Arrested Development: Smashed

"FANTASTIC FOUR
IN 15 MINUTES
NO KIDS"

This episode alone was so funny that it made the whole season worth it. The plot is much more visibly coming together, too. Unlike this off, way off-Broadway production.

Arrested Development: Red Hairing

"I'm surrounded by squalor and death, and I still can't be happy."

"You're with a guy that pretty much represents everything you pretend to hate."

For an episode that had so much happening, it left me feeling a little empty after watching it. Every character had a second episode funnier than their first (those who had two, anyway), except Lindsay. It left me wondering if we really needed a second Lindsay episode.

Arrested Development: Colony Collapse

"You know, your whole life is an escape act, and this girl seems like she really likes you. Why don't you just try to work it out and just stop running... Yeah, I know you're in the boulder."
"But how'd I get in the boulder?"

Boy, was this episode packed! we started with the Entourage parody and got flashbacked to even before the last season ended. It included a near wedding, several near death experiences, and a family reunion. It's all fitting to Gob's personality, exemplified in the quote above.

Arrested Development: Double Crossers

"Well, this is America. If they don't want us to burn signs, they shouldn't write them in Spanish."

Poor George Senior. He's lost his money, his company, the respect of his family, his plan to make money over a ridiculous wall, and the friends he worked so hard to get. And worse: though it was his episode, a large portion of it was devoted to Gob and Michael.

Arrested Development: A New Start

"Oh, I don't think there was any implying going on at all."

"All you need to do is tell people what a terrific actor I am, 'cause I can't do it believably."

Tobias was supposed to be on the show only for a few episodes in the beginning and then leave, no more than a husband for Lindsay to dump and start as a character. The producers, however, saw the potential Tobias had and decided to keep him. This episode shows exactly why this was a wise decision.

Arrested Development: The B. Team

"I think it's a lot more fun if we see her die."

This episode features a lot more pay off than the previous ones. It was also the most self-referential in terms of how the show business works and how Arrested Development went through all of it. We saw some old faces and the Narrator narrated himself. It's all getting better.

Arrested Development: Indian Takers

"I mean, is any of this real? How do I know what's real?"

"Cooooiiincideeeence."

If Papa B.'s episode was too much of a "part 1", Lindsay's, much more than the previous episodes, felt like only a fragment of the story. There was so much which was obviously intersecting with episodes to come that it got distracting.

Arrested Development: Borderline Personalities

"You're welcome to my friends, brother."
"I don't want these."

Arrested Development is, in many ways, a soap opera parody. Think about the wealthy family, the rivalry between siblings, the secret adoptions, the love between cousins, etc. But it's never more so than when Oscar is featured.

Arrested Development: Flight of the Phoenix

"Da Michael."

Arrested Development was canceled seven years ago and I still can't quite believe it's been revived. I feared it would turn out to be a zombie embarrassment, what with all these years since anything was written and the actors played their characters. I was doubly happy, then, when I watched the fourth season premiere and saw that the crew was as risky as ever in their humor. And, yes, it's still funny, especially for an episode centered on Michael.

Arrested Development

Season 4 | Cast

[Programming note: Our coverage of Arrested Development is unfortunately brief: half the fourth season.]

Arrested Development (2003-2006, 2013-2019) is a comedy about a family that used to be rich, though most of them still live like before they lost it all, and the one son who tries to save them from ruin. Critically acclaimed since it started in 2001, it was never a ratings champion and it was canceled after its third season. But a devoted fanbase, which grew larger over the years with Netflix, managed to bring the show back seven years later. Now we can follow the Bluths and their wackiness again.

