OK, I'm watching Arrested Development

[Starfleet Engineer]

I've read here and other places, for the last few years, about how great the show Arrested Development is. So, recently, I turn on one of our 24 hour sports radio stations and the guy is talking about some brilliant show that he's watching on DVD. Yep, he was talking about Arrested Development. So, I gave in and moved AD to the top of my Neftlix list and have watched the first disc, the extended pilot and five episodes. It's mildly entertaining and I did laugh out loud twice at Buster. Other than that, it's not been anything special. So, when should I be expecting the "brilliant" part or even the entertaining part? It lasted a little over two seasons, right?

 

[jeff lebowski]

I thought it was overated as hell.

 

[Evil Twin]

Stick with it. Along with The Office, I consider it the funniest show ever. Gets better and better as it goes along as a lot of the jokes and gags build on each other and carry over from episode to episode. Which is unfortunately part of the reason it got canceled, as it's not the type of sitcom you can jump into the middle of and expect to know what the heck's going on. But very rewarding to watch the whole thing from beginning to end on DVD!

 

[Super Grover]

I saw it couple of times, it's an ok show.

 

[Campe]

I think its brilliant. No, its not going to be funny if you watch it in passing, but if you watch it from the beginning all the way through to the final episode, and pay close attention, it really pays off. There are quite a few great bits. Franklin, Hermano and Anyung all come to mind off the top of my head as very good moments. Its not a show you can just see a couple of times (no offense, Super Grover). I caught a few second season episodes and was kinda meh about it and then Netflixed the first season, watched the first disc, fell in love and couldn't wait for the other discs to get there. I had to go run out and get the season and watch it. In fact, a few months back, I did a marathon three-day weekend and watched the entire series from start to finish.

 

[RoJoHen]

It's such a good show, but I agree that you need to watch it all straight through. The whole show is basically one big story arc, with lots of running jokes and hilarious quotes.

 

[Worf412]

It's mildly entertaining and I did laugh out loud twice at Buster. Other than that, it's not been anything special. So, when should I be expecting the "brilliant" part or even the entertaining part?

Believe me, as somebody who has been exactly where you have been: The second half of season one gets better, season two is when it takes off.

I bought the first two seasons blind. After finishing the first disc, I was worried I had wasted my money. Just like you, I thought Buster was kinda funny, and I also loved Micheal's dry comments, but other than that... run-of-the-mill. Trust me, it does get better.

Of course, you have to know how the hype machine runs. A funny show that a person likes can't be "Oh, it's really funny", it must be "ZOMG TEH GR8TST SHOW EVER CREATED BY GOD OR MAN". AD is brilliantly funny, to be sure, but go in with your own expectations or you will come away underwhelmed.

Of course, although the first bit of season one is still the slowest of any part of AD, it is much funnier upon rewatching. The whole show is, really. There was one joke in a second season episode that I didn't catch what was being said until my 5th or 6th viewing.

 

[Super Grover]

Of course, you have to know how the hype machine runs. A funny show that a person likes can't be "Oh, it's really funny", it must be "ZOMG TEH GR8TST SHOW EVER CREATED BY GOD OR MAN".

That's one of the things that turns me off right away.

 

[Moocey]

It's mildly entertaining and I did laugh out loud twice at Buster. Other than that, it's not been anything special. So, when should I be expecting the "brilliant" part or even the entertaining part?

Believe me, as somebody who has been exactly where you have been: The second half of season one gets better, season two is when it takes off.

I bought the first two seasons blind. After finishing the first disc, I was worried I had wasted my money. Just like you, I thought Buster was kinda funny, and I also loved Micheal's dry comments, but other than that... run-of-the-mill. Trust me, it does get better.

Of course, you have to know how the hype machine runs. A funny show that a person likes can't be "Oh, it's really funny", it must be "ZOMG TEH GR8TST SHOW EVER CREATED BY GOD OR MAN". AD is brilliantly funny, to be sure, but go in with your own expectations or you will come away underwhelmed.

Of course, although the first bit of season one is still the slowest of any part of AD, it is much funnier upon rewatching. The whole show is, really. There was one joke in a second season episode that I didn't catch what was being said until my 5th or 6th viewing.

I thought it was funny from the first ep, but some philistines like Worf(insertyoursocialsecuritynumber) don't find it funny until later.

 

[Worf412]

That's one of the things that turns me off right away.

Me too. I'm happy I saw AD and FireFly before I heard about them on this and other boards, or I never would have touched either of them.

's why I can't watch Buffy. I try to watch an episode and all I can hear is posters from here saying "BEST EVAR!", "Hilarious dialog!", "Wonderful characterization!!!!!!". But what is on my screen is nothing more than a slightly above average idea stretched to the breaking point with l'esprit d'escalier dialog. No thanks.

 

[Worf412]

I thought it was funny from the first ep, but some philistines like Worf(insertyoursocialsecuritynumber) don't find it funny until later.

I thought the first few were funny, just average funny. Nothing outstanding.

 

[Super Grover]

That's one of the things that turns me off right away.

Me too. I'm happy I saw AD and FireFly before I heard about them on this and other boards, or I never would have touched either of them.

's why I can't watch Buffy. I try to watch an episode and all I can hear is posters from here saying "BEST EVAR!", "Hilarious dialog!", "Wonderful characterization!!!!!!". But what is on my screen is nothing more than a slightly above average idea stretched to the breaking point with l'esprit d'escalier dialog. No thanks.

I just have something in me that has to hate things that are popular. That, and I avoid things with David Cross in them.

 

[firehawk12]

I think Season 2 was when it just got great... heck, I started watching when it was on Fox with S2, so that might be the better place to start.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I was just going to suggest once you get through Season One...which is in my opinion kind of dull...and into Season Two that is when the shows brillance kicks in. Its really awesome, but you have to watch the series all the through to get things. I am still holding out hope for the movie.

 

[firehawk12]

I don't know. I can't really remember, but I think I picked up the second season fairly easily actually.

 

[anais]

It's one of those things you either love or hate.

I tried to make some friends see the light, but alas.

 

[RoJoHen]

The first few episodes can kind of drag at first. It's got its own style, which takes a few episodes to get used to. You have to get into a bit of a groove before it gets really good.

 

[Admiral_Young]

That's what I meant about the first season...it seems to drag on then the second season comes along and it hit its stride.

 

[RoJoHen]

This is true, but upon second viewing, I think the first season is hilarious, especially when you realize all the gags that existed from the very beginning.

Almost every running joke for the whole 3 seasons is established in the pilot.

 

[Starbreaker]

I never thought it was funny, and I'm a huge fan of this kind of humor, so oh well.