BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SERIES

Arrested Development is an American comedy television series, which ran from November 2, 2003 to February 10, 2006. The series was the brainchild of Mitchell Hurwitz, who also created The Ellen Show.

The main story revolves around Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman), the only seemingly "normal" one in a dysfunctional family of crazies, who is forced to stay in Orange County and run the family real estate business after his father, George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), is sent to prison for shifty accounting practices (including building estates from Saddam Hussain).

BACKGROUND

I was first introduced to Arrested Development a few years ago when I happened to by channel surfing and the program caught my eye. The channel was BBC Two and the program was an episode in the first season of Arrested Development. I've been hooked ever since. What really caught me was the really dry and witty humour used throughout. The exclusion of a laughing-track and the inclusion of a narration (brilliantly done by Ron Howard) only added its laugh out loud funniness.

I really enjoyed the first season and the second season was almost as good, in my eyes this program is the best to come out of the US in many years. But there was already signs during the second season that the show was going to be cancelled in the foreseeable future - with the 22 episodes first ordered by Fox being cut to 18 and ratings continually falling. The show did thankfully come back for a third season (what this review is on) but having its episodes cut to 13 as apposed to an original 22 and rating falling even further. Thankfully though they were able to give the show a good farewell and ending it properly at the end of season three. In my opinion season three is the funniest of all the seasons - with all the comedy of those planned 22 episodes condensed into just 13 - Brilliant.

THE DVD

I watched the season three on BBC Four in the autumn of last year and really enjoyed it. So much so I couldn't wait for it to be released in the UK so I imported it from the US. But if your wanting the DVD you needn't wait long, the UK release is the 23rd April 2007.

Language: English
Number of discs: 2
Classification: 15
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

The DVD's packaging is brilliant and will look good in any DVD collection. The menus in the DVD are also very easy to navigated and very well designed.

SEASON 3 EPISODE GUIDE

Season three consists of 13 brilliant episodes. The episodes names and a short synopsis are described below.

- 1. The Cabin Show -
Writer: Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely
Director: Paul Feig
The first episode in the season centres on the family cabin that George Bluth Sr promised to bring Michael to every year, but in the end always took a woman there instead. The family, becoming bankrupt, decides to sell the land that the cabin is on and have the cabin trucked to the house. Michael is excited that the company stock rating has gone from sell to don't buy. He decides to go to the prison to gloat and realizes that it is Uncle Oscar not his father in jail. Elsewhere Gob receives a letter inviting him to a father and sons reuniting outing and thinks that it is his dad looking to secretly meet with him, but as it turns out he actually has a son he was unaware of by a high school girlfriend.

- 2. For British Eyes Only -
Writer: Richard Day, Mitchell Hurwitz
Director: John Fortenberry
George Bluth Sr claims that a British group set him up; Michael goes to "Wee Britain" to investigate and becomes infatuated with a beautiful woman named Rita (brilliantly played by guest star Charlize Theron). Lindsay attempts to seduce the new family attorney, and Gob does everything possible to avoid his newly discovered son.

- 3. Forget Me Now -
Writer: Tom Saunders
Director: John Amodeo
Michael tries to hide Rita from his family; Tobias tries to help Buster gain some self-confidence; George Michael confronts Steve Holt about Maeby - All the events culminating with disastrously hilarious consequences.

- 4. Notapussy -
Writer: Robert Weiner
Director: Lev L. Spiro
Rita calls Michael a word that he thinks means "weak" when - in the British sense - it actually means "sweet". Michael tries to show Rita he's not one of those by trying to convince George-Michael to join him in some manly activities, but George-Michael is too busy prepping girlfriend Ann for an "Inner-beauty Pageant".

- 5. Mr.F -
Writer: Richard Day, Jim Vallely
Director: Arlene Sanford
Michael must find out who the mole is in the company in order to rescue a major real estate deal with Japanese investors. In an effort to help Michael, Gob and Buster team up with George Sr.'s surrogate, Larry (guest star Bob Einstein), to devise a plan and save the deal.

