create a topic with Arrested Development in the subject line

[Reply #480 on:]

Yeah, I definitely didn't think much of the first few episodes on my first viewing of season 4 - but once you know where it's all going, even they play far better on repeat viewings.

[Reply #481 on:]

I decided to watch Arrested Development as I've seen references and some intriguing stuff on this thread.

Somehow I didn't expect it exactly being a sitcom, but I like it. Especially narration and all that is my type of humor. I'm only two seasons in, but if there's something I've learnt, there's always money on banana stand.

[Reply #482 on:]

It may be a sit-com, but it's definitely not a traditional one (especially when taking into account the highly experimental format of its most recent season).

Glad to see another person on board the Ann Hog, though!

[Reply #483 on:]

I've been rewatching it recently too, up to Season 3 so far, and I still marvel at how much it all stands up.

[Reply #484 on:]

Oh, much like classic-era Simpsons and Monty Python, Arrested Development is timeless (save from a few dated cultural references).

Also, did anyone see this the other day? Producer Brian Grazer is claiming Netflix have picked up the show for a fifth season of 17 episodes!

[Reply #485 on:]

Just hope they improve from the last run. It was meh, alright, just some episodes were way too long and some subplots were too drawn out and unfunny, notably Tobias and his crack lady.

[Reply #486 on:]

I agree that season 4 could've been trimmed (at least in terms of the pacing within individual scenes, much like this current season of Community), but I still thought it was utter genius. And I actually liked the Tobias/DeBrie story, if only for how completely fucked up it became. My main issue was with the George Sr. episodes, which really should've been compressed into a single installment - especially given that a significant portion of the second George Sr. episode, Double Crossers, also seemed to function as a dumping ground for leftover scenes from other characters' stories.

I believe Hurwitz and co. have already said that the next season of the show will be presented in a more linear fashion, though this will require having a larger portion of the main cast together in more scenes, and as we know, the fourth season of the show had quite a few scheduling issues, given how busy most of the cast is these days. Though this may just mean a bit of a longer wait for season 5... And so long as we don't have another 7 year gap between seasons, I'm fine with that.

[Reply #487 on:]

I loved season 4. It wasn't without its flaws, but overall, I think I'd actually take it over season 2.

I suppose this means that the film continuation of season 4 is off, then? I'm not too bothered. I'd rather just have another season.

[Reply #488 on:]

As would I. Frankly, I have my doubts that AD could ever truly work in that particular format, and would always prefer the option that ultimately results in more material. I assume this announcement means that season 5 will pick up where 4 left off, but the possibility of a movie at some point in the future would (presumably) still be open.

[Reply #489 on:]

It certainly sounds like the murder mystery movie they were setting up with all of season 4 won't be happening, at very least.

[Reply #490 on:]

But now we get a murder mystery season!

[Reply #491 on:]

Recently got into this show; it's brilliant. Gob and Tobias are absolutely hilarious.

"Gobias", as in, "Go-buy-us a coffee"

[Reply #492 on:]

Yay, I finished the series just in time to wait for the next season. And in conclusion, I can say I didn't make a huge mistake.

As for season 4, I liked the concept a lot and all in all, I'd say it's pretty much on par with rest of the series. I didn't know there was supposed to be more after season 4 (even though it was open-ended), but I'm glad to see there is.

[Reply #493 on:]

I think Hurwitz said that season 4 was "the first installment of a new trilogy" for the show, so the plan was always to continue it at some point.

Given that season 3 wrapped up the show almost perfectly (save from a few loose ends, such as Steve Holt disappearing completely around the half-way point), it'd be pretty damn evil to unravel it all only to end on a cliffhanger and then leave it there.

[Reply #494 on:]

Yeah, my understanding was that he was writing the movie and it ended up being so long after the events of season 3 that he had to start writing explanations of what each character had been up to in the meantime and that ended up being about a third of the movie so he felt that they needed to make a new season as a prologue to the film, bridging the gap.

I then heard that he had plans to continue the show after the film - largely based on how long the script was - so I think the original plan was: season 4, movie, season 5, but now it looks like we're getting: season 4, season 5, ?, instead.

[Reply #495 on:]

I'd be very happy with 6 seasons (1-3 being the first act of the overall story and 4-6 being the second).

I think the other reason the movie originally fell through was the difficulties in scheduling the cast - though keep in mind this was a couple of years before the show was picked up by Netflix. They seem determined for season 5 to have more "full cast" scenes.

