this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2023
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Movies and TV Shows
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That's how I feel about arrested development.
It was just five seasons of watching horrible people be horrible people with like one funny event or joke per episode at best.
I regret the time I wasted watching that show.
You're definitely entitled to your opinion. But I found the initial run of Arrested Development to be one of the best written sitcoms ever. Also, part of the point is that the main protagonist and his son are good people who stay and support their terrible family members out of loyalty.
I would characterize Michael more by his self-righteousness and ego-driven attempts to be good than his actual goodness; so many of the show's hijinks stem from his savior complex bringing out the hypocrisy in his attempts to be 'a good guy'.
To be clear I think it adds to the humor, not complaining at all. Horrible people being horrible makes great comedy and Arrested Development offers far more than just that (probably my favorite comedy show). But it can get kinda depressing, if I'm not in a great mood I can't take more than a couple episodes at a time.
Michael being self-righteously and self-centered-ly good, and everyone else being earnestly and obliviously (and maybe even endearingly) terrible sounds about right. :)
Horrible people being horrible is a staple of great sitcoms, at least in the UK. Peep Show, IT Crowd, Black Books, Father Ted, Blackadder, Steptoe and Son, The Office, Bottom, The Young Ones, Til Death Us Do Part..... the list just goes on.
I guess that's why I find American stuff like Always Sunny, Arrested Development and Seinfeld more satisfying than stuff like Friends or Modern Family that always has to have a moral.
You know I never noticed that about the UK until you pointed that out but looking back on every British show I've ever watched, you are right. With the exception of Doctor Who that is pretty much all of them.
That said I will die on the hill of "Ricky Gervais is not and has never been funny"
I like the Ricky Gervais show but let's be real that's all Karl Pilkington.
Whether Gervais is funny in of himself, he knew how to write a great script back in the day, The Office and Extras are solid gold classics.