‘Arrested Development’ is freed from Season 4 blahs
Sometimes it takes five years to find your way back.
The long-awaited fifth season of Netflix’s resurrected Arrested Development (streaming May 29, ★★★☆) has (mostly) recaptured the glory days of its first three seasons on Fox more than a decade ago. Gone are the singlecharacter episodes, extraneous guest stars and (unintentionally) awkward storylines from the 2013 fourth season. Back are the kissing-cousins jokes, the reusable banners, the family member in prison and scenes that feature multiple cast members, without trickery. .
In essence, it’s a lot like what fans thought they were getting when Netflix announced it was reviving the cult sitcom.
Season 5 makes a conscious and consistent effort to be the anti-Season 4, which was recently re-edited and re-released in slightly more coherent fashion, but still has issues. The characters are together, frequently, and they are unconcerned with anything but Bluth family drama. There’s no reaching to incorporate modern events into the series (although Donald Trump’s campaign and presidency fit in seamlessly with the show’s aesthetic.) There are far fewer guest stars, the episodes are shorter and the characters spend more time in familiar locations. The Bluths are still dealing with the fallout from Season 4, but everything feels more natural.
The season is set mainly in 2015, when, spurred by Trump’s presidential campaign, Lucille (Jessica Walters) resumes her project to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico and persuades Lindsay (Portia de Rossi) to run for Congress to help the effort. Michael (Jason Bateman) and George Michael (Michael Cera) are still trying to figure out how to fix their relationship after they both unwittingly dated the same woman (Isla Fisher). Buster (Tony Hale) tries to make it on his own at the model home.
The rest of the family — including Gob (Will Arnett) George Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), Maeby (Alia Shawkat) and Tobias (David Cross) — is reunited in Orange County for Lindsay’s cam-
paign. But nobody knows what happened to poor Lucille “Two” Austero (Liza Minnelli).
The season is faster-paced and makes better use of the recurring gags from its entire run. But though it’s a considerable improvement on Season 4, the fifth season still can’t reach the heights of the first three.
Arrested was strange and unique in 2003. But while writers can play with self-referential in-jokes, the classic moments can’t be topped. It’s just not as funny the second time Tobias “blue himself.” And it’s hard to ignore the accusations of sexual harassment against Tambor.
However, the long gap since its original run gives some cast members the opportunity to shine more brightly. As adults, Maeby and George Michael are more involved in the family’s depravity, and Shawkat deservedly gets more screen time.
One of the best recurring gags is Michael’s realization that he’s never going to leave his family for good. No matter how many times he says “goodbye forever,” he’s still going to find his way back. Watching the fifth season is a lot like being Michael: You have to accept the reality that you’re never going to get exactly what you want, but you still love it and are going to keep coming back anyway.
Though it’s a considerable improvement on Season 4, the fifth season still can’t reach the heights of the first three.