The original three seasons of Arrested Development were amazing. It truly was one of the funniest TV shows of all time. The 4th and 5th season are okay. The acting is great and there are still some great jokes, but it is still not as good as it was in it's prime. It is kind of like seeing a great band do a greatest hits tour 20 years later. I'm still happy to watch it, but it isn't as good as it was before. I hope they end it all soon. It would be a shame to ruin the shows legacy.
11 Reviews
I love this show too much...even bad episodes seem pretty okay
sachinkr-0744929 May 2018
It was pretty much a nothing episode, basically a recap of season 4 and set up for the grand return of Bluth family, together this time. The family's pretty much scattered this time too, though the Buster-Michael chemistry is hilarious. Ultimately it was an unnecessary episode, but what the hell, It's arrested development and that's reason enough, isn't it?
Family Leave
bobcobb30130 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Arrested Development developed a cult following, sort of took some heat in Season 4, but it looks like Season 5 might win it back.
This wasn't a great episode because they tried too much. Too much Ron Howard explaining things and not enough simple jokes, but the show's signature smart comedy was there.
Looking forward to the rest of the season, but it needs to be better than this.
This wasn't a great episode because they tried too much. Too much Ron Howard explaining things and not enough simple jokes, but the show's signature smart comedy was there.
Looking forward to the rest of the season, but it needs to be better than this.
Surprisingly Decent
mateomathew29 October 2020
After watching season 4 my hopes for season 5 were insanely low.I know this is not the arrested development we know.But let's all understand that after years and years of not doing the show and then you return you can't do the exact same thing.I actually laughed some times and I hope the season doesn't flop.My hopes are now High so please don't disappoint!!!
Its back baby!
joonasleinonen29 May 2018
Bit of a Recap Episode
Samuel-Shovel17 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Season 5 of Arrested Development kicks off with a bit of a recap episode, re-establishing plot lines from the previous season and slowly setting up new ones. Michael runs into Buster in the attic in full scuba gear. George Michael and Maeby talk about the fact that George Michael hit his dad. Tobias and Lucille head for Mexico.
To be honest, this was dull but necessary. For a lot of people (myself included) it's been awhile since I've watched Season 4. This episode's purpose of reminding viewers of the previous season's jumbled storylines was needed.
So now that that's out of the way, let's see what this season has to offer shall we?
To be honest, this was dull but necessary. For a lot of people (myself included) it's been awhile since I've watched Season 4. This episode's purpose of reminding viewers of the previous season's jumbled storylines was needed.
So now that that's out of the way, let's see what this season has to offer shall we?
Not good
colbertmark-659012 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
In Australia we had a tv show that was popular in the 80's & 90's called Hey Hey It's Saturday! People liked it, but it got to an era where its' style of comedy wasn't funny anymore, so it got the axe. Years and years later the host of the show tried to resurrect the show, and it was clear it was never going to work.
Arrested Development continuing has that feel. It had two awesome seasons at the start, and it just can't re-enact it. Someone is trying to keep it going but it just isn't there. I'm not even sure why the actors agree to come back and try to keep it going. It is known that there are issues amongst some of the stars, and i even heard that Portia is retired from acting and did a lot of green screen shooting. Feels like they're just doing it for money and maybe to catch up with old friends.
This first episode just wasn't right. Why so much Ron Howard narrating? Why white borders on the screen for previous season flashbacks? The storyline is rubbish, there's nothing funny at all, i don't know if i'll watch anymore episodes.
Big fan of seasons 1 & 2 but i wish they'd just let it go. Please! If you don't, how about this, give me an equal blend of every character in each episode, give me Mrs Bluth's politically incorrect comments, Michael being duped by his family, Mr Bluth on the run, Tobias in some embarrassing situation, Gob in a depressing situation, less non-stop music, less Ron Howard, good blend of non-family characters like Henry Winkler, yada yada yada
Arrested Development continuing has that feel. It had two awesome seasons at the start, and it just can't re-enact it. Someone is trying to keep it going but it just isn't there. I'm not even sure why the actors agree to come back and try to keep it going. It is known that there are issues amongst some of the stars, and i even heard that Portia is retired from acting and did a lot of green screen shooting. Feels like they're just doing it for money and maybe to catch up with old friends.
This first episode just wasn't right. Why so much Ron Howard narrating? Why white borders on the screen for previous season flashbacks? The storyline is rubbish, there's nothing funny at all, i don't know if i'll watch anymore episodes.
