Tyler
Assistant to the General Manager
Ruling with an Iron Fist
Posts: 1,284
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Post by Tyler on May 26, 2013 9:26:23 GMT -6
I have to buy Netflix but Ill be watching the season today as well. Gonna watch AD AD
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Post by Berlin on May 26, 2013 18:33:26 GMT -6
I'm gonna wait for more people to have watched the whole season before I get into my full thoughts, but I've now watched all 15 episodes at least once and a few twice, and all I'll say is that I was a little underwhelmed...
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Post by majorrajor on May 27, 2013 6:03:27 GMT -6
I've only seen 4 episodes of S4, but I really like how they go back through the same scenes/stories through different perspectives.
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Post by Berlin on May 27, 2013 10:28:33 GMT -6
I've only seen 4 episodes of S4, but I really like how they go back through the same scenes/stories through different perspectives. They do it for 15 episodes...it gets old.
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Post by London on May 28, 2013 12:19:48 GMT -6
I am only 4 episodes in so far and this season is BRUTAL.
I heard it picks up from 4 on but I'd rather take a forget me now and remember the show as it was.
Lindsay's surgery looks like shit. Seth Rogen is about as bad of a casting as I've ever seen. The writing is dumb and the characters are completely different.
I dunno, Season 4 (so far) is an epic fail.
I won't be back in this thread until I've seen the rest of the season in order to avoid spoilers.
Keep in mind this is where I am on it now but I reserve the right to change my mind after seeing the entire season.
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Post by Berlin on May 28, 2013 20:20:44 GMT -6
I am only 4 episodes in so far and this season is BRUTAL. I heard it picks up from 4 on but I'd rather take a forget me now and remember the show as it was. Lindsay's surgery looks like shit. Seth Rogen is about as bad of a casting as I've ever seen. The writing is dumb and the characters are completely different. I dunno, Season 4 (so far) is an epic fail. I won't be back in this thread until I've seen the rest of the season in order to avoid spoilers. Keep in mind this is where I am on it now but I reserve the right to change my mind after seeing the entire season. Everything you said it correct...with the exception of the show getting better after 4 episodes. Portia de Rossi's plastic surgery is not good, but she honestly doesn't look bad when she sticks to her new short haircut. The problem is that they keep putting her in wigs that seem to accentuate how bad her work looks. Let me know when more people have seen this...I've now been through the 4th season twice and I'm ready to make my full assessment of pros and cons (and I'll give you a hint, one list is much larger than the other).
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Post by Bayi on May 29, 2013 9:21:03 GMT -6
Want to know what would make the episodes I've seen better?
If the characters were ALL IN THE SAME ROOM INTERACTING FOR ONCE.
What the hell. The interplay between characters is the highlight of the show - more than any overwritten callbacks. In this, there's maybe one or two scenes where even more than three characters are involved.
Also, the individual character storylines are a good idea, but not if your storyline episode doesn't include any G.O.B. COME ON.
That being said: a horrible episode of Arrested Development is better than a great episode of nearly every other show. I hated the Mr. F. story arc in season three, but that hasn't stopped me from watching it through several times.
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Post by Berlin on May 29, 2013 9:38:38 GMT -6
Want to know what would make the episodes I've seen better? If the characters were ALL IN THE SAME ROOM INTERACTING FOR ONCE. What the hell. The interplay between characters is the highlight of the show - more than any overwritten callbacks. In this, there's maybe one or two scenes where even more than three characters are involved. Also, the individual character storylines are a good idea, but not if your storyline episode doesn't include any G.O.B. COME ON. That being said: a horrible episode of Arrested Development is better than a great episode of nearly every other show. I hated the Mr. F. story arc in season three, but that hasn't stopped me from watching it through several times. I get the premise...they want to show how the characters have all separated in the past ten years, so the interactions between them is going to be minimalized. That doesn't mean it is very good. And I used to agree with you Corey...even a bad Arrested Development was pretty damn good. But try sitting through the two Tobias-centric episodes this time around...they might be the most brutal of the entire series.
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Tyler
Assistant to the General Manager
Ruling with an Iron Fist
Posts: 1,284
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Post by Tyler on May 29, 2013 16:03:44 GMT -6
Woah woah, I still haven't been able to see the new season but I don't know if you you can have a brutal Tobias episode. You might be right, but David Cross is one funny dude.
