So we’ve finally made it to the end of this much anticipated fourth season of Arrested Development and it only makes sense that it would focus on George Michael and his father.
I went into "Blockheads" with high hopes and sadly was let down with an episode that was full of story but not much of the humor and wit that has been a trademark of the series.
With the beginning of this episode we are back to Michael and George Michael on the phone. I’m a little amazed as to how much screentime this one conversation has garnered and even more so that someone thought it was a good idea.
It was perhaps funny the first time, but by the time we get to "Blockheads," I’ve reached the point that I never want to see either actor on the phone again.
Yes they added more to the conversation,...
I went into "Blockheads" with high hopes and sadly was let down with an episode that was full of story but not much of the humor and wit that has been a trademark of the series.
With the beginning of this episode we are back to Michael and George Michael on the phone. I’m a little amazed as to how much screentime this one conversation has garnered and even more so that someone thought it was a good idea.
It was perhaps funny the first time, but by the time we get to "Blockheads," I’ve reached the point that I never want to see either actor on the phone again.
Yes they added more to the conversation,...
- 6/10/2013
- by matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff)
- TVfanatic
While his parents and siblings might be the main focus of the story, it’s Buster Bluth that provides so many of the memorable moments in both the Arrested Development of the past and this new season, most especially in "Off the Hook."
In an episode that relied heavily on callbacks and tropes, we are reminded how much better the Bluths are when they are working together. At the same time. On the same screen.
It would be very easy to fall into a roofie circle when it comes to a character like Buster Bluth, repeating the same jokes ad naseum, because he doesn’t have much depth to him so it’s impressive that the writers were able to take this Motherboy and have 35 minutes revolve solely around him. I don’t know that is was a complete success because so much of what makes Buster, Buster, is his relationships.
In an episode that relied heavily on callbacks and tropes, we are reminded how much better the Bluths are when they are working together. At the same time. On the same screen.
It would be very easy to fall into a roofie circle when it comes to a character like Buster Bluth, repeating the same jokes ad naseum, because he doesn’t have much depth to him so it’s impressive that the writers were able to take this Motherboy and have 35 minutes revolve solely around him. I don’t know that is was a complete success because so much of what makes Buster, Buster, is his relationships.
- 6/9/2013
- by matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff)
- TVfanatic
Is there any greater Arrested Development character than Lucille Bluth? Jessica Walter does an incredible job portraying the scheming, booze addled, snarky, hasn’t-cried-in-60 years, loving mother.
As the driving force behind the wall, Lucille’s arrested development - "Queen B." - goes far in pulling together many loose strings.
The episode picks up with Lucille commandeering the Queen Mary and the immediate aftermath. Of course Buster would be her alibi. Was there ever any doubt?
Tony Hale specializes in playing the co-dependent spineless man. Whether it be as Buster Bluth or Gary Walsh on Veep, he seems right at home yelling about a woman’s lipstick. It’s a gift, really. However, even the most weak-willed person will reach his breaking point and apparently it’s around the seventh cigarette in a half hour point.
At first the cigarette thing was mildly amusing, but it certainly did not have...
As the driving force behind the wall, Lucille’s arrested development - "Queen B." - goes far in pulling together many loose strings.
The episode picks up with Lucille commandeering the Queen Mary and the immediate aftermath. Of course Buster would be her alibi. Was there ever any doubt?
Tony Hale specializes in playing the co-dependent spineless man. Whether it be as Buster Bluth or Gary Walsh on Veep, he seems right at home yelling about a woman’s lipstick. It’s a gift, really. However, even the most weak-willed person will reach his breaking point and apparently it’s around the seventh cigarette in a half hour point.
At first the cigarette thing was mildly amusing, but it certainly did not have...
- 6/5/2013
- by miranda.wicker@gmail.com (Miranda Wicker)
- TVfanatic
If you’ve ever read any of my previous blatherings about television, you’d know that one of my favorite things is when a comedy has an emotional element that draws you in.
Whether it be through the actual storyline or through the growth and advancement of the character alone, if you make me emotionally invested, I will likely remain watching and tell everyone I know all about it. Such was the case with this episode of Arrested Development.
"Smashed" provided a great example of this as Tobias Funke becomes less of a caricature and more of a character. This is Tobias’ arrested development.
When we last saw Tobias he’d run into a bit of trouble with the law thanks to one John Beard and his show To Catch a Local Predator. Thanks to a brief prison stay he takes Lucille 2 up on her offer to be a therapist...
Whether it be through the actual storyline or through the growth and advancement of the character alone, if you make me emotionally invested, I will likely remain watching and tell everyone I know all about it. Such was the case with this episode of Arrested Development.
"Smashed" provided a great example of this as Tobias Funke becomes less of a caricature and more of a character. This is Tobias’ arrested development.
When we last saw Tobias he’d run into a bit of trouble with the law thanks to one John Beard and his show To Catch a Local Predator. Thanks to a brief prison stay he takes Lucille 2 up on her offer to be a therapist...
- 6/4/2013
- by matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff)
- TVfanatic
Arrested Development made a name for itself not only for its smart humor, but also its ability to work in callbacks both blatant and with a bit more subtlety.
Gob’s Arrested Development, "Colony Collapse," was an exercise in both, as well as a healthy dose of running gags. We run it down below in our continuing 15 Days of Arrested Development Season 4 on TV Fanatic...
As with almost every other show, especially comedies, to truly appreciate certain aspects one must be familiar with the people behind the camera. Right off the bat with this episode we meet the baby-faced popstar Mark Cherry who would be a little shoutout to Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry who has worked together with Mitch Hurwitz on various projects through the years. That reference, and the mention of Modern Family, alludes to Hurwitz once saying that he feels Modern Family is a broad reaching, more...
Gob’s Arrested Development, "Colony Collapse," was an exercise in both, as well as a healthy dose of running gags. We run it down below in our continuing 15 Days of Arrested Development Season 4 on TV Fanatic...
As with almost every other show, especially comedies, to truly appreciate certain aspects one must be familiar with the people behind the camera. Right off the bat with this episode we meet the baby-faced popstar Mark Cherry who would be a little shoutout to Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry who has worked together with Mitch Hurwitz on various projects through the years. That reference, and the mention of Modern Family, alludes to Hurwitz once saying that he feels Modern Family is a broad reaching, more...
- 6/2/2013
- by matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff)
- TVfanatic
With this new format Arrested Development was forced to take - and I'm not sure how else they would have pulled off a new season without doing it like this - there are bound to be some episodes that just don’t work as well as others.
"Double Crossers" was one of those.
Welcome to George Sr.’s second arrested development.
I am a big fan of Terry Crews, am looking forward to seeing him this fall on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and enjoyed his performance on Arrested Development, but I have to wonder: isn’t it a bit late to be doing a Herman Cain impression? I mean, I don’t think people are even commenting on his YouTube videos anymore and that’s a sure sign that your 15 minutes have passed.
I imagine when Hurwitz and company were writing this season of Ad, Cain was probably a bit more in...
"Double Crossers" was one of those.
Welcome to George Sr.’s second arrested development.
I am a big fan of Terry Crews, am looking forward to seeing him this fall on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and enjoyed his performance on Arrested Development, but I have to wonder: isn’t it a bit late to be doing a Herman Cain impression? I mean, I don’t think people are even commenting on his YouTube videos anymore and that’s a sure sign that your 15 minutes have passed.
I imagine when Hurwitz and company were writing this season of Ad, Cain was probably a bit more in...
- 6/1/2013
- by matt@tvfanatic.com (TV Fanatic Staff)
- TVfanatic
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