Arrested Development season 3
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{short description|Season of television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox television season
| season_number = 3
| bgcolour = #FFC19C
| image = Arrested Development S3 DVD.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = DVD cover
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Jason Bateman
- Portia de Rossi
- Will Arnett
- Michael Cera
- Alia Shawkat
- Tony Hale
- David Cross
- Jeffrey Tambor
- Jessica Walter
}}
| network = Fox
| first_aired = {{Start date|2005|9|19}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2006|2|10}}
| num_episodes = 13
| episode_list = List of Arrested Development episodes
}}
The third season of the American television satirical sitcom series Arrested Development aired between September 19, 2005, and February 10, 2006, on Fox in the United States. It consists of 13 episodes, each running approximately 22 minutes in length. The third season was released on DVD in region 1 on August 29, 2006, in region 2 on April 23, 2007, and in region 4 on December 6, 2006. This was the final season of Arrested Development to be aired on Fox, as they had decided to cancel the series. However, Netflix revived the show in 2013 for a fourth season.
The show's storyline centers on the Bluth family, a formerly wealthy, habitually dysfunctional family and is presented in a continuous format, incorporating hand-held camera work, narration, archival photos and historical footage.
Production
After the second season's airing, Fox renewed the series for a third season, which was originally slated for 22 episodes, but the production order was later cut down to 13.{{cite news |date=January 3, 2006 |title=Lame duck 'Arrested Development' pulls out all the stops |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-01-03-arrested-campaign_x.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060116082759/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-01-03-arrested-campaign_x.htm |archive-date=January 16, 2006 |access-date=September 2, 2012 |newspaper=USA Today}}
Cast
{{Main|List of Arrested Development characters}}
- Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth
- Portia de Rossi as Lindsay Bluth Fünke
- Will Arnett as Gob Bluth
- Michael Cera as George Michael Bluth
- Alia Shawkat as Maeby Fünke
- Tony Hale as Buster Bluth
- David Cross as Tobias Fünke
- Jeffrey Tambor as George Bluth, Sr. / Oscar Bluth
- Jessica Walter as Lucille Bluth
- Ron Howard as Narrator (uncredited)
Episodes
{{see also|List of Arrested Development episodes}}
The third season of Arrested Development consists of 13 episodes, which are listed below as ordered on the DVD collection and not in their original production order.
|MainList = List of Arrested Development episodes
|EpisodeNumber = 41
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = The Cabin Show
|DirectedBy = Paul Feig
|WrittenBy = Mitchell Hurwitz & Jim Vallely
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|9|19}}
|ProdCode = 3AJD01
|Viewers = 4.62{{cite web|publisher=ABC Medianet |date=September 27, 2005 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/Web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=092705_03 |title=Weekly Program Rankings |access-date=August 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528010150/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=092705_03 |archive-date=May 28, 2010 }}
|ShortSummary = When Michael realizes that Oscar, not George Sr., is serving time in prison, he sets off to find his father while trying to find time to reconnect with his son at the family's cabin. Gob learns he has a son.
|LineColor = FFC19C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Arrested Development season 3
|MainList = List of Arrested Development episodes
|EpisodeNumber = 42
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = For British Eyes Only
|DirectedBy = John Fortenberry
|WrittenBy = Mitchell Hurwitz & Richard Day
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|9|26}}
|ProdCode = 3AJD02
|Viewers = 4.02{{cite web|publisher=ABC Medianet |date=October 4, 2005 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=100405_07 |title=Weekly Program Rankings Report (Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2005)|access-date=August 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221112808/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=100405_07 |archive-date=December 21, 2008 }}
|ShortSummary = Michael falls for a British woman named Rita while investigating a claim by George Sr. that a British construction firm tricked him into doing business with the Iraqis.
|LineColor = FFC19C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Arrested Development season 3
|MainList = List of Arrested Development episodes
|EpisodeNumber = 43
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Forget-Me-Now
|DirectedBy = John Amodeo
|WrittenBy = Tom Saunders
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|10|3}}
|ProdCode = 3AJD03
|Viewers = 4.47{{cite web |publisher=ABC Medianet |date=October 11, 2005 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/Web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=101105_07 |title=Weekly Program Rankings |access-date=August 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528005939/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=101105_07 |archive-date=May 28, 2010 |url-status=dead }}
|ShortSummary = The family's new attorney works on George Sr.'s defense as he plans his escape. Michael tries to destroy all evidence of his family so he won't have to introduce them to Rita. Gob demonstrates his "Forget-me-now" pills.