[Reply #496 on:]

My understanding from what Hurwitz himself had said after season 4 was that he wasn't dead set on either a new season or a movie having to be the next thing to happen, and that it would literally just come down to whichever opportunity presented itself first. Since Netflix said after season 4 that they were ready to do the next season whenever Hurwitz was, I was pretty much expecting that to be the most likely occurrence.

I'm glad. As I said before, I don't think the cliffhanger from the end of season 4 was a very good setup for a feature film. They can definitely come up with a better premise for a movie than "Michael and George Michael are mad at each other."

[Reply #497 on:]

Season 4 ended with Buster getting arrested for Lucille 2's murder, and your takeaway was "Michael and George Michael are mad at each other?"

[Reply #498 on:]

Yes. Yes it was.

While the Lucille 2 stuff may have technically been more juicy (though personally I think they dragged it out enough that what we ended on wasn't quite that shocking), the tension between Michael and George Michael was clearly positioned as the A-story...hence it being the final scene the season ended on.

[Reply #499 on:]

Did you watch the post-credits scenes for that episode? It seems pretty much a given that the next installment will primarily focus on the murder mystery. The whole season gave every character motivation to kill her, after all.

I'm noy saying the Michael/George Michael stuff isn't important too, but Michael's been an asshole for ages now. That was a long time coming.

[Reply #500 on:]

Has he? He's definitely had his bad moments throughout the show, but in the first three seasons he generally never went too far over the edge. Season 4 seemed to be a huuuuuge downslide for his character, even starting with the first episode he seemed to have become a much more pathetic, petty, oblivious individual with little to redeem himself beyond favorable comparisons to most of his family members.

[Reply #501 on:]

He became an increasingly worse person over the course of the first 3 seasons - season 4 was just the natural progression continued (though accelerated due to the 5 year time jump within the narrative). Hell, this is a man who is so self-involved and oblivious to those around him that he was able to date a mentally retarded woman for several weeks/months without realising it.

Granted, in the original run, he was rarely ever actively conspiring to do bad things the way he was in season 4 (and, even in season 4, he'd still find a way rationalise his horrible actions to himself), but for a very long time, the joke was that Michael is equally as awful as the rest of the family, but too damn delusional to possess any awareness of this fact.

Season 1 may be the only season of the show where he's arguably a good person, but you could see him already beginning to unravel by the end of that season. And yes, Michael definitely hit rock bottom in season 4, but so did every other character.

[Reply #502 on:]

Okay, I'm now caught up on the show.

I was initially put off my the weirdness of the fourth season but it definitely had its moments.

Favourite parts:
-The running gag with the empty seats at Lucille's trial
-The "vulture" Michael hears turning out to be Maeby swearing
-The whole scene with Tobias being arrested
-The awkward "mask" situation between Gob, Tony and Egg Anne
-The sharpened noodle
-Michael slowly kicking everyone out the movie
-"ANUSTART"
-Lindsay's "guru" in India eventually turning out to be Maeby
-The ball-pit fight with Gob and Michael

[Reply #503 on:]

No mention of the greatest gag of the entire season?

[Reply #504 on:]

Looking back, I also really enjoyed George-Michael's ridiculous long "thinking period" while the narrator talked; the longer it took for him to start talking, the funnier it became.

I feel like I should rewatch season 4 because it seems like there's a lot to take it and a great deal of jokes that rely on knowing what's going to happen.

[Reply #505 on:]

That really applies for the entire series, to be honest.

[Reply #506 on:]

I've almost finished re-watching season 4.

I'm still amazed by how well-structured and layered it is, and it does a fantastic job of allowing the viewer to catch up with each character and discover what they have been up to since 2006.

I still think it suffers in the first few episodes (the first George Sr. episode being the worst offender), and in long scenes with one or fewer main characters being a slight drag. Along with this, the structure leaves us with some characters appearing loads in the first half (George, Lindsay) and very little later on, while others don't appear for much later (Buster, George-Michael). I would suggest that they should have separated them a little, they'd probably throw off the flow of the whole season so it's really an invalid argument.

It may be an unpopular opinion, but I think the Lucille episode may be my favourite as it stays so true to the character, but also allows us to sympathize a little with her which not even the original run did very often. Although Lucille is my favourite character, so I may be a little bias.

It's definitely not the best season of the show, obviously, but I appreciate the hell out of it and I'm glad that it happened - if only for the promise of a season 5 with the entire cast together.

[Reply #507 on:]

Season 5 confirmed for mid-2016 release on Netflix.

