"Arrested Development" Key Decisions (2003)

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

Anthony Russo

Writers:

Mitchell Hurwitz (creator)
Brad Copeland (written by)

TV Series:

"Arrested Development" (2003)

Original Air Date:

23 November 2003 (Season 1, Episode 4)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Determined to not be upstaged by his actress girlfriend, GOB decides to pull an elaborate escape at the Orange County Prison, where George Sr. is being held. Meanwhile, Michael falls for GOB's girlfriend Marta.

Plot Keywords:

Narrator | Identical Twins | Incest | Dumb Blonde | Cult Favorite

Cast

Jason Bateman	...	Michael Bluth
Portia de Rossi	...	Lindsay Bluth Fünke
Will Arnett	...	George "Gob" Bluth II
Michael Cera	...	George-Michael Bluth
Alia Shawkat	...	Mae "Maeby" Fünke
Tony Hale	...	Byron "Buster" Bluth
David Cross	...	Tobias Fünke (credit only)
Jeffrey Tambor	...	George Bluth Sr.
Jessica Walter	...	Lucille Bluth
Liza Minnelli	...	Lucille Austero
Leonor Varela	...	Marta Estrella
Clint Howard	...	Johnny Bark
John F. Beard	...	Himself (as John Beard)
David Reynolds	...	White Power Bill
Rocky McMurray	...	Warden James Buck

Quotes:

Gob: [while on Spanish-language television] I, too, have an announcement to make. To prove my worthiness into the Alliance, I will incarcerate myself in the same prison that holds my own father, only to escape 24 hours later! No shackles can hold these hands!
[to Marta]
Gob: Say that to them in Spanish.

Movie Connections:

References The Great Escape (1963)

A masterpiece episode, see it again and again

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This is one episode of Arrested Development that I could watch again and again. The fourth episode starts with a cold opening and establishes some running story lines for the first half of season 1, with Michael meeting and becoming infatuated with his brother GOB's girlfriend Marta. Meanwhile, Buster meets a girlfriend, Lindsay is becoming increasingly unhappy with her marriage, GOB sets out to prove himself as a magician, Michael gets a new vehicle for the family, and George Michael continues to harbour a forbidden crush on his cousin. The episode also introduces the line ''I've made a huge mistake'', which is used throughout the series right up until the last episode.

The episode guest stars Clint Howard, undoubtedly getting on the show because of his relation with producer-narrator Ron Howard. But Clint's not the most memorable part of the episode. This is an episode that gives us real conflict, with Michael developing a crush in spite of himself, having lost his wife two years ago, and torn because of his loyalty to his brother (when Michael tries to establish a relationship with Marta, the two hear the news that GOB has been stabbed in the back in a prison fight). We sympathize with GOB because of his lack of a relationship with his father, but at the same time we're supposed to see that he's not worthy of Marta. The episode's also delightfully funny from start to finish with sarcasm, irony, wit, physical humour and generally good dialogue. The music in this episode, including ''Cry Love'' and the original song ''You Here With Me'' as well as the Attic or Main House theme, is excellent.