Arrested Development season 2

The second season of Arrested Development, an American television series created by Mitchell Hurwitz, began airing on November 7, 2004, on Fox, a U.S. broadcast television network.^[1] It comprises 18 episodes, each running approximately 22 minutes in length, and concluded its initial airing on April 17, 2005.

Arrested Development
Season 2
DVD cover
Starring	Jason Bateman Portia de Rossi Will Arnett Michael Cera Alia Shawkat Tony Hale David Cross Jeffrey Tambor Jessica Walter
No. of episodes	18
Release
Original network	Fox
Original release	November 7, 2004 (2004-11-07) – April 17, 2005 (2005-04-17)
Season chronology
List of episodes

The second season received acclaim from critics, who lauded it as overwhelmingly better than the first. It was nominated for multiple awards, notably for 11 Emmys, the highest amount a single season of the series ever received. The show's storyline centers on the Bluth family, a formerly wealthy, habitually dysfunctional family and is presented in a continuous format, incorporating hand-held camera work, narration, archival photos and historical footage.

It was released on DVD in region 1 on October 11, 2005, in region 2 on January 23, 2006, and in region 4 on March 15, 2006.

Production

After the first season's airing, Fox picked up a full 22-episode second season, but its production order was later cut down to 18 episodes.^[2]

Cast

Main article: List of Arrested Development characters

• Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth
• Portia de Rossi as Lindsay Bluth Fünke
• Will Arnett as Gob Bluth
• Michael Cera as George Michael Bluth
• Alia Shawkat as Maeby Fünke
• Tony Hale as Buster Bluth
• David Cross as Tobias Fünke
• Jeffrey Tambor as George Bluth, Sr. / Oscar Bluth
• Jessica Walter as Lucille Bluth
• Ron Howard as Narrator (uncredited)

Episodes

See also: List of Arrested Development episodes

The second season of Arrested Development consists of 18 episodes, which are listed below as ordered on the DVD collection and not in their original production order.

