Now that the long rumoured Arrested Development season four is said to be a for sure it is as good a time as any to review seasons one through three.
From the beginning this sitcom was a beast of a different nature and critically acclaimed. The Bluth family is a wealthy family that is suddenly having to adjust to being broke. Their father George Sr. (played by Jeffrey Tambor) is in jail for his illegal business practices and the company is in disarray. Middle son (and the only responsible one) Michael (played by Jason Bateman) assumes the running of company and with a family like his they just about drive him crazy. He tells them they might actually have to get a job and just about has a mutiny on his hands.
Episode 1: Unaired Extended Pilot: The family is planning a retirement party for George Sr. on the yacht and Michael believes that his dad’s big announcement is making him partner in the business.
Episode 2: Top Banana: Michael is now running the company. George Sr. is having the time of his life in jail.
Episode 3: Bringing up Buster: Michael decides to rebuild the Frozen Banana stand as it is the only part of the company making money. Michael is wondering if George-Michael (played by Michael Cera) is pulling away from him.
Episode 4: Key Decisions: For a publicity stunt, Gob (played by Will Arnett) has himself incarcerated in the same prison as George Sr. so he can break out to prove he is a great magician. Michael brings Marta (played by Patricia Velasquez) to the Desis.
Episode 5: Visiting Ours: Tobias (played by David Cross) and Lindsay (played by Portia de Rossi) start seeing a marriage counselor. George-Michael asks Michael to bring him to see George Sr. in jail.
Episode 6: Charity Drive: Michael finds out his siblings have been using their father’s beloved car. Buster (played by Tony Hale) continues hiding from Lucille (played by Liza Minelli).
Episode 7: My Mother, The Car: Lindsay wants her father to appreciate her for more than her looks. The kids decide to throw their mother (played by Jessica Walter) a surprise party, which she has organized.
Episode 8: In God We Trust: Buster continues to keep dating Lucille in secret. Michael gets a new lawyer to try to get George Sr. out of jail.
Episode 9: Storming the Castle: Gob is in trouble with the guy who took over the magician organization from him. Lucille tries to break up Buster and Lucille.
Episode 10: Pier Pressure: Michael realizes that he might be putting too much pressure on George-Michael in regards to school. Lindsay punishes Maeby (played by Alia Shawkat) by making her work for the day with her grandma.
Episode 11: Public Relations: Michael hires a public relations expert in order to improve the family’s image. George-Michael does not want to go to Milford School as his father wishes him to.
Episode 12: Marta Complex: George-Michael’s looking for a sign about what to do about his crush on his cousin Maeby. Michael tricks his mother into throwing an anniversary party for Lindsay and Tobias.
Episode 13: Beef Consommé: Buster realizes he is in love with Marta. George-Michael is secretly investigating whether Maeby truly is his cousin.
Episode 14: Show and Aww: To shock people Maeby and Annyong (played by Justin Lee) go to the school dance together. Michael starts dating George-Michael’s ethics teacher, Beth (played by Heather Graham).
Episode 15: Staff Infection: Michael finds out that the entire family has been getting paychecks from the Bluth Company, so he gives them jobs. For a role in a film, Tobias goes to jail to study George Sr.’s life in prison.
Episode 16: Missing Kitty: It is spring break and everyone has different plans. Michael fires Kitty (played by Judy Greer) and it upsets George Sr.
Episode 17: Altar Egos: Cindy (played by Jane Lynch) admits to George Sr. that she is a government mole. Tobias and Lindsay hire George-Michael to tutor Maeby.
Episode 18: Justice is Blind: George-Michael discovers that Maeby has been living a double life. Gob is adjusting to married life.
Episode 19: Best Man for the Gob: Gob is having a bachelor party and Michael isn’t invited. Buster gets into the sugar…or fake blood.
Episode 20: Whistler’s Mother: The company gets an influx of money and everyone wants a piece of it. Gob’s wife (played by Amy Poehler) has fallen in love with Tobias and has joined the army.
Episode 21: Not Without My Daughter: Tobias applies for a job as a security cop at the mall. The same mall where Lindsay has been secretly working.
Episode 22: Let Them Eat Cake: Kitty is back and wants to run the Bluth Company or she’ll give up the evidence she has on George Sr. A book Tobias had written years ago is suddenly popular and he has some money coming in.
Special Features: Deleted + Extended Scenes, The Museum of Television + Radio: Q+A with the Cast and Creative Team of Arrested Development, TV Land – “Arrested Development: The Making of A Future Classic”, TV Land Awards – The Future Classic Award, Ron Howard Sneak Peek at Season 2, Arrested Development Promo “Blind”, Breaking Ground: Behind the Scenes of Arrested Development, Original Songs by David Schwartz
