MovieChat Forums > Arrested Development (2003) Discussion > A scolding to AD fans before the message...

A scolding to AD fans before the message boards go

posted 8 years ago by metatron1970
10 replies | jump to latest

Before this democratized form of free expression on the arts comes to an end on February 20th, I would like to get off my chest that a lot of fans of the show really disappointed me in 2013 with the deluge of hostile responses to season 4. The worst comments were aimed at Mitchell Hurwitz and Ron Howard--people we should have been thanking for willing to come back and resurrect a show that in the intervening years had become a cult phenomenon. A lot of people felt it lacked the sunny optimism of the original, and indeed it isn't as uproariously funny as the first three seasons, but it tries stuff I've never seen in a sitcom before and it was fun to piece the jigsaw pieces of the plot together as the season progressed. When I first discovered AD around 2005, it was practically a religious revelation. I know I'm not the only one. As with any artist, perhaps the darker tone of season 4 reflected Mitch Hurwitz's mood at the time: it's certainly telling that he used dark comedian Maria Bamford prominently in season 4 then went on to help create her own Netflix sitcom. I hope sincere AD fans who have grumbled about season 4 will at some point give it a serious reappraisal as some of it is wildly inventive.

[–] Final_Hitokiri 8 years ago

I would like to get off my chest that a lot of fans of the show really disappointed me in 2013 with the deluge of hostile responses to season 4.

I disagree. The fans did what they were rightfully entitled to do so, tell the creators that what they made was unacceptable to the "Arrested Development" brand that they had kept alive for 7 years.

"Arrested Development" season 4 was such a catastrophic failure, that it is not discussed at the Netflix shareholders meetings. They will gladly discuss "Orange is the New Black", "Stranger Things" or "House of Cards".

"Arrested Development" should have been an easy win, as it already had a built in audience. But they strayed from what the fans adored, and the result was a jumbled mess that you yourself even admitted did not meet the standards of quality.

[–] metatron1970 8 years ago

Yeah--the fans made themselves definitely heard at the time, and it's the primary reason why it's almost 4 years later and we have yet to see a new season of AD that would finish the story begun on season 4.

[–] metatron1970 8 years ago

It is the uniformity of responses people make to season 4 that leads me to believe their ideas have not evolved since Netflix uploaded the season in 2013. Many of them have probably not even revisited it since it first premiered because it left a bad taste in their mouths, and if there's one thing AD has taught its fans over the years it's that a single viewing will often not suffice to pick up on the nuances and hidden jokes that become more apparent with multiple viewings. I still hear the same criticisms now as I heard four years ago: the episodes are too long (as if attention spans switch off if an episode isn't exactly 21 minutes long), that it was too dark and depressing, that it didn't have likable supporting characters, and that there were not enough scenes with the entire family. These criticisms have continued unabated, but I surmise much of it has come from people not willing to invest the time to revisit season 4, which actually has quite a few rewards in store for those with patience. In many ways, the objections are no different than those presented in the New York Times when season 4 was launched. The NYT critic had watched only about half the season before penning the article, which ignores the full cumulative effect of its intricate season-long plotting.

[–] Final_Hitokiri 8 years ago

I still hear the same criticisms now as I heard four years ago

Possibly because they are still valid criticisms.

The length of the episodes is valid. Why is there not a level of consistency? Why does Buster's episode have more time than Lindsay's? (etc.)

I am certain you are correct that many people have not revisited the show, but that's possibly because Season 4 did not feel like "Arrested Development" to them. You have to admit, Season 4 is very different from the first 3 seasons.

[–] metatron1970 8 years ago

We've been hearing rumors for the past few months that Hurwitz re-cut the entirety of season 4 so that there are now episodes of length akin to what they were on Fox. The edit also crosscuts between family members rather than focusing on one Bluth per episode, which should convey more of the illusion that all cast members are participating in an episode. I really hope Hurwitz will allow Netflix to upload it soon so as to give those who despised season 4 a chance to review it in a way many AD fans will find more palatable, though I still contend there's brilliant stuff in it already for those with the stamina to look for it.

[–] hotrats2112 8 years ago

This rumor has been running around for a while and I hope it happens. I enjoyed Season 4, but I didn't love it. I can understand why people hate on it but I'm not one of them. I actually think as a whole season 4 was pretty brilliantly written and filmed. My only real complaint about S4 is too many secondary characters being a major part of storylines for too long. The story suffered. I would have liked the family together but I also see validity in showing how they all fall apart in horrible ways when they don't stick together.

I have heard that the re-cut of season 4 shows the season in chronological order and would really love to see it.

RIP imdb boards.

[–] Final_Hitokiri 8 years ago

My only real complaint about S4 is too many secondary characters being a major part of storylines for too long.

That was probably the best that they could come up with, in order to stretch out the story since they could not get all of the main cast back together again.

I have heard that the re-cut of season 4 shows the season in chronological order and would really love to see it.

Has this ever been released?

[–] naDaht (1087) 8 years ago

Has this ever been released?
<<

You can find it on The Pirate Bay.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

Sorry. Some of us have justifiable fears about jumping on The Pirate Bay and similar sites. I would have hoped by now Netflix would have uploaded the revised season 4, but after the sexual misconduct allegations against Tambor on "Transparent", Netflix is probably waiting for the ridiculous #MeToo movement to die down before launching anything new pertaining to Arrested Development.

[–] naDaht (1087) 7 years ago

Actually, those fears aren't that justifiable. At least not here in Sweden. I've been filesharing for close to 20 years now without any problems.