Why You Should Give Season 4 of Arrested Development Another Chance?

With the news of a 5^th Season of Arrested Development on the way for Netflix, it begs the question, what went wrong with the long awaited season 4???  In reality, nothing!  The main problem with Season 4 is that most people watched it once and that was it.  What made Arrested so great was the fact that all 3 original seasons were watched over and over and over and over again by hardcore fans.  As someone who can recite most of the series verbatim I still notice little inside jokes that I missed during my first 100 viewings.  My point is that with all the anticipation (and yes the unique storytelling to cover the missing years for each character) most people were disappointed that it wasn’t fall out of your seats funny the first time.  If you haven’t watched it at least twice you are doing yourself a disservice.  View it again and the all over the map story will fall closer into place and you will appreciate the little moments between characters when you know the full context of what they are dealing with….just like Seasons 1-3.  For example, the very first episode of Season 4 features Gob and Michael in the model home as Gob is frantically trying to explain that he also had sex like Michael (Michael believing he had slept with Lucille 2).  Gob then forces a “forget me now” down Michael’s throat as Michael sees just whom Gob has been sleeping with.  SPOLIER ALERT: When you finish the season you realize that it was in fact Tony Wonder, Gob’s rival and out of the closet magician.  When seeing this for a second viewing and knowing the end result of the plot it makes the scene hilarious.  The season is littered with little moments like this, and I believe that with the scheduling issues regarding all of the other projects the cast is involved in, this is the best that the writers could do to create the inside jokes that only loyal and borderline obsessive fans get. I for one am greatly anticipating another chapter with my favorite dysfunctional family, the Bluths. 

Written By: TJ Kiss 

617: Page 1, Panel 5

A plane collides with another in midair and the group of survivors crash into the Rocky Mountains. From there, it is something of a road story; the group trying to get back to society and what happens when they get back to “civilization” (it’s extremely crucial that "civilization" is in quotes). As they are attempting to trek down the mountain the group splits apart and comes across survivors from the other plane as well as many characters who know much more about their predicament then they are letting on. It’s sort of a mix of Y: The Last Man meets Christian and Norse mythologies. It is also (perhaps most importantly) a literal clash of Technology vs. Religion. You’ll see Valkyries, The Four Horsemen (who are evil/questionable historical figures you’ll certainly recognize who are attempting to earn their way back into God’s good graces,) Fenrir the Wolf, a few choice Angels and even the good ol' Antichrist makes an appearance (who may not appear as you might typically think about the Anti-Christ). We blend a lot of different mythologies and attempt to find the answer to "Life, the Universe and Everything" (hint: it's not 42).

Written by: Phillip Butehorn & Brian J. Harris
Art by: Jacob Eguren
Colored by: Luis Caballero
Lettered by: Justin Korthof
617 Logo by: Shawn Aldridge

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Page 1, Panel 3

Page 1, Panel 4 

Page 1, Panel 5

617: Page 1, Panel 4

A plane collides with another in midair and the group of survivors crash into the Rocky Mountains. From there, it is something of a road story; the group trying to get back to society and what happens when they get back to “civilization” (it’s extremely crucial that "civilization" is in quotes). As they are attempting to trek down the mountain the group splits apart and comes across survivors from the other plane as well as many characters who know much more about their predicament then they are letting on. It’s sort of a mix of Y: The Last Man meets Christian and Norse mythologies. It is also (perhaps most importantly) a literal clash of Technology vs. Religion. You’ll see Valkyries, The Four Horsemen (who are evil/questionable historical figures you’ll certainly recognize who are attempting to earn their way back into God’s good graces,) Fenrir the Wolf, a few choice Angels and even the good ol' Antichrist makes an appearance (who may not appear as you might typically think about the Anti-Christ). We blend a lot of different mythologies and attempt to find the answer to "Life, the Universe and Everything" (hint: it's not 42).

