21 January 2013
Arrested Development
Ask anyone with half a brain and a netflix account, and they'll tell you that Arrested Development is by far the most well-written TV comedy to ever grace our eyes and ears. A telling of one family and their issues that stem from the family's deep-seeded and inherent greed. What Arrested Development teaches us is that evil comes from greed, and greed from a lack of both intelligence and family-based priorities. Redemption is found in actions that stem from honesty, integrity, and selflessness. The idea of redemption is one of the most key themes within Arrested Development, as Michael Bluth, the middle son and protagonist of the series seeks to undo his fathers actions that brought the family company and the family itself. After watching any episode of this genius comedy, I can't help but wonder, what one of the seven deadly sins would bring my family to ruin, and am I doing anything to prevent that from happening?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Good call on posting about AD, and you're correct: it is the best. And that's an interesting question to ask. It's funny because the Bluth family is kind of a caricature, or an overblown example of all families. We might not get into situations that are nearly as ridiculous or chaotic as those the Bluth family winds up in, but every family has its flaws. Also, if you're a fan of AD, you should check out a show called "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret." David Cross created it, wrote it, and stars in it with Will Arnett. It's also on Netflix, and it's equally well-written.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't just greed, of course, that leads to the Bluth's downfall. It's also narcissism, disregard for others and many other character flaws that seemingly derive from the family's extraordinary wealth (or the idea that they should still be wealthy).
ReplyDeleteYou make several good observations, but you probably could have analyzed a single episode with more clarity and concreteness. Why do you think this television show was made when it was? What was the context? It seems like it certainly caught the popular zeitgeist when it first aired.