|LineColor = FFC19C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Arrested Development season 3
|MainList = List of Arrested Development episodes
|EpisodeNumber = 44
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Notapusy
|DirectedBy = Lev L. Spiro
|WrittenBy = Ron Weiner
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|11|7}}
|ProdCode = 3AJD04
|Viewers = 4.19{{Cite web|publisher=ABC Medianet |date=November 15, 2005 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=111505_03 |title=Weekly Program Rankings (Nov. 7-13, 2005)|access-date=August 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311233404/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=111505_03 |archive-date=March 11, 2015 }}
|ShortSummary = Michael volunteers to participate in the father-son triathlon with Gob's son to prove his masculinity to Rita. Maeby attempts to expose the hypocrisy of an "Inner Beauty Contest" by appearing as her disabled alter-ego, Surely. George Sr. mistakenly delivers a "Startled Straight" lecture to a gathering of gay men.
|LineColor = FFC19C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Arrested Development season 3
|MainList = List of Arrested Development episodes
|EpisodeNumber = 45
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Mr. F
|DirectedBy = Arlene Sanford
|WrittenBy = Richard Day & Jim Vallely
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|11|7}}
|ProdCode = 3AJD05
|ShortSummary = Gob tries to trick the company's Japanese investors by building a "Tiny Town", but Tobias ruins everything after he mistakes a CIA agent for a talent agent from CAA.
|LineColor = FFC19C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Arrested Development season 3
|MainList = List of Arrested Development episodes
|EpisodeNumber = 46
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = The Ocean Walker
|DirectedBy = Paul Feig
|WrittenBy = Jake Farrow & Sam Laybourne
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|12|5}}
|ProdCode = 3AJD06
|Viewers = 4.09{{cite web|publisher=ABC Medianet|date=December 13, 2005|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=121305_04 |title=Weekly Program Rankings (Dec. 5-11, 2005)|access-date=August 31, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221202525/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=121305_04|archive-date=December 21, 2008}}
|ShortSummary = When Michael decides to marry Rita, his parents oppose the idea–until they learn she's worth millions of dollars. His second thoughts come when he discovers that she's mentally disabled.
|LineColor = FFC19C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Arrested Development season 3
|MainList = List of Arrested Development episodes
|EpisodeNumber = 47
|EpisodeNumber2 = 7
|Title = Prison Break-In
|DirectedBy = Robert Berlinger
|WrittenBy = Karey Dornetto
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|12|12}}
|ProdCode = 3AJD08
|Viewers = 3.91{{cite web|publisher=ABC Medianet |date=December 20, 2005 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=122005_04 |title=Weekly Program Rankings (Dec. 12-18, 2005)|access-date=August 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221172029/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=122005_04 |archive-date=December 21, 2008}}
|ShortSummary = Michael is worried when he finds out that the prison warden is dating his mother and that the Bluth Foundation dinner is being held in the prison's new wing.
|LineColor = FFC19C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Arrested Development season 3
|MainList = List of Arrested Development episodes
|EpisodeNumber = 48
|EpisodeNumber2 = 8
|Title = Making a Stand
|DirectedBy = Peter Lauer
|WrittenBy = Mitchell Hurwitz & Chuck Tatham
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|12|19}}
|ProdCode = 3AJD07
|Viewers = 4.14{{cite web|publisher=ABC Medianet|date=December 28, 2005 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=122805_05|title=Weekly Program Rankings (Dec. 19-25, 2005)|access-date=August 31, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329105959/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=122805_05|archive-date=March 29, 2012}}
|ShortSummary = After yet another instance of George Sr. pitting Michael and Gob against each other, Michael decides to teach his father a lesson.
|LineColor = FFC19C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Arrested Development season 3
|MainList = List of Arrested Development episodes
|EpisodeNumber = 49
|EpisodeNumber2 = 9
|Title = S.O.B.s
|DirectedBy = Robert Berlinger
|WrittenBy = Richard Day & Jim Vallely
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|1|2}}
|ProdCode = 3AJD09
|Viewers = 4.16{{cite news | title = Nielsen ratings report: Jan. 2-8, 2006 | work = Daily Variety | date = January 11, 2006 | access-date=August 31, 2012 | url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-141295181.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160325093753/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-141295181.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = March 25, 2016|via=HighBeam Research}}
|ShortSummary = To get enough money to hire a new family lawyer, everyone has to pitch in to prepare for the upcoming company fundraiser, aptly named "Save Our Bluths".
