The high-concept comedy about the privileged but immoral Bluth family debuted on Fox in 2003 to mixed reviews from audiences. Fox canceled the show after its third season in 2006 despite its three consecutive wins for Emmy’s Outstanding Comedy Series. After much anticipation from the cast and crew, Netflix revived the series in 2012.
Season 4 was a departure from previous seasons since the actors had grown into Hollywood heavyweights with busy schedules, therefore episodes focused on individual characters and rarely involved interactions between them. The new format was divisive, although season 5 returned to form in many respects despite being shown in two parts. The fifth season concludes on a downbeat note, with the identity of Lucille 2’s killer being uncovered and Michael and George Michael once again leaving the family for better opportunities. It’s still unclear if this marks the final act or if the Bluths have other avenues to investigate. Here’s all we know about the upcoming sixth season of Arrested Development.
Arrested Development Season 6 Renewal Status
Netflix has decided not to air season 6 of Arrested Development because the fifth season failed to live up to expectations and went off-track. The sitcom got picked up for a fourth season by Netflix, which is an interesting twist. After Fox decided to discontinue the show, interest waned, but Netflix brought it back to life. Some critics said the show was ahead of its time, making it more relevant to modern viewers. More like a comedy program from the present day. Season 4, which premiered in May 2013, had a great beginning before Arrested Development was canceled after six seasons. There were three Emmy nods for the show. It was exactly what viewers had hoped for from the comedy.
Season 5’s low ratings can largely be attributed to its strange finale. Due to the show’s poor ratings, Netflix canceled season 6 of Arrested Development without ever airing. The Bluths were just a lot for the viewers to handle. Netflix did not state why they axed Arrested Development season 6, but we all know it was due to low ratings. The telecommunications giant is picky about what content users see on its platform. It has a history of yanking the plug on viewers’ favorite shows. Therefore, viewers were not overly shocked by the news that Arrested Development would not be returning for a sixth season.
Arrested Development Storyline
For many years, Arrested Development has been a staple of its own subculture. The Bluth family, a model of dysfunctional perfection, is the focus of the story. After the arrest of their patron for fraud, the Bluth family’s once stellar reputation in the real estate industry has plummeted. Michael Bluth must step up and be the family breadwinner after his father, George, is incarcerated. However, he does not have an easy job.
Arrested Development Cast and characters
- Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth
- Jeffrey Tambor as Oscar Bluth
- Henry Winkler as Barry Zuckerkorn
- Liza Minnelli as Lucille Austero
- Justin Grant Wade as Steve Holt
- Carl Weathers as Carl Weathers
- John Beard as John Beard
- Mae Whitman as Ann Veal
- Patricia Velasquez as Marta Estrella
- Steve Ryan as J. Walter Weatherman
- Charlize Theron as Rita Leeds
- Judy Greer as Kitty Sanchez
- Ed Begley, Jr. as Stan Sitwell
- Christine Taylor as Sally Sitwell
- Justin Lee as Annyeong
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Maggie Lizer
- Rob Corddry as Moses Taylor
- Ben Stiller as Tony Wonder
- Amy Poehler as Gob’s unnamed
- Jane Lynch as Cindi Lightballoon
Arrested Development Season 5 Recap
The Bluths are one of the wealthiest families in Orange County, having dominated the property development industry there. George Bluth, the company’s namesake and current CEO, is the patriarch of the Bluth family. Michael Bluth, Bluth’s son, and the company’s manager, resigns after his father refuses to give him a promotion, despite the fact that he deserves one. He abandons his family for good and takes a job with the competition as an act of revenge. In the meanwhile, George Bluth is apprehended for a white-collar crime. As a result, Lucille, Bluth’s wife, takes over as CEO and promotes her younger brother to the position of president.
The company fails because of its inexperience. When that happens, they know they can’t survive without Michael. Michael is being asked to rejoin the team. After giving it some thought, he decides to go back to his family and business. When he goes back home, though, he learns a lot about thighs. Everything now rests squarely on his shoulders, he realizes. The fact that George Bluth faked his own death only adds fuel to the fire. He strives to bring his disjointed family together with the help of his son, George Michael. Season after season, Michael Bluth exemplifies fatherhood to his son George Michael and is a responsible adult in his father’s eyes.
Why was Arrested Development canceled?
Fox was the pioneer in canceling Arrested Development before the sixth season began. The numbers for Arrested Development weren’t great, but the show was smartly written. Historical audiences were not prepared for such a cutting-edge production. During its initial run, it largely remained ignored. The show’s popularity among viewers declined with each new season. The show was constantly rescheduling its airtime to better accommodate its viewers. However, disinterest only increased over time.
Fox also needed to use effective promotional strategies if they wanted the show to gain a larger audience. As a result, Arrested Development was canceled after its third season. The final four episodes continued to air during the Winter Games. Thus, the television show had been brought back to life after a series of unexpected cancellations, only to be canceled once again after season six of Arrested Development.
How has the show been rated so far?
In terms of viewership, Arrested Development ranks high. There is a huge fan base for the show and it has won several accolades. Both IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes give the sitcom Arrested Development high marks: 8.7 and 75%, respectively.
Where to Watch Arrested Development?
The show is currently streaming on Netflix.