Arrested to Arrested Development: 102 - Top Banana

"There's always money in the banana stand."


Well it's official. This is the episode where the show truly kicks off in high fashion. The small tastes we get of each character in the pilot become full quirks all on their own with this second episode.

Tobias attempts and fails at his first acting audition, classically treating the part of a fire sale for a fire. "Oh my God, we're having a fire! *looks at the paper* Sale!" It is this moment alone that would be a precursor to the flat-out absurd comedy that this show ensues. In this brief moment, everything that makes this show legitimately funny comes together; the writing, David Cross' over-the-top acting and the comedic timing are all brilliant.
Lindsay would later claim his part (or attempt) while Tobias wallows in tears in the shower for the very first time.
George Michael and Maeby explore their possible incest (to George's fearful explored desire) as they attempt to "run" the banana stand together with new employee and then still-living comic Patrice O'Neil as a fellow prison inmate of GM Sr. recently released, a scheme proving GM Sr. is attempting to run the business from inside the prison.
Gob shows his jealously of Michael through pure absurdity as he rides his segway in fury and eventually attempts to cast Michael's insurance letter into the sea; "a more dramatic gesture than he anticipated", his passion giving way to the not-yet fully discovered talents of Will Arnett. His delivery on recalling his excursion in attempting to purchase and possibly return a dead dove in a bag was perfect.

It is here we notice that timing is a gift in the show's frontrunners indeed. The editing moves swiftly at a brisk pace and the cutaways are almost as off-beat and hectic as something out of Seth MacFarlane. The episode packs in everything a great episode of Arrested Development calls for. It is here the show truly begins to move with life.


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