Online Series: Arrested Development Season 5 has DROPPED!

[LightningStrikes]

So in September there were reports that shooting for season 5 could start this January.

Does anybody have an update?

Click to read more...

 

[Diamondillium]

If that is indeed the case, hopefully they can actually get no scheduling issues this time around. If they have to do the same format as last season, I'd rather they just not do it at all.

 

[ResilientBeast]

If that is indeed the case, hopefully they can actually get no scheduling issues this time around. If they have to do the same format as last season, I'd rather they just not do it at all.

Really? I enjoyed the switch of format

 

[blue425]

The format was interesting. A few things change a little depending on what order you watch them in.

 

[JDinkalage Morgoone]

I still can't believe this show was canceled.

 

[TP]

I am almost done with season 3. I love this show.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Really? I enjoyed the switch of format

I think we're in the minority there, but even though I enjoyed it I'd much rather have everyone be available at the same time.

 

[Shareefruck]

You're actually not supposed to watch them out of order. The original idea was to do that, but they realized that the logistics were too difficult. So if you want the thing to make some semblance of sense, you need to watch them from start to finish.

I thought the Netflix series was underrated as well-- The whole thing was cohesive, and there were a few really awesome episodes. It was even more bat-**** than the original, and it wasn't as good, so that put some people off, but by no means was it average or below average television. I had no idea that they were actually going to continue it, though. Is that even confirmed?

 

[Big McLargehuge]

I think a lot of the scorn thrown the 4th seasons way is that is does basically require multiple binges...and if you don't have that kind of free time it just isn't going to click at the same level.

The first couple episodes were a slog that really didn't become entertaining until further episodes were watched and the jokes started to make sense...there's definitely more delayed laughs here than anything else I've seen.

 

[Shareefruck]

Yep that's true. The first 2-3 episodes just feel straight up weird and awkward the first time you watch them.

 

[USC Trojans]

Don't care what format they put it in. Just give me more Arrested Development.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I think a lot of the scorn thrown the 4th seasons way is that is does basically require multiple binges...and if you don't have that kind of free time it just isn't going to click at the same level.

The first couple episodes were a slog that really didn't become entertaining until further episodes were watched and the jokes started to make sense...there's definitely more delayed laughs here than anything else I've seen.

Yep that's true. The first 2-3 episodes just feel straight up weird and awkward the first time you watch them.

I'm glad I read this. I LOVED the first 3 seasons and binged them multiple times over several years. I watched the first 3 episodes of the Netflix series and just gave up on it. Not out of anger or anything, but it just didn't engage me at all and I moved on to other things. Looks like I gave up right before the payoff.

 

[Shareefruck]

I'm glad I read this. I LOVED the first 3 seasons and binged them multiple times over several years. I watched the first 3 episodes of the Netflix series and just gave up on it. Not out of anger or anything, but it just didn't engage me at all and I moved on to other things. Looks like I gave up right before the payoff.

I would say it starts at the lowest point and slowly ramps upward as you make your way to the end, and then it FURTHER ramps upward as you rewatch the whole thing a few more times. I loved the George Michael/Buster/GOB/Lucille centered episodes near the end. The first few (mostly the Michael/Lindsay/George ones), you have no idea what's going on and the only thing you grasp is the silliness rather than the humor.

Still a far more awkward experience than S1-3, but without being compared to that, it was a better and more impressive run than most critically acclaimed comedies, IMO.

 

[Stealth JD]

It's kind of strange how there was a huge delay between S3 and S4 (understandably) and again between S4 and S5. The relaunch on Netflix was undoubtedly a hit and it was almost unanimously agreed that all cast and crew members wanted the show to live on. But we're what - 4 years out from S4? I get that there are scheduling difficulties, but it's not like this is charity work for these people. Everybody is going to collect a check. Get something scheduled for chrisesakes. S5 & 6 better be friggin masterpieces, because they've had more than enough time to get the script done for the next 40 episodes.

 

[Shareefruck]

They've earned more than enough goodwill that they can do whatever the hell they goddamn please, including never do a 5th/6th season at all despite interest, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Gobias Industries]

They've earned more than enough goodwill that they can do whatever the hell they goddamn please, including never do a 5th/6th season at all despite interest, as far as I'm concerned.

This.

Although if they switched formats to tradition for S5, I'd die happy.

I loved the Gob/Tony Wonder bits on S4, but I just don't watch it as much as 1-3 still.

 

[hototogisu]

I only watched S4 the whole way through once and yeah, the first few episodes give you that "well...I'm happy it's back...but it doesn't really feel like AD..." sinking feeling. And then it all comes together pretty brilliantly in the end.

But I do hope they go back to a more "traditional" structure for S5. S4 was just too ambitious and you did have to wait a long time for the jokes to start paying off. I also feel like if you're going to watch S4, you pretty much have to watch the whole season start to finish for everything to work. Whereas S1-S3 all had individual episodes that were funny with or without the context of the rest of the season/series.

I actually kind of wish they would just stop it altogether, I feel like future seasons/movies/etc are just more chances to ruin the legacy they've already built

 

[bluesfan94]

I think we're in the minority there, but even though I enjoyed it I'd much rather have everyone be available at the same time.

This is how I feel. It was a nice change of pace but I'd prefer it to all be done together.

 

[Shareefruck]

I only watched S4 the whole way through once and yeah, the first few episodes give you that "well...I'm happy it's back...but it doesn't really feel like AD..." sinking feeling. And then it all comes together pretty brilliantly in the end.

But I do hope they go back to a more "traditional" structure for S5. S4 was just too ambitious and you did have to wait a long time for the jokes to start paying off. I also feel like if you're going to watch S4, you pretty much have to watch the whole season start to finish for everything to work. Whereas S1-S3 all had individual episodes that were funny with or without the context of the rest of the season/series.

I actually kind of wish they would just stop it altogether, I feel like future seasons/movies/etc are just more chances to ruin the legacy they've already built

There's an interesting Youtube video somewhere of Mitch Hurwitz reflecting on season 4 pretty much immediately after it was released and it becomes clear that it dawned on them while making it that they had conceptually bitten off way more than they could chew and it made things really difficult to make work.

 

[hototogisu]

I heard Hurwitz did a re-edit of S4 to put it into chronological order but I don't know where you can watch it. Would be interesting to see.

 

[Shareefruck]

I heard Hurwitz did a re-edit of S4 to put it into chronological order but I don't know where you can watch it. Would be interesting to see.

https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/08/arrested-development-season-4-re-edit.html

Not released yet.

 

[Shareefruck]

I'm glad I read this. I LOVED the first 3 seasons and binged them multiple times over several years. I watched the first 3 episodes of the Netflix series and just gave up on it. Not out of anger or anything, but it just didn't engage me at all and I moved on to other things. Looks like I gave up right before the payoff.

I decided to rewatch the first episode again, and basically every awkward moment (and there were alot of them) is because it's the punchline to a joke that hasn't been setup yet.

 

[bigdirty]

That moment when you finally realize why all of George Michael's neighbours like him so much was worth the wait.

 

[hototogisu]

I also found the cameos in S4 really off-putting. Seth Rogen and Kristen Wiig as young George and young Lucille is a casting decision I'll never agree with, and it distracted me every time they were on screen.

 

[Shareefruck]

Max Winkler as a young Barry Zuckercorn was pretty inspired casting though.