|LineColor = FFC19C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Arrested Development season 3
|MainList = List of Arrested Development episodes
|EpisodeNumber = 50
|EpisodeNumber2 = 10
|Title = Fakin' It
|DirectedBy = Lev L. Spiro
|WrittenBy = Dean Lorey and Chuck Tatham
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|2|10}}
|ProdCode = 3AJD10
|Viewers = 3.14{{Cite web|publisher=ABC Medianet |date=February 14, 2006 |url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=021406_04 |title=Weekly Program Rankings (Feb. 6-12, 2006)|access-date=August 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311231306/http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=021406_04 |archive-date=March 11, 2015 }}
|ShortSummary = George Sr. finally gets a lawyer, but Michael learns of a mysterious witness. Buster pretends he's in a coma so he doesn't have to testify.
|LineColor = FFC19C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Arrested Development season 3
|MainList = List of Arrested Development episodes
|EpisodeNumber = 51
|EpisodeNumber2 = 11
|Title = Family Ties
|DirectedBy = Robert Berlinger
|WrittenBy = Ron Weiner
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|2|10}}
|ProdCode = 3AJD11
|ShortSummary = Michael hires a woman who may be just what the company needs–and who might also be his long-lost sister, Nellie (played by Jason Bateman's sister Justine).
|LineColor = FFC19C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Arrested Development season 3
|MainList = List of Arrested Development episodes
|EpisodeNumber = 52
|EpisodeNumber2 = 12
|Title = Exit Strategy
|DirectedBy = Rebecca E. Asher
|WrittenBy = Mitchell Hurwitz & Jim Vallely
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|2|10}}
|ProdCode = 3AJD12
|ShortSummary = George Michael's surprise birthday party for Maeby lands her in big trouble; Michael and Buster make a startling discovery when they go to Iraq to rescue Gob.
|LineColor = FFC19C
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Arrested Development season 3
|MainList = List of Arrested Development episodes
|EpisodeNumber = 53
|EpisodeNumber2 = 13
|Title = Development Arrested
|DirectedBy = John Fortenberry
|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s=Richard Day & Mitchell Hurwitz|t=Chuck Tatham & Jim Vallely}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|2|10}}
|ProdCode = 3AJD13
|ShortSummary = Michael is relieved to have all the charges against his father dropped and shocked to learn who holds the real power in his dysfunctional family.
|LineColor = FFC19C
}}
}}
Reception
Season 3 received critical acclaim upon release. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has an approval rating of 100% with an average score of 8.7 out of 10 based on 10 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Arrested Development{{'}}s solid third season plays out just like the first two: fast, funny, and with a felony charge."{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/arrested_development/s03 |title=Arrested Development: Season 3 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=November 13, 2021}} Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine wrote positive comments about the season, calling the show "[as] consistent a live-action comedy as one can hope for these days". The review praised the series' "[spouting of] dry, think-and-you-missed-it punchlines and plot points", ultimately giving the season 4 stars out of 4.{{Cite web |last=Cinquemani |first=Sal |date=November 26, 2005 |title=Review: Arrested Development: Season Three |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/arrested-development-season-three/ |access-date=April 13, 2025 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}}
The season received several award nominations. In 2006, the third season received four Emmy nominations, for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Will Arnett), Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the series finale "Development Arrested".{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2006/07/06/2005-2006-primetime-emmy-awards-nominations-21678/20060706atas01/|title=2005 - 2006 Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations|publisher=The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|date=July 6, 2006|access-date=July 29, 2011}}
Home media
The third season was released on DVD in region 1 on August 29, 2006,{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EXDS7K/ |title=Arrested Development - Season Three (2003) |work=Amazon.com |access-date=January 12, 2010}} in region 2 on April 23, 2007{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000MQ57Z0/ |title=Arrested Development - Season 3|work=Amazon.co.uk |access-date=July 16, 2010}} and in region 4 on December 6, 2006.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dvdloc8.com/viewdvd_25956.html |title=Arrested Development - Season 3 |work=dvdloc8.com |access-date=July 15, 2010}} Special features include commentary by creator Mitchell Hurwitz and cast members on "Forget Me Now", "Mr. F" and "Development Arrested"; deleted and extended scenes; blooper reel; "The Last Day on Location" featurette.{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/23262/arrested-development-season-3/|title=Arrested Development: 3|work=DVD Talk|date=August 16, 2006|access-date=July 29, 2011}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{IMDb episodes|0367279|Arrested Development|season=3}}
{{Arrested Development}}