Written by: Phillip Butehorn & Brian J. Harris
Art by: Jacob Eguren
Colored by: Luis Caballero
Lettered by: Justin Korthof
617 Logo by: Shawn Aldridge


Stay tuned for Page 1, Panel 4 on Friday

Page 1, Panel 1 

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Page 1, Panel 3

Page 1, Panel 4

617: Page 1, Panel 3

A plane collides with another in midair and the group of survivors crash into the Rocky Mountains. From there, it is something of a road story; the group trying to get back to society and what happens when they get back to “civilization” (it’s extremely crucial that "civilization" is in quotes). As they are attempting to trek down the mountain the group splits apart and comes across survivors from the other plane as well as many characters who know much more about their predicament then they are letting on. It’s sort of a mix of Y: The Last Man meets Christian and Norse mythologies. It is also (perhaps most importantly) a literal clash of Technology vs. Religion. You’ll see Valkyries, The Four Horsemen (who are evil/questionable historical figures you’ll certainly recognize who are attempting to earn their way back into God’s good graces,) Fenrir the Wolf, a few choice Angels and even the good ol' Antichrist makes an appearance (who may not appear as you might typically think about the Anti-Christ). We blend a lot of different mythologies and attempt to find the answer to "Life, the Universe and Everything" (hint: it's not 42).

Written by: Phillip Butehorn & Brian J. Harris
Art by: Jacob Eguren
Colored by: Luis Caballero
Lettered by: Justin Korthof
617 Logo by: Shawn Aldridge


Stay tuned for Page 1, Panel 3 on Thursday

Page 1, Panel 1

Page 1, Panel 2

Page  1, Pane 3 

617: Page 1, Panel 2

A plane collides with another in midair and the group of survivors crash into the Rocky Mountains. From there, it is something of a road story; the group trying to get back to society and what happens when they get back to “civilization” (it’s extremely crucial that "civilization" is in quotes). As they are attempting to trek down the mountain the group splits apart and comes across survivors from the other plane as well as many characters who know much more about their predicament then they are letting on. It’s sort of a mix of Y: The Last Man meets Christian and Norse mythologies. It is also (perhaps most importantly) a literal clash of Technology vs. Religion. You’ll see Valkyries, The Four Horsemen (who are evil/questionable historical figures you’ll certainly recognize who are attempting to earn their way back into God’s good graces,) Fenrir the Wolf, a few choice Angels and even the good ol' Antichrist makes an appearance (who may not appear as you might typically think about the Anti-Christ). We blend a lot of different mythologies and attempt to find the answer to "Life, the Universe and Everything" (hint: it's not 42).

Written by: Phillip Butehorn & Brian J. Harris
Art by: Jacob Eguren
Colored by: Luis Caballero
Lettered by: Justin Korthof
617 Logo by: Shawn Aldridge

Page 1, Panel 1

Page 1, Panel 2

 

 Stay tuned for Panel 3 on Wednesday!

617: Page 1, Panel 1

A plane collides with another in midair and the group of survivors crash into the Rocky Mountains. From there, it is something of a road story; the group trying to get back to society and what happens when they get back to “civilization” (it’s extremely crucial that "civilization" is in quotes). As they are attempting to trek down the mountain the group splits apart and comes across survivors from the other plane as well as many characters who know much more about their predicament then they are letting on. It’s sort of a mix of Y: The Last Man meets Christian and Norse mythologies. It is also (perhaps most importantly) a literal clash of Technology vs. Religion. You’ll see Valkyries, The Four Horsemen (who are evil/questionable historical figures you’ll certainly recognize who are attempting to earn their way back into God’s good graces,) Fenrir the Wolf, a few choice Angels and even the good ol' Antichrist makes an appearance (who may not appear as you might typically think about the Anti-Christ). We blend a lot of different mythologies and attempt to find the answer to "Life, the Universe and Everything" (hint: it's not 42).

The Creative Team:

Written by: Phillip Butehorn & Brian J. Harris
Art by: Jacob Eguren
Colored by: Luis Caballero
Lettered by: Justin Korthof
617 Logo by: Shawn Aldridge

The Killing and the Twist You Didn't Ask For

    SPOILER ALERT FOR SEASON FOUR

   I don’t know what initially drew me to The Killing but I also don’t know what could possibly drag me away. As an avid watcher of The Killing for all of its four seasons (and honestly, one of only four watchers I know of this underappreciated drama), I feel the series’ only problem was its last few minutes. If you didn’t like the last season, you probably didn’t like the previous three. It did everything the show did well: season long mystery ala Twin Peaks, in-depth protagonists that were easy to dislike, supporting characters that were both complex and well-acted, and a bleak and hopeless tone.