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Post by Berlin on May 29, 2013 16:10:55 GMT -6
Woah woah, I still haven't been able to see the new season but I don't know if you you can have a brutal Tobias episode. You might be right, but David Cross is one funny dude. You can...and they do...and he is...but it is terrible. I'm surprised that more people haven't finished up yet, especially as into AD as many of us were the first time around. Is it because the episodes were longer (30-35 minutes each instead of 21) or because they are so bad that it is hard to sludge through the non-sense to reach the finish line? I'm someone who likes to skip TV on TV, then watch whole seasons in a row in one sitting so I don't have to watch commercials or wait a week for the next episode, so Sunday's experience was disappointing but nothing new. I'm just wondering what the hold up is for everyone else...
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Tyler
Assistant to the General Manager
Ruling with an Iron Fist
Posts: 1,284
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Post by Tyler on May 29, 2013 16:17:54 GMT -6
Long story short I don't have Netflix so I didn't get to watch it right away and I've heard enough mixed emotions that I've decided to wait a few weeks until I move to my new place where my next roommate has Netflix. Basically it came down to people being no very impressed (if at all). Soon enough though.
Edit- To be honest, Im glad for it as well because I would have gone in with major expectations and been sad. This way I have little expectations and I might be able to appreciate it for what is now, instead of what it was.
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Post by London on May 29, 2013 16:20:14 GMT -6
I've been busy.
I'm shooting a short this weekend so I'm prepping that. Also, it was a holiday weekend so we had some outdoor plans.
Might be another week or more for me.
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Post by Bayi on May 30, 2013 10:05:14 GMT -6
Woah woah, I still haven't been able to see the new season but I don't know if you you can have a brutal Tobias episode. You might be right, but David Cross is one funny dude. You can...and they do...and he is...but it is terrible. I'm surprised that more people haven't finished up yet, especially as into AD as many of us were the first time around. Is it because the episodes were longer (30-35 minutes each instead of 21) or because they are so bad that it is hard to sludge through the non-sense to reach the finish line? I'm someone who likes to skip TV on TV, then watch whole seasons in a row in one sitting so I don't have to watch commercials or wait a week for the next episode, so Sunday's experience was disappointing but nothing new. I'm just wondering what the hold up is for everyone else... I haven't had time - huge conference presentation next week. The five episodes I watched on the computer while doing dishes and cleaning the house, so I haven't even really had a chance to sit down and take it in.
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Post by Dave on May 31, 2013 10:37:33 GMT -6
I've just finished through episode eight, and this season is AWFUL! I just finished the second Tobias episode and just hated it. These storylines are terrible, and like Berlin said before these recaps of shit we've already seen from the others POV just gets old. This may have been great 5 years ago, but between aging and plastic surgeries the cast just doesn't do it for me anymore. It's a shame that I don't even want to finish this, and really just wish it would have never happened so that I could remember the show the way it was. I personally do not like the episodes being character specific because you alienate fans of certain characters by never seeing them (Gob for example seems rarely used). Tobias and Lindsey episodes have made me want to kill myself bad.
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Post by Phil Jackson on May 31, 2013 13:41:13 GMT -6
The universal disappointment I've heard about this show is discouraging, but I will watch season 4 eventually
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Post by Berlin on May 31, 2013 14:11:18 GMT -6
The universal disappointment I've heard about this show is discouraging, but I will watch season 4 eventually It is discouraging, but there are moments of levity to be found in the garbage. Once everyone has had a chance to watch all 15 episodes, I'd like to start going over the highlights and (many) lowlights of the season. For example, even though he is only sparingly used in flashbacks to the past, I was a big fan of Henry Winkler's son Max playing a young Barry Zuckerkorn...anyone else find some diamonds in the rough they want to mention before we get into the BIG discussions?
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Post by majorrajor on Jun 1, 2013 14:01:16 GMT -6
I just finished the season. The POV thing did start to get a little annoying as I watched more episodes. I think that I was a little underwhelmed but only because I expected a lot based on the first three seasons.
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Post by Berlin on Jun 11, 2013 17:00:09 GMT -6
Ok, I gave it a couple weeks off and I watched the first episode of the 4th season again. Nope, it isn't any better...you know what they forgot? To bring the funny...
