There’s good news and bad news about “Arrested Development.” The good news is that season 5 is coming. And apparently, it’s right around the corner. The bad news is…well not really that bad, honestly. The second bit of news is about season 4.
To say that Season 4 of “Arrested Development” wasn’t as well-received as previous seasons would be a gross understatement. The story of the Bluth family was widely regarded as one of the best comedies on TV, which led Netflix to revive the show for the ill-fated season 4. Unfortunately, a variety of behind-the-scenes circumstances led to the series being presented in an odd way, or as the series creator Mitch Hurwitz says, “a ‘Rashomon’-style of storytelling. Needless to say, fans weren’t very pleased.
But never fear! Hurwitz is back and wants to make things right. Or at least give it a valiant effort before season 5 of the series makes its triumphant return later this Summer.
In an open letter tweeted out by Hurwitz, he describes an effort to recut and “remix” season 4 to be told in a more simple, chronological way. While he readily admits that his main driving force was money (“I mean, who am I kidding, I want this thing to syndicate eventually.”), he says that he found other purposes to remix and re-edit the season.
“But I also pursued it as a comedic experiment to see if new jokes and a new perspective would emerge from a remix that features all the Bluths in every episode, and where the simultaneity of the story plays out chronologically,” explained the creator. “And I’m really excited about the final result.”
Let’s be real, Hurwitz did this to win back favor from the fans before season 5 is released. Speaking from my own personal experience, I didn’t even finish the fourth season because it was so lackluster. However, with the “remix” scheduled to hit Netflix this Friday, May 4, I might go back to see if I initially misjudged the series.
“Arrested Development Season 4 Remix: Fateful Consequences” will hit Netflix on May 4, followed “real soon” by season 5.
https://twitter.com/arresteddev/status/991361672605523971
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I find it really sad that some Arrested Development “fans” didn’t even finish season 4. If you know anything about the show, you know they often put payoffs before the setup. So a lot of the jokes you don’t even get until you’ve seen it all the way through. The show is really built for re-watching. Think of the whole run of episodes with Charlize Theron in season 3. The show is brilliant because it gets funnier every time you see it. There are so many details and a ton of tiny in-jokes that you don’t get until you’ve seen it all the way through (think of all the hints of seals in season 2 before Buster got his hand bitten off – you don’t notice them until you re-watch).
Season 4 is not as funny as the original series but it’s often brilliant and hits some really high highs. Episode 14 (which is all about Buster) is incredible. And the reveal of who’s staying in Sudden Valley and how they relate to George Michael (I don’t want to spoil it) is fucking incredible. Also, the whole relationship that develops between Gob and Tony Wonder. There’s so much good stuff. Hopefully this new cut of season 4 will get people to watch it all.
They lost all credibility when they said they hadn’t even finished the season.
Season 4 initially seemed out of place with the previous three seasons, but once it got going and I got my head around what they were doing I really liked the format and it’s a shame it was regarded as something of a failure.
Similarly, when I went to the cinema in 2000 to watch Christopher Nolan’s ‘Memento’ I thought it was brilliant, and still do, yet several audience members left before the end and then I overheard several grumblings about how confusing it was… The words ‘spoon’ and ‘feeding’ seem quite appropriate regarding both scenarios.
I was totally on board with the new format, but when it became clear that they were not really getting any comedy out of it I grew bored. Will be interested what they do with a “Directors cut” of season 4, I’m curious to see their take on it. And here’s to season 5 being a massive success 🙂
I think this is a good news, good news situation. I really enjoyed season 4 but a remix is very welcome. Cannot wait to see it and season 5!!! 😀
What a drama queen the writer is. Season 4 was a success.