Arrested Development

Prison Break-In

Season 3, Episode 7, Aired 12/12/05

Episode Summary

Michael is worried when he learns that Lucille is dating the warden behind his father's back; Buster's new turtle gets into "Uncle-Father" Oscar's stash; the family plans a benefit for Tobias' life-endangering hair transplant.

9.2

EPISODE RATING: Superb

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Cast & Crew

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Portia de Rossi

Lindsay Bluth Fünke
Ron Howard

Narrator
Tony Hale

Byron "Buster" Bluth

Fan Episode Reviews (7)

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Lucille is dating the prison warden to help George escape from house arrest--or is the warden planning to get revenge on George by giving Lucille a VD? Michael must get to the bottom of this twisted mystery.moreless

10

"Perfect"

By Cordelia27, Sep 11, 2010 Report Abuse

Most of the characters are down about something or other in this episode, but it's still hilarious--only a show like "Arrested Development" could mine comedy gold out of a plotline about a dying family member (although I still hope Tobias comes to his senses and has the hairplugs removed, because I don't want David Cross gone). Then there's another appearance by Buster's uncle/father, Oscar--bummed because his son/nephew has let his turtle, "mother," eat his stash of weed. George Michael (who's just getting cuter and cuter) is still lusting after his cousin, who may be (pun not intended, but not rejected) lusting after him, too. And George Senior makes a sacrifice for his brother (or at least says he's going to--to do so would be pretty out of character).

The only factor that made me unhappy while watching this episode is knowing that, unless another network picks the show up, we're nearing the end of this gem.moreless

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3 1
Back to form.

9.0

"Superb"

By SergeantWilson, Sep 11, 2010 Report Abuse

After the episodes with the annoying British plot line, the show gets back to form. You know that a comedy is worth its money when you actually laugh out loud. It happened to me with the bit of visual humour of Gob losing control of his jet pack. Besides that there is the brilliant satire of rich people getting behind a social cause, in this case the made-up disease TBA. James Lipton may be the revelation of the episode with his dry delivery. As usual, you can miss jokes, like the narrator's correction of the Donny Host remark. The final scene with the prison riot feels like a pie fight at the end of a Laurel & Hardy two-reeler.moreless

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1 1
Classifications - who needs 'em?

9.3

"Superb"

By montaigne61, Sep 21, 2006 Report Abuse

If there was one thing I could change about TV.com, I would get rid of the Classification box on reviews. I am perfectly capable of describing the episode myself, without being forced to conform to some sort of category. Actually, if I could change only one thing, I would get rid of those ads that appear in between pages. You know, the "click here if you are not automatically redirected. But I don't think those are going away, so I will passively protest the Classification box by selecting "Character development" every time, whether it is accurate or not.

So, this week it's Prison Break that gets the Arrested Development treatment. I guess if you're going after someone, it might as well be the show that took your time slot. Damn that Wentworth Miller and his rugged good looks. I love that George-Michael kid. He's so...earnest, and naive and everything, it's just hard not to pull for him. I'm not sure I realized it before, but he really is the emotional heart of the series. Michael is just a little too busy making witty responses to his family's stupidly ironic gaffes to really be sympathetic, and the rest of them are, well, the Bluths. Too bad little George-Michael had to get locked in a prison cell with his rapidly-degrading uncle, but I guess that's what you get for trying to sleep with your cousin. Man, what is up with that?moreless

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Tobias gets a disease

9.1

"Superb"

By jimbo_001, Jun 06, 2006 Report Abuse

This episode definitely has its moments, in particular involving Gob and Oscar, probably the two funniest characters in this episode with scenes such as Gob's videotape conjugal trailer reliving and Oscar realising that Buster fed his turtle (who he'd named Mother) his weed, suggesting they cremate it.

The whole family being okay with Lucille cheating on their father with the warden, even Buster, was a bit odd though funny and was a solid addition to the plot.

The only thing I didn't like about this episode was Tobias because his plot is way too farfetched, even by Arrested standards and is too unrealistic to be considered entertaining.

Overall, despite Tobias and George Michael, who also didn't have a great plot, this episode ranks above 9 all the same as any episode of AD deserves.moreless

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So I can never find a classification for AD episodes because they are all EXCELLENT!

10

"Perfect"

By SuperKrazy24, Dec 19, 2005 Report Abuse

It still amazes me that a show this good is getting cancelled. I supposed you can't expect a smart comedy to survive on the same network with reality crap like American Idol and Trading Spouses. So sad. This episode was really funny, still producing excellent work even with the impending doom. I didn't like Tobias new "thing" though, with the hair plugs, he looks disgusting! I want him to try to be an actor again, those episodes were HILARIOUS! I love how George Michael is all grossed out though. Oh and Gob is still as funny as ever. Superb episode!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- When Michael is playing the guitar with George Michael taping it, he throws the guitar down and it knocks down the music stand. In the next scene, the music stand is up again. Edit
- The camera Gob uses throughout this episode is a Canon XL1S, a 3CCD standard definition mini DV camera. Edit
- After having left the reason Michael's wife, Tracy, died a mystery for 2 seasons, it is strongly implied she succumbed to ovarian cancer. Edit
Notes
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- The sticker on Tobias' book, 'The Man Inside Me' says "free with any other purchase of book (or magazines)". Edit
- Originally scheduled to air November 21st, but low ratings pushed it to air after sweeps finished. Edit
- Stefan Gentiles is the Warden's real name. It can be read on his "New Warden" script which he offers to Maeby in an attempt to be made into a film. Edit
Quotes
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- Michael: You're planning an escape. George Sr.: How dare you? I oughta shave your head and make you sit under that camera all night, mister. Edit
- Lucille: I'm trying to seduce him. Michael: Who's the "I" in that sentence? Lucille: Me. Michael: You? Narrator: Her. Edit
- Lucille: Everything looks delicious. Warden Gentles: Oh, One Eye is a wonderful chef. I've had to go to his parole hearings twice and lie through my teeth to keep him here. Edit
Allusions
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- n/a: Scary Movie 2 When some parts of his body fell asleep, Tobias falls off his wheelchair. This a reference to Scary Movie 2, where David Cross plays a paralyzed character, who was constantly laying on the floor and didn't want to anybody help him up. Edit
- When Gob mentions Happy Days star "Donny Host," the narrator corrects him with "It's Most." Edit
- Tobias: Don't leave your uncle T-Bag hanging.
  Yet another sly reference to Prison Break, in which the character Theodore Bagwell refers to himself as T-Bag. Edit