- 6. The Ocean Walker -
Writer: Sam Laybourne, Jake Farrow
Director: Paul Feig
Michael announces he's marrying Rita, but George Sr. thinks that she's after the family's money. And Rita's Uncle Trevor tries to stop the wedding by revealing some surprising information about Rita.

- 7. Prison Break In -
Writer: Karey Dornetto
Director: Bob Berlinger
Michael is worried when he learns that Lucille is dating the warden. Buster has some trouble with his new turtle and the family plans a benefit for Tobias' life-endangering hair transplant.

- 8. Making A Stand -
Writer: Chuck Tatham, Mitchell Hurwitz
Director: Peter Lauer
George, Sr. continues to pit Michael and Gob against each other. Bob Loblaw gets Lindsay a new lawyer, because he says it's a "conflict of interest" to date and represent her, and then represents Tobias in the divorce.

- 9. S.O.B.s -
Writer: Jim Vallely, Richard Day
Director: Bob Berlinger
The family decide to hold a fundraiser at their apartment in an attempt

to pay for a new lawyer and Lindsay becomes a mother figure in the Bluth household, with mixed results. Lots of guest stars in this episode including Andy Richter, Andy Dick, Ben Stiller, Zach Braff et al.

- 10. Fakin' It -
Writer: Dean Lorey, Chuck Tatham
Director: Lev L. Spiro
The family appear in a mock trial show, hosted by Judge Reinhold (played by guest star Judge Reinhold). Meanwhile Buster fakes a comma to get out of testifying.

- 11. Family Ties -
Writer: Rob Weiner
Director: Bob Berlinger
Michael thinks he has a sister he was never told about and he tracks down 'Nellie' and hires her as a consultant in the company. But Michael may have made a big mistake.

- 12. Exit Strategy -
Writer: Jim Vallely, Mitchell Hurwitz
Director: Rebecca Asher
Gob goes to Iraq to perform his Christian magic act and ends up incarcerated - Michael and Buster travel to Iraq to save the day.

- 13. Development Arrested -
Writer: Jim Vallely, Chuck Tatham
Director: John Fortenberry
The last ever episode. The family throw a yacht party to celebrate their recent successes, but it isn't all smooth sailing.

CAST

Jason Bateman: Michael Bluth
Portia de Rossi: Lindsay Bluth Fünke
Will Arnett: George "Gob" Bluth II
Michael Cera: George-Michael Bluth
Alia Shawkat: Mae "Maeby" Fünke
Tony Hale: Byron "Buster" Bluth
David Cross: Tobias Fünke
Jeffrey Tambor: George Bluth Sr.
Jessica Walter: Lucille Bluth
Ron Howard: Narrator

I think who ever did casting did their job perfectly, I couldn't think of a better cast to play these such strong characters. Every actor is on par!

DVD EXTRAS

The DVD has some extras including 3 episodes with commentaries on them and a host of extended and deleted scenes. There are a few more extras but there is not very much. You must remember they have 13 episodes packed onto two DVDs.

RANDOM TRIVIA

In Episode 11 - Family Ties - Nellie, is played by Jason Bateman's (Michael) real life sister, Justine Bateman.

VERDICT

The Arrested Development Season 3 is a must-have for anybody who says he or she likes comedy. I would also highly recommend Season 1 and 2. Arrested Development is one of those rare treasures of a program that has a sophisticated sense of humour. My favourite character throughout must be Gob - he gets some really funny lines and is played brilliantly by Will Arnett. George Michael also has some brilliant parts and is very amusing to watch. My favourite episode in the series is probably For British Eyes Only - it's brilliant! If you haven't seen this TV show before you must really check it out, and if you have I would expect that you already can't wait for the DVD. The show is really another prime example of a great show that fails to live on due to poor ratings, but is still held dear by a cult following of a few fans. A brilliant Season Three of a brilliant TV show, well worth of my 5 stars. I cannot more strongly recommend this series, it really is brilliant.

You can pick up the DVD at Amazon.co.uk from the 23rd of April for £26.24 or pre-order today. And don't feel bad if you by the end of the season you're left wanting more - there's a rumour of a movie in the midst.

Oh, and if you've been wondering about my title - it's in reference to a very funny scene in Episode 2.