Season Four

4.1 Flight of the Phoenix
4.2 Borderline Personalities
4.3 Indian Takers
4.4 The B. Team
4.5 A New Start
4.6 Double Crossers
4.7 Colony Collapse
4.8 Red Hairing
4.9 Smashed
4.10 Queen B.
4.11 A New Attitude
4.12 Señoritis
4.13 It Gets Better
4.14 Off the Hook
4.15 Blockheads

Cast

Jason Bateman (Michael Bluth)
Will Arnett (Gob Bluth)
Portia de Rossi (Lindsay Bluth Fünke)
Michael Cera (George-Michael Bluth)
David Cross (Tobias Fünke)
Jessica Walter (Lucille Bluth)
Alia Shawkat (Maeby Fünke)
Jeffrey Tambor (George Bluth Sr./Oscar Bluth)
Tony Hale (Buster Bluth)
Ron Howard (Narrator)

Once Upon a Time: True North

I have to be honest: this is the first episode I didn’t like. I could see the big twists from miles away, but, most importantly, I didn’t care about them. Seeing the glass half full, it’s good that the 9th episode of the show was the first bad one; and it had its good moments, too.

Once Upon a Time: Desperate Souls

"Looks like you made a deal you didn't understand. I don't think you're gonna do that again.”

I‘d never say we’d see Rumpie’s origin so soon. I expected to see a tale of greed gone too far, not of a loving father. The character that began the story and the one we know and love are so different that they seem to be unconnected, yet every step of the process felt true. That’s truly good writing.

Person of Interest: Witness

"John, we have limited information. We knew when we began this that we might make mistakes."

I’d like to start by apologizing for such a delay in this reviews and the next three or four. It's almost a retro review. I have no excuse other than my relatively new job demanding more time and energy than I expected. I reaffirm I’ll review this show at least until the Season Finale. After all, this was a great episode.

Once Upon a Time: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

"Your life is now in my hands... forever."

This week we delved deep into the psyche of the first huntsman in history who could be a spokesman for PETA, with a touch of Cowardly Lion. And heartbreaking taken to its limit.

Once Upon a Time: The Shepherd

“Smile, son. You're on the road to true love.”

It’s funny that the plot I’m least interested in has brought the best episodes so far. I really don’t care about Snow White and Price Charming because I’m absolutely sure they’ll eventually hook up, despite the obstacles put in the way. Despite that, I was wowed more than once watching this episode.

Once Upon a Time: That Still Small Voice

“I wish, I wish, but nothing changes. I wish I was better at wishing!”

Back in my review of the pilot, Patricia commented how these fairy tales were based not on the traditional tales, but on Disney versions. It made perfect sense then, especially considering ABC belongs to the House of Mouse, and it makes more sense now. If you don’t consider the song Jiminy Cricket sings in the animation, “When You Wish upon a Star”, the scene when Archie does it looks like a Deus ex Machina. Besides many, many references, we didn’t get much this week, though.

Once Upon a Time: The Price of Gold

Snow: "Do you realize what an inspiration you are to everyone?"
Cinderella: "All I did was get married."
Snow: "All you did was show that anyone can change her life."

This is the first time Once Upon a Time outright contradicts fairy tale canon. I was a little bothered at first, mostly because the Fairy Godmother could very well be wearing a red shirt; but later I was bothered because the show implied we should be rooting for the wrong character.

Once Upon a Time: Snow Falls

Charming: “You're a... girl.”
Snow White: “Woman.”

Whew! I was worried all the flashbacks in this show would concern the time between the wedding and the curse, as was the case of the first two episodes. That would get old fast. Thankfully, they got out of that rut before being stuck in it, and delivered a somewhat unconventional meet-cute.

Person of Interest: The Fix

“You can say we're in the same business. Fixing problems.”

One thing I’ve learned from Person of Interest is that nothing stays in the past. It always comes back to haunt you. Or, sometimes, give you some resolution. We got a taste of each in this episode.

Once Upon a Time: The Thing You Love Most

“Don't underestimate me, Ms. Swan. You have no idea what I'm capable of.”

Neither did we, Regina. We know now you’ll go as far as necessary to carry out your vengeance. However conflicted you feel, it is your top priority, so you’ll sacrifice both Henrys and hire the Smoke Monster to do it. We’d feel more if we knew what you want revenge for, but this episode got the job done if you wanted to show you’re merciless.