MovieChat Forums > Arrested Development (2003) Discussion > Honestly don't get the hate for season 4

Honestly don't get the hate for season 4

posted 8 years ago by imdbuser33
20 replies | jump to latest

I understand if you didn't like the first three, why you wouldn't like the 4th season..
But as a fan, i thought this season was not only as good, but an upgrade..
First, I loved the way the story was told.. in the previous seasons stuff was just happening, here they tried to connect everyone's experiences together in a more complex storyline and it worked great, especially for the netflix format, where you don't have to wait a week for a new episode.
Second, the jokes were on point. They included a lot of the show's inside jokes, but didn't rely just on those.
Third, it was the first season where I found absolutely everybody funny and entertaining, since there has always been a "meh" character that i could fast forward through (usually job or buster), but this season i enjoyed all of them.
Four, some of the cameos are just awesome. I know this would have been a dumb reason if it was just that but with all the other things going for it, it's a great plus to have.

Only one thing I didn't like about it - throughout the season you get the feeling that it builds up to a certain event or somethin and it basically ends kind of like an ordinary episode. But if there is a season five I hope they get it together and lead that storyline somewhere.

[–] Final_Hitokiri 8 years ago

Nope, not an upgrade. Definitely a downgrade.

The core of the show was how even through all of the mess, the family was together. That was definitely missing in Season 4.

And no, the Seth Rogen / Kristen Wiig cameos were not awesome; they were downright terrible. Jeffrey and Jessica in bad wigs were much more hilarious.

[–] imdbuser33 8 years ago

I have to disagree.. I don't see the show ever being about the family staying together. They just depended on each other at one point or another, which still was the case this season. Michael was the one who was kind of the link between all of them, but the relationship between the others has never been the one of a family "who stays together through it all".
Yes, since they had difficult scheduling for all the actors, there weren't a lot of scenes with them together, but that didn't take a lot from the feeling of the show.
And the cameos were much more than just seth/kristen..Yes, Seth was absolutely miscast, totally agree, Kristen though was on point! Loved her.
Of course, I agree that the season is different and they tried something new, I guess it's a matter of opinion, sorry you were disappointed.
Personally, I can't wait for season 5.

[–] Final_Hitokiri 8 years ago

I think you're misinterpreting. I agree that the show is not about the family staying together, as their infighting and personalities just clash too much.

However the togetherness of the family, and seeing that clash and how they don't work like a traditional family, is where the true comedy comes in. The solo stories are just boring, and we see so many spiral out from the characters that we knew them as.

Michael Bluth prostituting himself? Not in his character. (Sure he'd whore out his sister or GOB, but not him).

I think another aspect that hurt Season 4 is that Mitch stated that it wasn't intended to be binge-watched... however that's what happens when Netflix releases an entire series.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] LAtvGuy 8 years ago

Seth Rogen / Kristen Wiig cameos were not awesome; they were downright terrible. Jeffrey and Jessica in bad wigs were much more hilarious.

Totally agree with this. Sadly, since they were seen at the top of episode one, it instantly sucks the wind from the sail.

Although Henry Winkler's son playing a young Barry Zuckercorn didn't bother me.

[–] hotrats2112 8 years ago

I have to admit that I really liked Kristen Wiig as young Lucille. That whole Grinch who stole Cinqo de Mayo bit was incredible. And the loose seal bit where she says she was watching was good too. Although they should have shown her leaving during Michael's solo.

Seth Rogen was the complete opposite end of the spectrum. I can't stand his "acting". Playing yourself in everything you do is not acting. It's showing up with some words remembered.

And young Barry was fantastic.

[–] hotrats2112 8 years ago

A lot of people didn't like the cast being separated. I get the hate for Season 4 but don't exactly agree. There were parts I hated and parts I loved. For me it was brilliantly written and layered but I hated almost all the new secondary characters. Especially Marky Bark, Debris, Ron Howard, Rebel Alley, all of the people from George Sr's retreat. But not Herbert Love, he was amazing. I was even OK with dark, broken Michael, except for that stupid showering with GM scene. I just didn't get that! But I felt there was just as much good as bad in Season 4.

All in all I think season 4 was a love it or hate it season and it wasn't exactly what a lot of people were hoping for so they hated it.

And as much as I hate to admit it I also loved Kristen Wiig as young Lucille. That Grinch who stole Cinqo de Mayo part had me in stitches. Seth Rogen just sucks.

So I do get the hate for season 4, I just don't wholeheartedly agree with it. Just parts of it. And most of the episodes were too long.

[–] Final_Hitokiri 8 years ago

Especially Marky Bark, Debris, Ron Howard, Rebel Alley, all of the people from George Sr's retreat. But not Herbert Love, he was amazing.

Herbert might have been the best new addition!

Marky Bark was horrible though. I'd have rather they scooped up Tom Jane. What was he up to in 2013? His career was on such a hiatus it might have been funny if he actually was homeless in the show instead of preparing for a role as a homeless guy!

(Rumor has it, Carl Weathers was the one who suggested his character be super cheap). And he has some of the most quotable lines as a result of being willing to make fun of himself a bit.

[–] hotrats2112 8 years ago

Terry Crews is amazing. Loved him in Idiocracy as President Camacho. I even try to watch Brooklyn 99 every now and then because he's in it.

Herbert Love is the only character I'd want to come back. He played the sleazy politician perfectly.

And that's a great point about Tom Jane. Even though I'd probably rather see another almost A-list actor in the role. Like one of the guys from Wings.

[–] dahaka-535-16877 8 years ago

I already like your idea with Tom Jane way way more than Marky Bark honestly. I just sorta tuned out from that one Lindsay episode, it was pretty boring.

[–] Towelie_Towel 8 years ago

Most things involving Lindsay were pretty mediocre, but Marky Bark was terrible, I agree.

