Arrested Development Season 5 Review: 6 Ups And 3 Downs

3. Jason Bateman As The Show's Anchor

Arrested Development Season 5
Netflix

Michael's leaving his family behind for good, a point he makes over and over again this season, which of course means he's doing the exact opposite.

Try as he might to move on, Michael Bluth just cannot escape his kin, and nor should he. While almost everyone else is being bad, Michael is once again trying his best to hold it all together, allowing Jason Bateman - who has made some real improvements as an actor, in terms of range, over the last few years - to serve as the narrative and emotional anchor.

His deadpan delivery is as brilliant as ever, his doomed fate leading to a mix of pity and hilarity, and he is, thankfully, back to being the good guy of the family after becoming a little too much like the rest of them in Season 4.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.