70 episodes of Arrow? Wow. Still feels like a ‘new’ show to me.

70 episodes of Arrow? Wow. Still feels like a ‘new’ show to me.

69% of Masters of Sex watched. Oddly appropriate.

69% of Masters of Sex watched. Oddly appropriate.

2013 BEST TV COMEDY #10 -> Arrested Development

Because the voting sequence, from episode one, is a high-point for the entire series, and it set a tone right away: It felt exactly like the Arrested Development of old.

Because the story arc for some characters was seriously dark in places, almost uncomfortably so, and it set a different tone: It felt nothing like the Arrested Development of old.

Because there were some great new characters, as well as all the old characters we love so much.

Because the whole season was very, very clever with the back-half of the season having many wildly successful pay-offs to stuff established earlier on.

Because I’ve never seen anything on television like this before. [8.47]

Arrested Development 4.15

Delightful conclusion. Very funny, and very clever. But, more than that, it had heart. Hopefully the story will continue (and the next batch of episodes are shorter!) 10/10

Arrested Development 4.14

Bionic hand. Too long, but utterly delightful outing. Tony Hale rocks! I was disappointed that we didn’t see any of his time with his dad at the wall. And I was disappointed that, unlike recent episodes, there was no filling in of ‘behind the scenes’-type stuff. Maybe this episode should have aired earlier in the season? At this stage in the game, I think we need to see the dots being connected every week. Or maybe that’s just me. 9/10

Arrested Development 4.13

Nadine Velazquez. Hilarious and clever. Scene after scene is superb. A tour de force of ingenuity in comedy! 10/10 

Arrested Development 4.12

Jeff Garlin. I’m stunned that the Maeby episode is the best so far! But it is. It’s really funny, with lots of pay offs from earlier in season, showing off just how clever this fourth season really is. Flawed or not, this is very smart stuff. And it is building to a great climax, too. Cannot wait to see the final episodes and see how it all comes to a conclusion. 10/10 

Arrested Development 4.11

Ben Stiller. One of the best episodes. Many, many funny sequences. Doesn’t feel overlong. Zips by. 9/10 

Arrested Development 4.10

A Lucille-centric episode, with plenty of the other characters included. It has a few funny scenes, but not many, and lots of the story arc details are explained/resolved. In common with most other Season Four episodes, it is way too long and seems to drag between jokes. 7/10

Arrested Development 4.9

Fantastic Four Musical. Very impressed with this episode. Despite the fact that it way too long, and (sometimes) too dark, there is no denying that many of the scenes are hysterically funny, and there is a huge amount of pay-off for stories and ideas that have been running through this fourth season. More than anything else, I suppose I love this episode because it is the first one to convince me completely that I will enjoy re-watching this season and seeing/understanding fully for the first time how it all fits together. Am I crazy, or is this good? 10/10