My fabulous and intelligent blogmate has recently posted about the reboot of the amazing television series, Arrested Development. The blog she linked to has on-set pictures of the currently filming season and it made me RIDICULOUSLY excited. But, as a lover of the show, I feel that I need to play devil’s advocate for a sec.
Arrested
Development was a perfect show. It was genius writing, genius casting, genius
use of puppets; but, inexplicably, it was cancelled after only three glorious
seasons, a life span that most fans feel was way too short.
I disagree.
Arrested Development was cut off in its prime. The three seasons are a masterpiece. It never got a chance to decay, as all shows do inevitably, to the point where cancellation becomes an act of mercy. We can see examples of this now, as when The Office tried to continue post-Steve Carrel. The show floundered, leaving a bad taste in the mouth of all its fans. But Arrested Development never did that. It never “jumped the shark”. Or the flesh-eating seal.
Arrested Development was cut off in its prime. The three seasons are a masterpiece. It never got a chance to decay, as all shows do inevitably, to the point where cancellation becomes an act of mercy. We can see examples of this now, as when The Office tried to continue post-Steve Carrel. The show floundered, leaving a bad taste in the mouth of all its fans. But Arrested Development never did that. It never “jumped the shark”. Or the flesh-eating seal.
But now, with the
promise of a miniseries and a movie on the way, Arrested Development is in
danger of jumping the flesh-eating seal. The show is picking up five years
after the last season ended. What has happened in those five years? Will the
cast dynamic be the same? Will the same writer’s be involved? Will Michael Cera
be able to handle this role now that he’s lost his baby fat and spent some
quality time with a pervy mustache?
No one can know for sure what the future holds. This reboot of the series could forever mar our appreciation of Arrested
Development. And though I would love to see what happened to the characters
after the end of last season, I’m not sure it’s worth the risk.
That being said, I
will absolutely watch every single episode of this miniseries and attend the
midnight premier of the movie, painted blue, doing a chicken dance as I stand
in line.
touche, my witty friend. i share your fears, and I'm sure all AD fans have mixed feelings of fear and excitement for the upcoming season. its hard because so much of what makes this show great is how consistently original and ridiculous it is, and if the new season has lost some of that luster it'll be so disappointing. however, if I have faith in any show's writers and cast members to bring da laughs in witty and creative ways its this one.
ReplyDeleteI too am anxious over the fate of the show. I only hope that it has more success than the office when it comes to surpassing our expectations in the face of its possible shame and demise.
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