[Reply #508 on:]

Arrested Development is definitely worth the second time through viewing. Two things I've been surprised to learn; Ron Howard is the Narrator and David Cross voiced Yivo in Futurama.

the greatest gag of the entire season?

"Thanksgiving dinner."

Indeed.

Season 5 confirmed for mid-2016 release on Netflix.

Huzzah, it's ANUSTART2!

[Reply #509 on:]

Arrested Development is definitely worth the second time through viewing.

Oh, it needs more viewings than that. The writing is so dense, I still find new things in episodes I've seen 50+ times.

[Reply #510 on:]

I've been trying to convince my brother that it's not a dumb sitcom but he's hard to sway.

Whatever. I never cared for Mark.

[Reply #511 on:]

Find a review that emphasises the intricate writing of the show and make him read it? Or just sit him down and force him to watch Mr. F or something.

[Reply #512 on:]

Apparently season 5 will feature

Show spoiler

Buster being arrested as a focal plot point.

Source.

[Reply #513 on:]

Just finished watching the series once over, for the first time. It's good! Season four is funk(a)y, but the narration humor improves, and I'm a huge fan of episodes focusing on sole characters.

Michael's character worsens past season one, but I still find him sympathetic. He faces unfortunate situations and makes terrible decisions, but may have favorable intentions compared to some of the other family members. Is oblivious self-centeredness better or worse than maliciousness?

I don't know how many times I watched the "Hey, that's the name of the show!" clip.

Show spoiler

Roll credits.

[Reply #514 on:]

Ding!

It's funny how in the first three seasons, Michael seems fairly normal and rational, and yet in the fourth it becomes apparent how pathetic he is, without his behavior being particularly different.

[Reply #515 on:]

It's in the fourth season that Michael's relationship with George Michael really crashes. I think that's a lot of what kept him decent earlier. After "Da Michael" it's just a downward spiral. Or something.

[Reply #516 on:]

It's funny how in the first three seasons, Michael seems fairly normal and rational, and yet in the fourth it becomes apparent how pathetic he is, without his behavior being particularly different.

I'd say he's been pretty rephensible since about season 2 or 3. Hell, he was self-absorbed enough to be dating Rita for several weeks/months without realising she was mentally challenged. Not to mention all the things he forced George Michael to do against his will (the election, Openings, etc.). That punch in the face was a loooooong time coming.

[Reply #517 on:]

It's funny how in the first three seasons, Michael seems fairly normal and rational, and yet in the fourth it becomes apparent how pathetic he is, without his behavior being particularly different.

I'd say he's been pretty rephensible since about season 2 or 3. Hell, he was self-absorbed enough to be dating Rita for several weeks/months without realising she was mentally challenged. Not to mention all the things he forced George Michael to do against his will (the election, Openings, etc.). That punch in the face was a loooooong time coming.

Despite all that though, he's still miles more competent than the rest of his family (well, George Michael's okay) and the fact that he's mostly separated from them in season 4 is what makes his true colours stand out.

Man, what a useless, horrible family. Remind me not to invest in Bluth stock.

[Reply #518 on:]

Despite all that though, he's still miles more competent than the rest of his family (well, George Michael's okay) and the fact that he's mostly separated from them in season 4 is what makes his true colours stand out.

I'm not sure if "competent" is really the best word - the overall theme of the show (which is also the title of the show) depends on these characters failing to grow or progress as people. Michael may not have tarnished the Bluth name with criminal activities like his parents, but Sudden Valley was still a massive failure, as has been the case with every project he's taken on. What drives Michael is the sense of superiority he feels over his family. He may act as though he hates having to bail them out of their constant drama, but really, he needs them as much as they need him (and, by extension, each other, which is what I feel season 4 was really all about).

As for George Michael, he definitely became a true Bluth in season 4. The fact that he now has a non-existent company built entirely on a lie pretty much embodies everything the Bluth family ever truly achieved. Think of the fake house in The One Where They Build a House, which looked like a nice house from the outside but had a completely hollow interior - it's the exact same metaphor for the Bluths as FakeBlock. Though I'd have at least thought George Michael would be smart enough to use the real money he'd received for his fake company to hire a bunch of programmers and just actually build the damn software.

[Reply #519 on:]

I have admittedly only seen the series once so I don't think I'm in any position to try and write a counter-essay, so I'll take your word for it. Michael's smugness does sound familiar and I actually forgot about the FakeBlock story arc until you mentioned it.