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date	Prod. code [3]	US viewers (millions)
23	1	"The One Where Michael Leaves"	Lee Shallat Chemel	Mitchell Hurwitz & Richard Rosenstock	November 7, 2004 (2004-11-07)	2AJD01	6.61[4]
Michael and George Michael leave for Phoenix but go back to ensure the family misses them. Lindsay's desire for an open marriage causes Tobias to try to join the Blue Man Group, because he thinks they are a support group for depressed men. Lucille signs Buster up for the Army after being goaded by a Michael Moore lookalike, and Gob becomes president of the Bluth company.
24	2	"The One Where They Build a House"	Patty Jenkins	Mitchell Hurwitz & Jim Vallely	November 14, 2004 (2004-11-14)	2AJD02	7.22[5]
Gob promises a model house for a new development in only 2 weeks, so everyone in the family helps to build a fake house that is empty on the inside. Lindsay buys a cream made of powdered diamonds.
25	3	"¡Amigos!"	Lee Shallat Chemel	Brad Copeland	November 21, 2004 (2004-11-21)	2AJD03	5.89[6]
Lucille hires a detective who locates George Sr. in Mexico. Michael goes to collect his father, accompanied by George Michael and his girlfriend Ann. Gob hires a bounty hunter named Ice to keep tabs on Michael.
26	4	"Good Grief"	Jeff Melman	John Levenstein	December 5, 2004 (2004-12-05)	2AJD04	6.66[7]
After Ice reveals that George Sr. has been executed in Mexico, the family holds a wake. Gob attempts an illusion in which he is buried in place of his father's body, which upsets Buster, who was told that it was a birthday party. George Michael discovers George Sr. alive in an underground bunker and hides him in the attic.
27	5	"Sad Sack"	Peter Lauer	Barbie Adler	December 12, 2004 (2004-12-12)	2AJD05	6.28[8]
George Sr. is concerned about the romance growing between his twin brother Oscar and Lucille. The prosecutor turns up new evidence supporting the Bluths' "light treason" charge.
28	6	"Afternoon Delight"	Jason Bateman	Abraham Higginbotham & Chuck Martin	December 19, 2004 (2004-12-19)	2AJD06	5.62[9]
After getting roasted at the company Christmas party, Gob fires the entire staff and Michael must find a way to rehire them. Meanwhile, Buster plays hooky from the army.
29	7	"Switch Hitter"	Paul Feig	Story by : Courtney Lilly Teleplay by : Barbie Adler	January 16, 2005 (2005-01-16)	2AJD07	5.78[10]
Armed with Michael's good ideas, Gob goes to work for their competitor, Stan Sitwell. George Sr. thinks Sitwell is just trying to win the company softball game.
30	8	"Queen for a Day"	Andrew Fleming	Brad Copeland	January 23, 2005 (2005-01-23)	2AJD08	5.20[11]
When the Bluth company stock is unfrozen, Michael sells his shares to buy a new Corvette and Tobias uses his shares to purchase a gay nightclub called the "Queen Mary".
31	9	"Burning Love"	Paul Feig	Chuck Martin & Lisa Parsons	January 30, 2005 (2005-01-30)	2AJD09	6.96[12]
Michael pursues childhood crush Sally Sitwell, Lindsay tries to entice a right-wing actor by wearing her mother's furs, and Gob and Lucille 2 continue their illicit relationship. George Michael stages a Christian music bonfire for his girlfriend Ann. George Sr. installs a hot-tub in his attic hideout.
32	10	"Ready, Aim, Marry Me!"	Paul Feig	Jim Vallely & Mitchell Hurwitz	February 13, 2005 (2005-02-13)	2AJD10	5.61[13]
Thinking Lucille 2 (the majority shareholder) and Stan Sitwell are plotting against the Bluth company, Michael sets up Lindsay to go on a romantic get-away with her fake Uncle Jack on the condition that Jack will bail out the company again. Gob and Buster follow Lucille 2 and Stan on their date.
33	11	"Out on a Limb"	Danny Leiner	Chuck Martin & Jim Vallely	March 6, 2005 (2005-03-06)	2AJD11	6.34[14]
Gob's wife files for divorce. Michael learns that former lover (and known liar) Maggie Lizer is pregnant, so he has Tobias and Lindsay break into her house to collect a urine sample to confirm her pregnancy. Buster swims in the ocean and has his hand bitten off by a loose seal.
34	12	"Hand to God"	Joe Russo	Mitchell Hurwitz & Chuck Martin	March 6, 2005 (2005-03-06)	2AJD12	5.75[14]
Buster tries to come to terms with the loss of his hand. Michael tries to find a way out of raising Maggie's baby.
35	13	"Motherboy XXX"	Joe Russo	Mitchell Hurwitz & Jim Vallely	March 13, 2005 (2005-03-13)	2AJD13	6.08[15]
Ashamed of Buster's missing hand, Lucille recruits George Michael to compete in the 30th annual "Motherboy" contest with her.
36	14	"The Immaculate Election"	Anthony Russo	Barbie Adler & Abraham Higginbotham	March 20, 2005 (2005-03-20)	2AJD14	5.73[16]
George Michael runs a doomed campaign for class president against Steve Holt. Lindsay kicks Tobias out, but he returns as their singing British housekeeper, Mrs. Featherbottom.
37	15	"Sword of Destiny"	Peter Lauer	Brad Copeland	March 27, 2005 (2005-03-27)	2AJD17	4.72[17]
Gob performs the Sword of Destiny illusion as Buster's assistant. Michael is hospitalized with appendicitis.
38	16	"Meat the Veals"	Joe Russo	Barbie Adler & Richard Rosenstock	April 3, 2005 (2005-04-03)	2AJD15	5.33[18]
Michael introduces the Bluths to Ann's conservative parents, hoping to turn them against George Michael and Ann's pre-engagement. Oscar throws Lucille an anniversary party.
39	17	"Spring Breakout"	Anthony Russo	Barbie Adler & Abraham Higginbotham	April 10, 2005 (2005-04-10)	2AJD16	5.19[19]
Michael checks Lucille into rehab, but she challenges Kitty to a drinking contest with George Sr. as the prize.
40	18	"Righteous Brothers"	Chuck Martin	Mitchell Hurwitz & Jim Vallely	April 17, 2005 (2005-04-17)	2AJD18	5.99[20]
The model home collapses. Tobias and Kitty head to Las Vegas together. George Michael and Maeby kiss.

Reception

Critical reception

In its second season, Arrested Development was met with widespread critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 94% with an average score of 8.3 out of 10 based on 18 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Arrested Development's second season doubles down on the absurd antics and densely layered gags, cementing the Bluths as TV's best worst family."^[21] On the review aggregator website Metacritic, the second season scored 88 out of 100, based on 17 reviews, indicating "Universal acclaim."^[22]

Awards and nominations

In 2005, the second season received eleven Emmy nominations in seven categories with one win. It was nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Jason Bateman), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Jeffrey Tambor), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Jessica Walter), Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series (Barbie Adler for "Sad Sack" and Brad Copeland for "Sword of Destiny"); Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series; Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series (three nominations).^[23] The episode "Righteous Brothers", written by Mitchell Hurwitz and Jim Vallely won for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.^[24]

The second season also received two Golden Globe nominations in two categories with one win. It was nominated for Best Series Musical or Comedy, and Jason Bateman won for Best Performance in a Musical or Comedy.^[25]

Home media

The second season was released on DVD in region 1 on October 11, 2005,^[26] in region 2 on January 23, 2006^[27] and in region 4 on March 15, 2006.^[28] Special features include commentary by series creator Mitchell Hurwitz and cast members on "Good Grief", "Ready, Aim, Marry Me!" and "Righteous Brothers"; deleted and extended scenes; "Season One in 3 Minutes" overview; blooper reel; "The Immaculate Election" campaign videos.^[29]