that it's easy to feel when looking these massive global threats of ours right in the eye (COVID unfortunately being only one of them). I don't think those things are going to feel any less relevant any time soon, as much as I'd like them to.
This makes "Can't Handle This" from "Make Happy" which was released in 2015 take on a whole new meaning knowing that he has spent the last 5 years trying to work on himself ....
I feel old. "all the way back in 2013 when I was 10 years old"
Bro, how does this man only have 300 subs. (not that that’s not an achievement) This video is a banger.
thank you! the success of this video has really motivated me to get back into making videos, it makes me real happy to see people enjoying them:) thank you for watching!
Agreed. This is a world class assessment.
9 minutes well spent.
I remember being in middle school hearing songs like little Adolph. I hope we can continue to see him grow and he finds the happiness he is so desperately looking for
This is my favourite movie of the decade... Yes movie. I've only watched it twice but I've been through the album a dozen times and I'm gonna watch this again.
I love all of Bo's work. He is my favorite comedian. I also love the movie he wrote, 8th Grade.
I finally decided to watch that after enjoying Inside so much....I had to pause it halfway through because I was crying so much. I didn't expect it to have such an impact on me.
Loved this analysis! Bo is a literal genius
Hey man you should make more of this... it's a good ass take
Everytime I watch it I discover something new. The music is actually good. I don't even know what to call it, that's one reason what makes it so brilliant. Bo may have created something new, if it can done again. Someone quoted Pagliacci, and I think that may be the closest thing to Bo.
Starting your essay with the OST from "Synecdoche New York" is a great move.
I just finished this and was really surprised how amazing it was. Really hope he's proud of it.
You very eloquently expressed what so many of us would like to say. Thank you.
I don’t think this special is about Quarantine at all. I see it as a reflection of his depressed years away from performing and his own tendencie to hide away from the world.
the little synecdoche parallels in your video is fucking brilliant
Awesome video!! Can't wait to see more from you!
I've thought about it every day since I've watched it and that was a month ago
i can't think of anything more meaningful or deep to say, so: "Is the dude big, or is the room small?" This can symbolize things like outgrowing your limitations but not being able to expand them, but.... He is 196cm tall. So the dude is big either way.
How do you only have 481 subs? Dear lord. This video was so quality.
thank you! i can only accredit it to the fact that i haven’t been doing this type of content very long, nor have i been doing it consistently. i do plan on and have been making more tho, so stay tuned!
God!! He's SO talented and raw that it hurts!!!! I laughed, and I cried. And I laughed till I cried, and I got emotionally torn up, just sat there a few times in complete awe. JUST saw it for the first time. Won't be able to sleep for a while now. I'm just completely blown away
Chill out
No
How do you only have 137 subscribers this is great
thank you! if i’d been uploading regularly since i started this channel that’d probably be different haha, either way i’m not complaining lmao
Awesome video! It’s great to see this special has affected so many people as much as me! I have been rewatching it so many times and listening to the music nonstop! I don’t like calling anything a “masterpiece” cause it’s been so overused but as soon as I finished this, I was in awe of Bo’s genius. It is truly a masterpiece! ♥️
I was completely blown away. He captured lockdown and the insanity of the past year without ever explicitly talking about either.
you summed up my thoughts perfectly, I don’t know how else to say it lol, great video man!
Loved this. How the fuck don't you have more subs. 111k views, 5k likes. Show this creator some love. Great production, voice and insight. I can't wait to see what you do going forward.
I related to his special... and relate to exactly your feelings towards it.
I related to it so much and it change my view on him and comedy.... it’s fantastic. I straight away wanted to watch it again and told everyone about it. Genius it is. I even used the word magnum opus. Crazy.
you’re 18? fuck i feel under-accomplished (nice video!)
17, actually. december baby gang 😪
I had to look up videos where his face appears so I could feel like I wasn't hallucinating about this voice belonging to someone this young lol
It’s brilliant, I’ve seen it 4 times in the past 2 days 💕
Embarrassed to admit it because he fell "under the wing of those Naruto running band kids". Well spoken words from someone suffering from PTSD of being "that kid"
"catastrophically disruptive" --- YES!
you put it so well
It is a masterpiece... But besides that... Dude...Can you tell me what that piano piece is that comes in as background at 07:27 ? behind your summation? Cheers.
it's called "Piano One" by Jon Brion. it's from the soundtrack to the film Synecdoche, New York. thanks for watching! :)
@@aech-em ... Thanks... I've seen the film ( Which I'd forgotten about? Age related dementia methinks)...Anyway... Thanks for that... I shall seek it out. x ;-)
Really impressive video for such a small channel! Those are the types of comments I get on my Growing Up With Minecraft video essay (like the only video I have pushing 5k) and I know how they feel now, I was really pleasantly surprised here man and I’m glad I found it, you projected my thoughts about this film better than I could have myself :)
he wasn't hiding it very deep, he was always clearly gifted
Yup, “I’m in shock” is the best way to put it.
Bo tells you all about his politics when he says that private property is essentially theft.
And literally nobody fucking cares. Nobody talks about those bits in Inside, even though they were all over the place. That’s what bothers me about all these reviews. They completely miss the point. This is a societal critique, and as is usual, people completely fucking missed the point.
How the World Works? The tech critiques? The Bezos song? The off-hand socialist comments?
It pisses me off that no one brings these up or only brings them up in small sections without recognizing the overall theme (Capitalism is fucking killing us).
Anyway that’s my rant. Have a good day people.
1. Yes exactly. He spews ultra progressive Marxist statements like that one. Because a part of him believes and embraces those types of ideas.
2. No, exactly the opposite. He points out the absurdity of Comrade Socko’s over-the-top political views when he demonizes ALL the corporate elite by implying every single one of them are pedophiles. “Should I give away my money? NO!”
3. The big point of Bo’s that you’re missing or forgetting is that he is conflicted. He sees that different ideas have their merits and flaws, humorously exposes some of each, and finally tries to nudge his audience a little further towards where he believes the world would be a better place if nudged. Good art doesn’t tell you how to think, it gives you things to think about.
The keystone of an intelligent mind is the willingness to consider new ideas and new information, change one’s opinions based on the new data/ideas, and yet still continue to search for additional information that could either strengthen or reverse the current opinion. Bo Burnham repeatedly exemplifies this quality, he expounds on his love-hate relationships with money, performing, art, privilege, gender, race, etc. His inner conflicts are what make him anxious and unhappy and are why so many of us relate to him, and he has conflict and anxiety about that too. I often wonder if it would be better to be dumb and happy… ignorance is bliss and all that…
@@musicdev Capitalism is what freed the world... Small injections of Capitalism is what is slowly improving China... Free trade and supply and demand is Capitalism... The word you might be looking for is Cronyism... Yea Cronyism can infect any and every economic system... The private property as theft bit is an Anarchist Trope...
@@glennsirishsetters-davidgl7752 I was think more of an Anarchist...
You are 100% correct in this. I agree wholeheartedly
Great analysis!!
Bro i have watched it five times already that is a masterpiece
I'm not the only one that sees really big parallels or homages to "I'm thinking of Ending Things" right? I'm not crazy for thinking I see that, right?
EXCELLENT essay, editing, and voice! 🙏👑
I stayed outside and surrounded by my family the entire Quarantine
And i dont really recall he saying "virus" in any moment. Genious