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Drew
Assistant to the General Manager
Posts: 777
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Post by Drew on Jun 14, 2013 9:54:20 GMT -6
just got through the 4th season and whelp i guess that's what i get for holding expectations that high. all the rumors i heard and dismissed about the awkward shooting schedules really made a difference. it was still nice to see everyone reprising their roles but the rhythm and timing was off, and the writing and tone seemed very different to me. i know this universe was always wacky but they seemed to have gone a bit off the deep end with some plot lines. that being said certain episodes like the Tobias centered one were gold to me. idk if any of you follow the av club's tv reviews (best in the business imo) but they've been doing a great job of breaking down S4. www.avclub.com/tvclub/tvshow/arrested-development,180/
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Post by Berlin on Jun 14, 2013 11:31:06 GMT -6
just got through the 4th season and whelp i guess that's what i get for holding expectations that high. all the rumors i heard and dismissed about the awkward shooting schedules really made a difference. it was still nice to see everyone reprising their roles but the rhythm and timing was off, and the writing and tone seemed very different to me. i know this universe was always wacky but they seemed to have gone a bit off the deep end with some plot lines. that being said certain episodes like the Tobias centered one were gold to me. idk if any of you follow the av club's tv reviews (best in the business imo) but they've been doing a great job of breaking down S4. www.avclub.com/tvclub/tvshow/arrested-development,180/ You liked the Tobias-centric ones? What specifically did you find humorous, cause I saw nothing... If anything, the only "good" episodes were the ones that heavily featured Gob, and that's because they held most true to the first three seasons (Ann, bees, Steve Holt, Tony Wonder, Forget-Me-Now). Most of the rest of the season was more mean-spirited humor than funny or ironic humor...
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Tyler
Assistant to the General Manager
Ruling with an Iron Fist
Posts: 1,284
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Post by Tyler on Jun 14, 2013 12:14:32 GMT -6
I just watched the first episode and its definitely not the same. I feel like they are taking too much time to develop the story through narration instead of actually letting the characters be themselves. I also feel like it has the classic AD feel with a lot of randomness, but they are missing on the humor which is what made it so good originally. Remember, I just seen one episode so I have a ways to go.
On a side note, GOB and his forget me nows was hilarious, and Michael Bluth treating George Michael like George Bluth treated him is fairly humorous as well.
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Drew
Assistant to the General Manager
Posts: 777
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Post by Drew on Jun 14, 2013 16:46:47 GMT -6
Also I loved her in the original series but I really felt like Portia Del Rossi's performance in these was kind of lacking/off.
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Post by Bayi on Jun 15, 2013 19:04:19 GMT -6
I really liked the GOB episodes, and I actually kind of liked the George Michael and Maebe episodes. Lucille was the one character that really kept the spirit of the old show alive.
Some jokes were obviously shoved in because they needed to be: a completely throw-away joke at the end of an episode about Anjong? It would be better to have just left it out.
I was getting more and more into the final season, though. My favorite episodes were the first ones I saw - both because the best characters were being featured, and because some of the jokes were finally being paid off. But the repetition was a bit too much and ...
SPOILER ALERT
... the fucking ending of the 4th season was ... THAT?
I HONESTLY thought Netflix had forgotten to add a 16th episode. What. The. Fuck. 15 episodes of twisted plot points and ZERO payoff for ANY OF THEM.
I will still watch them again. There are still gems in that season. It's still canon. We shouldn't be surprised - the third season of AD was kind of shitty, too, compared to the first two.
But 15 episodes that do nothing but LEAVE LOOSE ENDS UNTIED FOR A FILM THAT MAY NEVER COME is doing NO ONE any favors.
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Post by London on Jun 16, 2013 12:49:02 GMT -6
Without reading anyone else's since my last post I am 12 episodes in and I am warming up to them.
They're not as good as the originals but there are some points that are pretty good. I'm happy to have the characters back.
I read part of an interview with Hurwitz and he said this season was about bringing all of the characters to their lowest point in order for Michael to save them again in a new season/movie. So looking at it through that lens you can see how some of it makes sense.
Still reserve my judgement until I've seen them all though.
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Drew
Assistant to the General Manager
Posts: 777
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Post by Drew on Jun 16, 2013 12:56:51 GMT -6
Did anyone ever read the reports that you would be able to watch these episodes in any order? Hurwitz said that he ended up not being able to make this work in the end, but I think the remnants of this attempt kind of hurt the flow of things.
I've started to enjoy it more by thinking of this not as Season 4 but as a prequel to the movie (kind of what John said.) To me its not really a natural progression from the first 3 seasons.
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