       However, the last few minutes of season four were basically a complete copout for what the show was and represented, but more on that in a minute. This was a show that offered no hope and no happiness. And goddamnit, that’s okay. There was absolutely no positivity to this dark presentation; only an unhappy and, arguably accurate, view of humanity (and the rainy, dreary, Seattle). The end of each season offered answers (and some didn’t even do that) but they tended to stray towards the unhappy. And this was completely and utterly consistent with the direction we were led for 12 or so episodes each season. Rosie Larson’s murder was wrapped up neatly and particularly dishearteningly, as the revelation of her killer was someone so close to her, and someone seemingly completely innocent. The fact that this revelation took two seasons was a bit disappointing, but still worth the time and journey.

       Season 3 was equally tragic as the Pied Piper ended up being none other than Linden’s former lover and also current (as of the time) lover: Lieutenant Skinner. MY first thought when beginning season 3 was that every single male character on the show would be at one point suspected (except Holder) including new main character Lieutenant Skinner. Turns out I was more correct than I could have anticipated.

       For the series as a whole, the fact that every single episode offers a new possible “suspect” only to be exonerated by the end of the 42 minutes, which happens far too often, actually weighs lightly on the viewer as each new suspect presents the observer with an in-depth look at a disturbing character, even though they often have absolutely nothing to do with the case at hand. This does make most of each season predictable to a point, as you know the real killer (or any possible clues/details about the killer) will not be revealed until the last two episodes. However, these revelations are always (and I mean that for all four seasons) worth the wait as they wrap up all questions, suspects and details.

       The end of the series changes the dreary, bleak, gray, unhappy tone of the show to one of hope and looking to the future by placing the miserable-unless-looking-for-a-murderer Linden and the street-savvy former drug addict Holder in a suggested romantic relationship. Wait-what?! The show that placed almost no importance on romance (save for Holder’s relationship with Kaylee from Firefly turned District Attorney) decided to shove the two main characters together for….for what? Why did they do this? There was never for a second a hint of a will-they-won’t-they relationship between Holder and Linden. This was not Sam and Diane or Ross and Rachel. This was a heavily serialized murder mystery show that showed the darkness of the world. Not once did it suggest a happy, romantic ending for the two protagonists. It pained me to do it, but I had to give this show four out of five stars on Netflix because of the last three minutes of the show. Everything up until then was completely consistent, but the ending offered the viewer an ending it did not ask for or want. Or indeed make any sense at all. That being said, this was approximately 2000 minutes of fantastic drama with 3 total minutes of head-scratching resolution. You’ll have to forgive and forget the creators their last second faux pas and enjoy the show as it was.

SDCC'14: MUST SEE MOVIE TRAILERS

“The Hobbit: the Battle of the Five Armies”

Yes the conclusion to “the Hobbit” trilogy is coming to a close and most of us couldn't be happier.  I questioned the making of this trilogy as the story is just much more child friendly than the gritty “Lord of the Rings.”  Perhaps Mr. Jackson will pull one out of his sleeve to redeem a somewhat ho-hum project.

“The Simpson’s/Family Guy Crossover”

Yes indeed, it has finally happened.  Despite the fact that hardcore Simpson’s fans tend to view Family Guy as a knockoff (excluding myself cuz come on, how can you make a cartoon that doesn't in some way rip off our friends from Springfield).  Based on the teaser scenes it looks great, love the Duff/Pawtucket Patriot gag!!

“Mad Max: Fury Road”

The colon titles continue!  This has the potential to be fantastic!!  With George Miller (the man behind the original Max stories) in charge you just know it will have that same dark feel to it.  Tom Hardy gives us a great replacement for Mel Gibson in the title role in a film that will be released 30 years since the last installment.

“Interstellar”

Well it is Nolan so it’s got to be awesome, right?  Yes, most likely.  With the release of the new trailer, the buzz will begin to increase for this highly anticipated project from one of the great minds in film today.  Will shooting for the stars work as well for Nolan as it did for Kubrick with 2001? We will find out sometime this fall.