‘Arrested Development’ Season One, Episode 3: “Bringing Up Buster”

Writers: Mitchell Hurwitz and Richard Rosenstock

Original Air Date: November 16, 2003

Watch it On: Netflix

What It’s About: Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) is trying to balance running the Bluth Company, normally headed by George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor)—currently incarcerated for money laundering and embezzlement—and keeping a happy home for his beloved son George Michael (Michael Cera), who’s pushing his father away in hopes of taking his relationship with his cousin Maeby (Alia Shawkat) to the next level, completely unbeknownst to Michael. In an act of desperation, Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walter) needs to get her manchild son, Buster (Tony Hale), out of her hair for the day, dumping him off at the Bluth Company so Michael can babysit.

Why It’s So Good: As far as television writing goes, “Bringing Up Buster” is as flawless as it gets. Though the subplots become a bit convoluted over the life of the series, this is an episode anyone unfamiliar with Arrested Development can grasp and get to know the dynamics within the Bluth family without having to backtrack. Although Buster is obviously the star of the episode, each Bluth member gets their time to shine.

When we first meet Byron “Buster” Bluth in this particular episode, he’s wildly chasing a bird around Lucille’s apartment because “it walked on his pillow.” After learning all of the siblings are living at the Bluth Company model home and didn’t invite Buster, a frustrated Lucille decides she needs the day to herself and dumps him on Michael at work. In an effort to fill the void George Michael has left, Michael has Buster build George Michael’s new bike and then go on a ride together. Buster absent-mindedly forgot to build the brakes and, of course, crashes going downhill. Despite having a day full of freedom away from Lucille, Buster decides to go home to his overbearing mother, although on their way out to the car, he declares he’s sitting in the front seat from now on.

After seeing how his mother’s hovering has completely stunted Buster, Michael decides he’s no longer going to force George Michael to hang out with him. When Michael gets home, he’s surprised to find his son making cornballs with the Bluth family Cornballer, ready for some quality father-son time together.

Don’t Forget the B-Plot! George Michael decides to try out for the same play as Maeby, who unfortunately is more interested in dumb jock Steve Holt (Justin Grant Wade), who, in Pokemon character fashion, only shouts his own name. Tobias surprises everyone by directing the play in hopes to propel his “acting career” and get closer to his daughter, Maeby. Maeby soon quits out of embarrassment and Tobias tries to make the Shakespearean love story work with George Michael and Steve Holt as the leads after he has an inkling George Michael might be gay.

The Best Moment: When the siblings are relentlessly ragging on Lucille, Buster decides to join in, but takes things a little too far.

One More Thing: At the very end of each episode, narrator Ron Howard declares, “On the next episode of Arrested Development…” and then discusses future events that actually never happen in future episodes throughout the series. The brief sequence at the end of “Bringing up Buster” is perhaps one of the best.