[–] SwansonTacos 8 years ago

Personally I loved season 4. Definitely not the first time though. I had to start over after stopping and gave it a chance. It wasn't perfect, but Gob's storyline really made it for me. And Maeby's. I just loved Tony Wonder too xD I mean, yeah it sucks that the stories were individual, but I really saw it as genius how the stories all connect and you can tell where everyone is if you rewatch it. It's pretty awesome and I love moments like how when lindsay tells Tobias they have nothing left and you can hear Maeby coughing in the background, and then it's shown from Maeby's POV later on. I mean, the amount of planning is impressive and I really think they pulled it off.

[–] tokyostreetkiller 8 years ago

Yes, I HATED season 4 and stopped watching after the George Sr episode when it came out. 2 years later I had an itch and decided to watch it. And I fell in love with it. It was like you have to get over a hump before the show gets back to being it's self again. Personally the Lindsay episode was lack luster and I think that is because more than any other Character she is at her best when she's with Michael. Their chemistry and banter were one of the best parts of the original run. I really hope they get that straightened out.

"Let's get out of here before one of those things kills Guy!"

[–] adouthit-1 8 years ago

I just started watching a couple months ago on Netflix. I'm on episode 9 of season 4 and it's been a chore to get through. I think it's them mostly being separated for each episode, it's just not working. They are not interesting enough on their own.
Had I been a huge fan, waiting for them to do another season, and then got my wish - I would have been really disappointed.

[–] stevengubler 8 years ago

Alright, I know this is a little old of a discussion, but I think I might be able to help us understand each other.

I enjoyed seasons 1-3 are much more than 4, but not because the family is "together" or fighting with itself. Rather, I attribute this to a fundamental shift in Michael Bluth's character, (one which can also be used as a point of liking 4 over 1-3, but that is a matter of personal preference). This change was one that shifted the target audience, and left much of the original fans (though not all of them) disappointed. Let me explain:

In the first seasons, the show made a point to maintain some sort of redeeming quality for Michael which wasn't present in the 4th season. He always seemed to learn a lesson, be trying to be a better person or improve himself. For many fans of the original show, (myself included), it was satisfying to see a man learning to be a better person despite living amidst the scummiest family imaginable.

This changed in season 4, where the writers seemed to pursue a different approach where everyone, (Michael included), was a trashy person. The show no longer was about a guy becoming better despite his circumstances; it was about a bunch of screw-ups doing stupid things in a brilliantly orchestrated story line.

Now, neither of these are "better" than the other, it's simply a matter of apples and oranges. Seasons 1-3 appealed to me because I like my media to have some sort of uplifting aspect to it. However, I understand many people enjoy the impure and crude look into the characters that season 4 offers, and I respect that.

But whether or not it was right of the writers to take this show from apples to oranges will depend on who you ask. As for me, though I enjoyed watching this last season, it just isn't the same Arrested Development that I fell in love with. And frankly, I miss it a lot.

[–] dadoffourcs 8 years ago

I agree with your assessment on season 4. I STILL haven't finished the whole thing - I was so let down with the first 6 episodes, I gave up for years. Now I finally trying to finish them.

Michael's changing character is one of the downfalls of season 4. But I don't think it's the biggest drawback. The lack of editing and time constraints is what does the show in. Jokes go on for way too long, there are too many unnecessary flashbacks, and they rely too much on Ron Howard's narration. I think there's a really good season buried in the episodes they filmed, but it would be better viewing if they re-edited the episodes.

[–] stevengubler 8 years ago

I see what you're saying about the editing thing. This I think is a matter of personal preference too, and some of the fans liked it while others, like yourself, didn't. It goes back to the idea that the writers weren't trying to stay true to the previous seasons, but instead wanted to make something interconnected and non-linear, like pulp-fiction for example.

Again, they simply made apples from oranges, and it just comes down to which you prefer. They both are fine ways to do a show, I just liked the old way better, personally.

[–] brian-59-5608 8 years ago

Definitely agree with this. We started with the pilot just a couple of weeks ago and love the show, but found season 4 to be relatively unfunny (we've only gotten though 9 episodes).

I expected the first few episodes to be different as they backfilled the missing eight years, but I've been disappointed that it simply hasn't gotten better.

For me, the change in Michael's character is the root of the problem. He was always the straight man, making the other characters' antics funny through his reaction. In season 4, this role is nonexistent; either he's not in the scene or, when he is, he's not really that much different from the others. George Michael was also frequently in this role (even playing the straight man to Michael occasionally) but he hasn't really been in season 4 much at all from what we've seen.

That makes jokes seem to go on for way to long because there's no straight man response from Michael to punctuate the joke. The unnecessary flashbacks and frequent narration are also attempts to complete the joke but they just don't work anywhere as well as Michael's reactions in seasons 1 through 3.

We'll probably watch the rest at some point, but my entire family has grown a bit tired of it while watching the fourth season.

[–] Final_Hitokiri 8 years ago

He always seemed to learn a lesson

And that's why, you don't have Michael not learning lessons!

And frankly, I miss it a lot.

Why do there have to be puppets like Franklin?

[–] standrkm 8 years ago

For how many years they took off as well as the extra 10 minutes added to each episode, it's kinda impressive really. It's still a very creative comedy, probably better when viewed the second time. Netflix should just knock it off with the 30-35 minute episodes.

The only complaint I have is how each episode seems to revolved around a certain character which definitely throws things off. But this is because the actors were so busy with other projects. The people involved even admit this and say it won't happen again if/when there's another season. Plus it seems the actors aren't in such high demand as they were at the time. I mean Bateman and Cera were making tons of movies, the others were doing a ton of tv shows.

"how's a fella go about gettin' a holt of the police?" -Karl