Arrested Development, Season 4

[Yoda]

Okay, figured I'd start a thread for this. Probably best to use spoiler tags a little bit at first, until it's been out for at least a few more days, but obviously everyone has to tread carefully either way. :)

I'm about six episodes in, and I can make some very general, non-spoilery observations: the only thing I feel firm in already, without having seen the whole, is that it might not be utilizing the extra time all that well. These ones are about 30 minutes each, and the old ones were 21-22. And I think they'd really gotten comfortable with that timeframe, because most of these episodes feel like you could fit them into a similar timeframe without losing a lot. A lot of scenes feel a little longer than necessary, and there are several jokes that realllllyyy get a long time to hang there. Sometimes that helps them, but even when they work it doesn't "feel" like Arrested Development, because the first three seasons never had the luxury of taking their time like that. Which I think was to their benefit more often than not.

So, it feels like a different show for that reason, but that's a pretty minor issue. I'm loving them so far. I was a little let down at the first two episodes, which I appreciated but didn't laugh at much, but episodes three and four were great (four in particular).

[hapax_legomena]

Just started to download the fourth season. Starting with the first five episodes.

[seanc]

Gonna start digging in tonight. Cant wait. I hope there is lots to talk about.

[Nausicaä]

I haven't got Netflix, when will it be shown elsewhere.

[Yoda]

It's a Netflix exclusive, so probably whenever it comes out on DVD. Probably awhile, then.

[Buffaloman]

I started getting into it today. Watched the first five episodes, and I thought it was fairly decent. The jokes are classic Arrested Development, but they just don't connect like they did in the first three seasons.

[hapax_legomena]

The first seven episodes have been really underwhelming.

[Frightened Inmate No. 2]

I've watched the first five. The first three were underwhelming, but 4 and 5 were as good or better than half of season 3.

[Yoda]

Aye. Four, in particular, is hysterical. And the interweaving of the narratives is even more impressive than it was during the original run.

It's picking up steam, which shouldn't be surprising given that they're introducing new running gags.

[OMEGA5]

Done with it. Going to start again tomorrow, since I feel that like original AD, they really get better with multiple viewings.

I thought it was good. It does start off slower, but it hits stride when the first GOB episode plays, which was an excellent episode. Overall I'm happy to have it back, and it was good, but I fear people let 7 years of absence build to mythical proportions and most are setting themselves up for a letdown.

[Pyro Tramp]

I wasn't disappointed but I wasn't laughing myself off the sofa. It built steam as went and got better. GOB had some good moments and the Buster episode was a treat. Also, the cameos from old cast were great and new additions - cast of Workaholics was fun as was a meta but with Jeff Garlin.

Still find it surreal to watch new episodes after 7 years, had to pinch myself that it was real. Definitely needs a rewatch now the plot specifics are clear, as a lot of the time seemed to be expository linking of narratives across time frames. Took a while to grow to the characters as they'd aged and changed - Lynsey and Steve particularly. Think the only criticism was that narratively getting everyone to Quatro de Cinqo overtook wrapping up or concluding their individual arcs so lot seemed open ended. Obviously can hope some of that will be if they pick up for some more

[hapax_legomena]

So far GOB is the only consistently funny character in seven episodes, and his episode being the best so far. I hopefully knock off a few more episodes after work today, and I have read that it does get better as you go on, and not just from here.

Also, Portia de Rossi looks terrible.

[hapax_legomena]

It definitely picked up from ep7 onwards. I cleaned out those episodes in one sitting no problem.

[Yoda]

All done.

I've read around and it seems like my comments earlier are directly in line with the critical consensus: specifically, that the show isn't really structured to get any added benefit from the lack of time constraints (just the opposite; it loses its frantic urgency), and that as great as the characters are they're not really designed to carry stories by themselves. It's all about the ways in which they intersect. A few notes each, rapid fire, alternating often.

So, I'm glad it exists. I enjoyed it. And the raw material for a really good season 4 is definitely in there, but the format hampers it. Objectively, a little bit of a let down. But grading on a curve, it was always an uphill climb to do this without being able to get everyone together at the same time. That's just a massive handicap, and I'm kind of impressed it came out as well as it did given that. It's also really, really intricate. I'd rather it be really, really funny, but that's still impressive, too.

It's also clearly written in a way that assumes an eventual movie, though I don't think that'll happen.