It's been about a month since Arrested Development's entire fourth season premiered on Netflix, and therefore sufficient time to not only mull over and discuss the episodes, but give others the opportunity to do the same, I have finally decided to post some quick thoughts about the season (which, keep in mind, I have only watched the one time).
I had mixed emotions going into AD's fourth season. The original run happened so long ago and was so finely shaped by the times it existed in, that I was concerned how an Obama administration, a decimated and recovering housing market, a lack of Iraq war, and the existence of silly new technology would affect the feel of a show I truly love. The fact that these serious societal concerns can even be applied to a comedy goes to show how truly genius Arrested Development is and I was simply concerned that the same level of genius couldn't be repeated.
And the conclusion I have come to in regards to that concern probably best resembles a blurry gray area with some points. The fourth season itself has some incredibly funny moments and small little wry/clever jokes that only Arrested Development could deliver. Upon marathoning the season I found myself concerned that the show wasn't as funny as its original run. At first I found the character centric premise to be somewhat tiresome and grating while the individual episodes felt bloated and strange. But as the season continued, the episodes got better and better until we finally got to Maeby's truly hilarious and explanatory episode. And Maeby's episode led into George-Michael's which brought conclusion, cliff-hanger, and hilarity as well. So in the end, comedically, I'd have to say the season was overall a success. However, it took me some time to come to that conclusion.
I have to say that I did not laugh much during the first few episodes of season four. Don't get me wrong, I was having a good time and a couple of jokes here and there really tickled me, but it wasn't until probably Tobias' first episode that I felt the show finally found its footing. And thankfully, by Gob's episodes, I was fully on board (I'll go on the record as saying Gob and Maeby probably centered my favorite episodes). The recurring gags and jokes were working well and each episode managed to build on the humor and become funnier and funnier. However, I was still having issues up until the very end. And I immediately realized that the issues had more to do with the structure than anything else.
Now, going into the season, Mitchell Hurwitz and the cast did their best to set up the premise: that episodes were to be character-centric, that plot points were happening out of sequence, that it was all happening simultaneously and non-linearly, and we would have to piece it all together as we went along. We all knew this going in. And it was incredibly ambitious and at times quite successful. But as much as I admire it, I didn't love it. I found the constant revisiting of Cinco de Quatro (among other things) to be tiresome. I was getting antsy. At some points I honestly didn't even care anymore to piece it all together--I was just sick of spinning my wheels in the same settings and seeing the same things without moving forward. There's something to be said for thoroughness, but there's also something to be said for momentum. Yes the jokes and pieces coming together were quite clever, but I was eager for more. I was eager to move past all this. I felt the show was concerning itself too much with its clever little premise than about progressing. It was chasing its own tail and it felt as tiring as it looked. And for all that I have to blame Netflix.
Seeing as that Netflix is not an actual television channel and does not have commercials or time slots, each episode could be as long as Hurwitz and Co. wanted. And I think it was a detriment to the season. Some episodes felt too long. And jokes were left in that, honestly, weren't very funny. What made Arrested Development's original run so genius was partially due to its time constraint. Twenty-two minutes to tell a cohesive story. And they did it. They did it hilariously. And it built on itself in a refreshing way. Instead of digging a hole by spinning in the same place, the old Arrested Development solidly rose higher and higher before our very eyes and it was amazing. Every single joke was a keeper, and it was probably because the weaker ones were left on the editing room floor. The fact that little Easter eggs, foreshadowing, and self references also managed to make the cut further cemented its comedic genius by ultimately elevating the show. Yet this time around, those contraints didn't exist. Hurwitz instead tried creating his own constraints, which led to humor and were smart and impressive at times, but were also the weakest aspect of the newest season. It didn't build toward anything much, in my opinion. It was just held up against a wall. Knowing that this is the first third of a longer story possibly leading into another season/movie didn't comfort me. There are too many "ifs" and those deals simply haven't been made. So we were left with this rutted, incomplete story.
My immediate impression of the season in early June was clouded by these structural issues. It didn't feel like Arrested Development. It was impressive and funny, but it wasn't the same. Michael wasn't acting like Michael, but was instead too much of a Bluth. Some jokes were too obviously set up. There was way too much Ron Howard on both the screen and in voiceovers. There wasn't enough ensemble work. Etc. But the clouds lifted and as time went on, I found myself referencing the new jokes in every day conversation. I was working quotes into my speech much like I did with the original run. Certain gags stayed with me over time and I thoroughly realized how very funny they were. The contentious ending was something I actually really liked. The cameos were over the top and over-relied upon, yes, but they were also constant highlights of the episodes. The songs were all hilarious. The successful use of running gags from the show's original run with new ones they created were impressive and a joy. The confusing set ups and little details of the earlier episodes in the season made much more sense to me. And all these actors and writers and crew actually all came back to create it. It actually exists for our entertainment. And it WAS entertaining. And it is way better than almost any other sitcom on actual television.
So overall, like it's structure, my thoughts on Arrested Developmen't's fourth season was very much like a puzzle I had to piece together. I had to work for this conclusion, which really makes me appreciate it. There were incredibly hilarious high points and some questionable low points. But when you place them all next to each other, and step back to look at the bigger picture, you realize how ambitious, funny, and clever the season really was. I'm still not completely in love with it--its no early Arrested Development--but I enjoyed myself immensely. What more can you ask for? I was entertained and impressed and it made me think and my commitment paid off. Those are all things I love in my television shows. It grew on me. And I'm so glad it did. Because I can't wait to sit down and watch it all again.
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