Storming the Castle

Infobox Arrested Development episode
episode_name = Storming the Castle
episode_no = 1AJD08
airdate = January 4, 2004
writer = Brad Copeland
director = Greg Mottola
on_the_next = “The Alliance decides to let G.O.B. back in, and Tobias gets some good news.”
guest_star =
Liza Minnelli as Lucille Austero Patricia Velasquez as Marta Estrella Marc Grapey as Rollo Oliver Patrick Sandino as Amable Casey Sandino as Cortesio


season = 1

"Storming the Castle" is the ninth episode aired of TV comedy series "Arrested Development".

Plot

While doing a little cost analysis for a mini mall, the model home chair Michael Bluth is sitting in falls apart. Michael decides he'll have to get one from work, which makes George Michael nervous. Michael tries to convince his son that taking a nice leather chair from work isn't unethical, prompting Lindsay to voice her concern over the "skinning of cows". They are soon interrupted by Marta, who has been unable to reach her boyfriend, Michael's older brother, G.O.B.. Michael covers for his brother despite his feelings for Marta, and as Lindsay soon points out, Michael is permanently the good guy who will never win. Maeby decides that if her mother is anti-leather, that she'll turn pro-leather. George Michael agrees to go shopping with his cousin, deciding some leather could toughen his image, after she pointed out his lack of leg hair. Michael meanwhile is confronted by a man in a limousine, named Rollo, who threatens to take "G.O.B.'s legs". In an effort to find his older brother, Michael visits his mother's apartment. There he learns that Lucille Bluth is trying to break up Buster with his newfound love, Lucille's friend and social rival, Lucille Austero. Meanwhile, Tobias, desperate for his daughter's approval, decides to support her apparent newfound interest in leather by getting an outfit to show that he's a "Leather Daddy".

Michael finally tracks down G.O.B. at the Playtime Pizza Theatre where the magician has been forced to work since being kicked out of the Magician's Alliance. Michael learns that G.O.B. has been cheating on Marta with the "legs" in his "saw the woman in half trick" (two women curl up in a box, one's the head, one's the legs) and that Rollo wants said legs . Michael proceeds to tell G.O.B. that Marta is a "treasure and a once in a lifetime woman" - a line which, as Marta recounts to Michael, G.O.B used to prove his affection. Michael, at first, is unable to tell Marta the truth about G.O.B., but upon realizing that G.O.B. has stolen his watch, Michael decides its time for him to be less selfless. He sets in motion a plan to reveal G.O.B.'s affair to Marta during his act. And he also decides to take that leather chair he wanted. Michael returns home, startled to find his son wearing a leather jacket, telling his son that "we can't change who we are". Only Michael is doing just that, as he is trying to shed his selflessness in order to steal his brother's girlfriend. He has arranged for Marta and "the legs" to meet on stage during G.O.B.'s next act, promising Rollo that he will get his "legs" back. Rollo, in exchange, allows G.O.B. one last chance back into the alliance, giving him an act at the Gothic Castle. As Michael becomes more selfish George Sr. takes a more pious path. Stuck in solitary for a brutal two days, he discovers Judaism. So when Lucille brings Buster to the prison to earn his father's disapproval for dating Lucille Austero, they instead find his father give Buster support.

The night of the magic show arrives, the whole family attends. Tobias has a mixup with his cab driver, and instead of being taken to the "Gothic Castle", he finds himself at the "Gothic Asshole", dressed in his Leather Daddy outfit, ready for some magic. Meanwhile, at the Gothic Castle, G.O.B. returns to Michael his watch, vowing to become a better brother, which in turn makes Michael regret the plan he has set. Fortunately, "the legs" don't show, however, this leaves them in desperate need for a beautiful pair of woman's legs on short notice for G.O.B.'s act. G.O.B's act begins, and after his trademark opening song, The Final Countdown, comes to a close, he is ready for the "saw the lady in half trick". G.O.B. is pleasantly surprised to find Marta on stage, and the act goes smoothly, with George Michael providing the pair of women's legs. After the show, Lucille realizes the importance of love to her children, and finally decides to support Buster in his relationship with Lucille Austero. Of course, her support takes the form of befriending Lucille Austero, which in turn freaks Buster out. Meanwhile, Michael watches as G.O.B. and Marta reunite, once again in love. And so, Michael accepted that he was, in fact, the good guy.

Episode notes

*This is the episode where George Sr. converts to Judaism, a prominent character change throughout the middle of Season 1 (a storyline that eventually fizzles out after "Altar Egos", though he does continue to wear his yarmulke throughout the rest of the season).

Callbacks/Running Jokes

*"Escape attempt" - The narrator mentions that George Sr. had been placed in solitary confinement after a failed escape attempt. In DVD episode order, the incident mentioned is most likely referring to his escape attempt in In God We Trust. However, since another episode aired between these in broadcast order, it could also be interpreted as another escape attempt, something George Sr. is prone to doing on the show.
*"Freedom Sign Guy" - The man holding the "Freedom" sign from the Pilot is seen leaving the Gothic Asshole. This is his second appearance in the show.
*"Gahb Bluth" - This is the second time someone mispronounces G.O.B.'s name as it's spelled. The first time was in the Pilot.
*"GOB sleeps around" - GOB is cheating on his girlfriend Marta with a woman from his magic act.
*"Hole in his Heart" - Lucille says that Buster has a hole in his heart, a fact that's mentioned several times throughout the series.
*"Religious Conversion" - George Sr. discovers Judaism after the sun casts an image of the Star of David on the cell walls. George Sr.'s habit of converting religion over coincidental images is later demonstrated again in The Immaculate Election.
*"The Gothic Castle" - This is the first time The Gothic Castle is mentioned/appears on the show. The Bluths go there again in Sword of Destiny. It is believed The Gothic Castle is based on Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA.
*"The Final Countdown" - This is the first time G.O.B. uses Europe's "The Final Countdown" during his magic shows. This later becomes his magic theme, appearing the next time in Missing Kitty.
*"Tobias is Gay" - More jokes are made about Tobias' sexuality.
**When trying to get at the frozen ice cream, he says "You have to be some sort of she-hulk to get this."
**When he refers to selling his wedding ring for money his "purse" is overflowing with money.
**Tobias dresses up as a "leather daddy" and accidentally ends up at a gay nightclub known as The Gothic Asshole. At the end of the episode, Tobias reveals he has joined a gay barbershop quartet, "Whip and Snaps," that performs at The Gothic Asshole.

Hidden/Background Jokes

*"I appreciate your time" - When G.O.B. shakes Michael's hand, he tells him that he appreciates his time. Later on, Michael realises that G.O.B. stole his watch when he did this, adding a double-meaning to the "appreciate your time" line.
*When Raolo has threatened Michael, his window roller appears to be broken, so he must pull the window up himself instead.

Foreshadowing/Future References

*"Buster's Genitalia" - The first reference to something being wrong with Buster's genitalia comes in this episode. When it is revealed that Lucille Austero changed him as a child, Buster says "That's why she didn't look surprised." While listing his various physical problems in The One Where They Build a House in order to get out of Army, Buster reveals that his reproductive organ looks like a "lobster tail, but without its shell."
*"G.O.B.'s magic" - In the opening to his act, as G.O.B. produces scarves one is held plastered to his face by an offscreen fan. This happens again in the episode titled "Missing Kitty" at the beginning of his disappearing yacht trick.

External links

* [http://the-op.com/episode/109 The-OP.com]
* [http://www.fox.com FOX]
*imdb title|0515247|Storming the Castle