It feels weird to say that I found this episode of "Arrested Development" to be one of it's worst to date. Why do I feel weird? Because it was still fantastic. The worst episodes of "Arrested Development" still out-run most show's best episodes. I'm not sure why I didn't like this episode as much... one hand, we get the introduction of a great character: Oscar Bluth, George's brother, also played by Jeffrey Tambor, albeit in a much different way. On the other hand, too much of the episode was dedicated to easy jokes, whether it was Oscar's weird farting or the board members blowing the whistles on each other, literally most of the time.
The episode is mostly about Michael coming into some money and wanting to buy land with it so he can build more model homes. He believes this is the best thing for the company. Meanwhile, it appears Oscar, George Sr.'s twin, has returned to town and George Sr. wants Michael to give him some money to make him go away. However, it turns out that Oscar has a ton of land that he is sitting on, and Michael sees it as a perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: pay Oscar for the land and build new homes. However, it turns out that Oscar's land is useless, as it's owned by the Army, so Michael essentially pays Oscar for land that has tanks roaming across it all the time.
Michael's not the only person attempting to make new financial leaps. Tobias and Gob want to take a little bit of the company money and invest it in a company. They decide to create Gobias Industries, which is a coffee shop or something? I never really figured it out, and for all the work that the two did on their plan, I don't think they figured it out either. For me, it was a plot that never went anywhere, and after the episode ends, it seems like the writers didn't really know what to do with it either, as they leave it by the wayside.
Lindsey, meanwhile, for the umpteenth time, tries getting back to her volunteer roots and once again fails, this time protesting against the war, not because she hates war but instead because her hair stylist got called to Iraq. It's a pretty funny plot with a great payoff involving Lucille, but for the most part, it doesn't really go anywhere.
That being said, the episode itself just felt like it was missing something, or perhaps it just wasn't that important to the overall story, save for introducing Oscar Bluth into the mix. I'll admit, I love the work Tambor does here; the difference between Oscar and George Sr. is evident beyond just physical looks. Tambor plays them both differently, and it's fun to watch.
It's not as if I dislike this episode, it simply wasn't my favorite.moreless
EDIT
Episode Summary
Michael deals with numerous requests for some unfrozen money, and chastises Lucille for being too coddling with Buster. Also, Lindsay decides to protest the war to boost her self esteem, Tobias and Gob decide to start a coffee company.
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Jeffrey Tambor
George Bluth Sr. / Oscar Bluth
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Portia de Rossi
Lindsay Bluth Fünke
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David Cross
Tobias Fünke
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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Trivia
ADD TRIVIA- In the "On the next Arrested Development" gag, Lindsay's statement "I want to be... a cage dancer" (and subsequent giggle) is an echo of Tobias's declaration that he wants to be an actor (with the same giggle) in the pilot episode. Edit
- When Oscar receives a call just before Lucille visits, a character on Oscar's television can be heard saying "Look! A seagull!", which is a line from the Mr. Banana-Grabber cartoon. Gob gave up the animation rights to Mr. Banana-Grabber in the episode "Charity Drive". Edit
- Protestors's signs: -"Freedom". -"Where are the weapons of mass destruction?". -"You can take away our stylists... but you can't take away our STYLE!". -"War is SEXIST!". -"War is RACIST!". -"Free speech!". -"Larger free speech zone!". -"Free Jacko!". Edit
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Notes
ADD NOTES- Will Arnett said that the scene where Gob (his character)'s wife tries to explain she was in love with his brother, was his favorite moment of the show. Edit
- Although credited, Tony Hale ("Buster") didn't appear in this episode. Edit
- Featured music: -"Bad Girls" by Donna Summer. -"Free at Last" (written for the show) by Gabriel Mann and Maxayn Lewis. Edit
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Quotes
ADD QUOTES- Tobias: Well, Lindsay, could you use it over there? I'm trying to grow. Lindsay: Yeah. Well, it's clear that's not going to happen. Edit
- Tobias: Well, I've always wanted to remake Annie Hall. Except, I wouldn't want to get in bed with a green producer like a Sofia Coppola, though. Oh, but give me an old pro like a Robert Redford. Oh, I'd jump into bed with him in a second. And I wouldn't just lie there, Michael Bluth, if that's what you're thinking. Michael: Actually, that time, that was what I was thinking. Edit
- Tobias: I just need to prove to my wife that I can act like a man. And it's not about sex. I don't just lie there, if that's what you're thinking. Michael: That's not what I was thinking. Edit
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Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS- The episode title is a reference to James McNeill Whistler's 1871 painting Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter's Mother, which has come to be more commonly known as "Whistler's Mother". Edit
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n/a: Passion of the Crust
The bagel place name is an obvious reference to the then recent (Spring 2004) movie The Passion of the Christ. Edit -
n/a: On the next Arrested Development
The scene from the "On the next Arrested Development" gag featuring Oscar outside Lucille's house is a spoof of the movie Say Anything... Edit
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