Saturday, July 18th, 2009
09:00 Arrested Development
09.30 Superboy
Arrested Development. Episode 22. "Let Them Eat Cake"
Drama in Arrested Development. When I think back on AD I don't often think of serious dramatic scenes but, strangely, they are there. There are a few moments here, between Michael and his father and - later - between Michael and his son, that are written/played without the intention of getting laughs.
And they are really good, too.
Especially the stuff between Michael and his son. Michael has the urge to get away from his family (an emotion grounded in frustration), while his son has the urge to stay with the Bluths (an emotion grounded in loneliness).
When we praise AD for it's daring take on comedy, we praise the way it can keep a joke going over many episodes/seasons, but the show also plays fair with the drama element. In the pilot, George Michael's desire to get to know his family was a deciding factor in what his father did. 22 episodes later, the younger Bluth still feels the same way.
Superboy. Season 2, Episode 6. "Bizarro... The Thing of Steel"
Right after the weakest episode, the best episode...
Not really, but this is a genuine classic, and it comes directly after a stinker.
From the moment it starts you know you are in for something special. It opens with a scientific experiment on a dark and stormy night. How wonderful is that?! Recurring character Professor Peterson (George Chakiris) is working in his lab, late at night, when Superboy steps in out of the dreadful weather to aid in the experiment. Gerard Christopher looks fantastic in the Superman garb here.
The pace moves fast. Very fast. And before 5 minutes have passed, the experiment has gone awry and Bizarro has been brought into existence. Within seconds of his appearance, we get a brilliant hook into the character (thanks to a superb performance from Barry Meyers) and a spot-on understanding of how Superboy feels about him. Bizarro reacts badly to the idea that he was 'a mistake' and - when pushed to it by Peterson - Superboy is reluctant to do anything to hurt the creature because he feels a certain kinship for him.
It really is a remarkable opening few minutes. It lays everything out. Everything that defines how the two characters relate to one another, and how the story will play out. Seldom have I seen an episode of anything open so well.
Even after that, the story is a clinker. Bizarro is a bit like The Incredible Hulk: big, scary-looking and mis-understood. His efforts of to make friends are predictably unsuccessful. His idea, a little later, to pose as Kent Clark is inspired and hilarious.
But, as exciting/cool as the events of the story are, what matters here are the characters. If you care about Bizarro (and you will care about before five minutes are up) then you cannot fail to utterly love this story.
Highlight? Superboy (Bizarro)
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A Briefing With Michael: One Year Ago
Arrested Development, Superboy
