You can learn from the Bluths.
I could write all about the nuances of Arrested Development, the endlessly witty, woefully canceled, gloriously resurrected early-2000s sitcom that will make a comeback on Netflix at the end of the month. I could talk about how the show’s intricately woven plots and subtle humor make it perfect for Netflix. With its obscure callbacks to previous episodes, it’s tailor-made for marathon-ing in a single sitting rather than watching one episode per week. And I can talk about the perfectly crafted characters and performances from now-famous actors such as Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi and Michael Cera.
But what is most important about the show is the wide range of life lessons it teaches viewers, delivering wisdom about relationships, practical life skills and, really, everything else.
First, relationships. Probably the most important lesson the show teaches us is family always comes first. Unless they’re liars. Then you should probably try to move to New Mexico. Also, no touching! “Never promise crazy a baby.” And the fact that you call it “Pop-pop” means you’re not ready.
Let’s not forget the career advice, either. Tell enough people to marry you and you can probably become a movie executive. If you want to be a lawyer, all you really need is Ask Jeeves. (But if you want to win a court case, you should probably hire Andy Griffith.) Always delete embarrassing home videos before running for class president. And, most of all, don’t forget there’s always money in the banana stand.
Of course, there’s plenty of general, everyday life advice, too. Vodka’s okay for breakfast as long as you add toast. The health safety graphic on the back of the pill bottle is a drowsy eye alcohol warning, not a winking eye alcohol suggestion. Always take a freebie. There are at least four different ways to imitate a chicken. Drive on the other side of the road when you enter Wee Britain. No magic show is ever complete without “The Final Countdown.” Never touch the Cornballer. It’s never the last time you’ll see those. Always have a catchphrase. Steve Holt!
And, of course there’s the most important lesson: Always admit when you’ve made a huge mistake …
Even if it probably won’t fix anything.
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