This is the episode that demonstrated it's possible to use Arrested Development characters and actors and still wind up with a bad episode. The key ingredient is a new writer who, thankfully, never wrote another episode. And unlike other episodes that improved upon second viewing, this one worsened.
I've heard of fans who disliked this because the ill Tobias came across as disgusting. More disgusting still was a dried, dead turtle seen falling apart. Previous jokes about dead animals in good episodes were never so graphic; they didn't need to be. The turtle belongs to Buster, who named it Mother, so here we see the motherboy turned to Norman Bates. Not appealing.
The main plot of the episode, though, is whether Lucille will have an affair, but none of the characters except Michael actually care. Their apathy spread to me. Part of that related to George plotting another ridiculous escape, and here he does it in a completely unoriginal way (the same way from the season 2 finale). Here's a question left unanswered: If Michael cares about his parents' faithfulness, why did he suggest she go on a date in the first season 3 episode? Michael even says it's his duty to keep the family together. Taken right from the opening credits.
I've heard of fans who disliked this because the ill Tobias came across as disgusting. More disgusting still was a dried, dead turtle seen falling apart. Previous jokes about dead animals in good episodes were never so graphic; they didn't need to be. The turtle belongs to Buster, who named it Mother, so here we see the motherboy turned to Norman Bates. Not appealing.
The main plot of the episode, though, is whether Lucille will have an affair, but none of the characters except Michael actually care. Their apathy spread to me. Part of that related to George plotting another ridiculous escape, and here he does it in a completely unoriginal way (the same way from the season 2 finale). Here's a question left unanswered: If Michael cares about his parents' faithfulness, why did he suggest she go on a date in the first season 3 episode? Michael even says it's his duty to keep the family together. Taken right from the opening credits.