Big fan of seasons 1 & 2 but i wish they'd just let it go. Please! If you don't, how about this, give me an equal blend of every character in each episode, give me Mrs Bluth's politically incorrect comments, Michael being duped by his family, Mr Bluth on the run, Tobias in some embarrassing situation, Gob in a depressing situation, less non-stop music, less Ron Howard, good blend of non-family characters like Henry Winkler, yada yada yada
Family Leave
lassegalsgaard7 August 2022
There is something to be said about shows that run their course. Those shows that should have ended a long time before they do. They take up the space that could go to other and possibly better shows. The opposite happened to "Arrested Development," which was prematurely canceled at the height of its hilarious lifetime. However, Netflix was gracious enough to buy the rights and make it one of their first original shows, giving it another season. That was successful, so they gave it another. And that may have been too much, because for a premiere to a hilarious show, this episode was surprisingly unfunny.
There's no doubt that this is an excellent show and that the writers know what they're doing. However, with this opener to what would become the show's final season, there seems to be something lacking. Its last season kept it fresh by taking a structurally different approach to its material, where this seems to be more of what we know from the show's original run. And that's fine as long as they can make it feel genuine. However, when Michael finds his brother in his attic for no reason other than to have those two characters in a scene together, I start getting a little worried. And the episode continues its string of weird character interactions and jarring carry-over from the fourth season with a scene in the first half of the show that's some of the most jarring stuff I've ever seen. I'm also desperately waiting for something to actually be funny. There weren't a lot of gags in this episode, but the ones that were attempted didn't work at all, falling as flat as a pancake. I still like the characters and the actors seem more at home with them than ever before, but there's definitely a feeling in the air of these characters being past their prime at this point. This episode certainly didn't do them any favors, nor did the writers give the actors anything to really shine with. However, I'm still going to watch the rest of the season and hopefully, they'll find their way back to its former glory.
"Family Leave" is an episode that doesn't work as a part of this show at all, utilizing none of the show's usual charms as devices. The acting is fine and the characters still seem like themselves, but the writing is there to compliment any of them and it doesn't really feel like they're actually trying.
There's no doubt that this is an excellent show and that the writers know what they're doing. However, with this opener to what would become the show's final season, there seems to be something lacking. Its last season kept it fresh by taking a structurally different approach to its material, where this seems to be more of what we know from the show's original run. And that's fine as long as they can make it feel genuine. However, when Michael finds his brother in his attic for no reason other than to have those two characters in a scene together, I start getting a little worried. And the episode continues its string of weird character interactions and jarring carry-over from the fourth season with a scene in the first half of the show that's some of the most jarring stuff I've ever seen. I'm also desperately waiting for something to actually be funny. There weren't a lot of gags in this episode, but the ones that were attempted didn't work at all, falling as flat as a pancake. I still like the characters and the actors seem more at home with them than ever before, but there's definitely a feeling in the air of these characters being past their prime at this point. This episode certainly didn't do them any favors, nor did the writers give the actors anything to really shine with. However, I'm still going to watch the rest of the season and hopefully, they'll find their way back to its former glory.
"Family Leave" is an episode that doesn't work as a part of this show at all, utilizing none of the show's usual charms as devices. The acting is fine and the characters still seem like themselves, but the writing is there to compliment any of them and it doesn't really feel like they're actually trying.
I laughed once
jezfernandez16 March 2019
The bar scene with Maeby and George-Michael was the only funny part of this episode:
"I need to get my goop together."
"What's goop?"
"If you have to ask, it means you don't know."
"I don't...and I'm pretty sure you don't either."
Arrested Development was always about a dysfuntional family, but there was something eminently likeable about them in the first 3 seasons. Season 4 was a mess and now we've arrived at Season 5. I'm hoping they abandon the incoherent storylines and stick to simple, funny scripting. In short - get their goop together.
Arrested Development was always about a dysfuntional family, but there was something eminently likeable about them in the first 3 seasons. Season 4 was a mess and now we've arrived at Season 5. I'm hoping they abandon the incoherent storylines and stick to simple, funny scripting. In short - get their goop together.
Tired cliches
steveburton-0452130 May 2018
And I loved the other seasons
luc-5528 October 2018
Jokes fall flat and whole series so far was quite tedious to watch.
Season 5 is to the rest of Arrested Development what Simpson comics are to fans of, let's say, season 6 of the Simpsons.
Avoid if you want to stay a fan of the show!
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