After the seven years since the final episode of “Arrested Development” aired on FOX, now loyal fans are rejoicing the Emmy-winning show’s return on May 26th, 2013. Coming into its fourth season, “Arrested Development” will not be released on television, but rather exclusively on Netflix. At midnight on May 26th, Netflix will unleash 15 new episodes simultaneously— a deal that showcases the rising power of the company to gain more subscribers and viewers.
From 2003 to 2006, FOX aired three seasons of “Arrested Development.” The show — now hailed as one of the best ever by Time Magazine — was also promptly ended, much to the dismay of its cast, writers, and producers. Why? Despite seven Emmy nominations (five of which were won by the show) and immense critical praise, ratings were never successful in its three short seasons. “Arrested Development” failed to gain a sizable audience, and the viewer ratings dwindled as the show continued. In the years following the show’s inevitable termination, Netflix released its three seasons to the public – a move that has undoubtedly increased the show’s fanbase during its seven dormant years.
“Arrested Development” follows the dysfunctional Bluth family after the collapse of the family company. The failure is attributed to the imprisonment of patriarch George Bluth (Jeffrey Tambor), who was arrested on charges of embezzlement and “light treason.” While George serves time at the county jail, the Bluth Company is left in the hands of middle son Michael Bluth (Jason Bateman) as he tries to rebuild the company and control his wild family.
All of the main characters— including Buster (Tony Hale), Lindsay (Portia DeRossi), and G.O.B. (Will Arnett)— will reclaim their roles in the new season. Hype has also been raised due to the return of minor characters and new guest stars Kristen Wiig, Seth Rogen, and John Krasinski. Creators of the show have also announced that due to the busy schedules of the popular cast, each episode will feature only one or two members of the family and focus on recapping that character’s life during the seven years since the show aired. As enthralling as all of these upcoming announcements have been, fans are most excited for the instantaneous release of every Season 4 episode, thus triggering a “binge-watching” period of “Arrested Development” on their Netflix accounts.
Exclusive deals similar to the one made between “Arrested Development” and Netflix have become increasingly popular because of the profitable response from viewers all over the world. HBO— an American premium cable station most widely known for its made-for-cable movies, documetaries, and original television series— has, in its most recent years, gained much attention with the production of multiple award winning shows such as “Boardwalk Empire,” “Girls,” and “Game of Thrones.” Despite the rapid success of many premium networks such as HBO, many financial experts are suggesting that Netflix is the true future of television, as it has perfected the human couch potato–specifically in the United States.
Recently, Netflix took a gamble in its decision to release thirteen episodes of the first season on “House of Cards,” a move that ultimately helped the company gain more subscribers. The company has approximately 30 million of these subscribers, and wise decisions have increased Netflix’ share by 19 percent, according to Wall Street. This deal has impacted Netflix greatly, for the company has now surpassed the 28.7 million subscribers of HBO.
Netflix’ recent popularity has presented “Arrested Development” with what could be a truly prosperous comeback. If the new season prevails, and hopefully it will, the new episodes may provide background into and set up what may become an “Arrested Development” movie. In today’s society, social media and the latest technology provide opportunities that were unimaginable in decades past. The utilization of this “futuristic television” combined with fans who have waited patiently for their favorite show to return will, without a doubt, produce the success that “Arrested Development” has been destined to achieve since 2003.
