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The Best Episodes of Arrested Development Season 1

Every episode of Arrested Development Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Arrested Development Season 1!

Binge this in 8h 6m•Peaking at 9.0/10

The story of a wealthy family that lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 10 - Pier Pressure
    9.0/10(4195 votes)

    S1:E10

    Buster realizes that medical marijuana will help cure Lucille 2's vertigo, and pays George Michael to get it for him from Gob. Lindsay sends Maeby to spend a day with Lucille to punish her for bad grades. Michael thinks George Michael is on drugs and attempts to teach him a lesson.

    Director:Joe Russo
    Writers:Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely

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  2. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 17 - Justice Is Blind
    8.7/10(3229 votes)

    S1:E17

    Gob steals a file on the government's case against the Bluth Company that Maggie had given to Michael. Tobias is sent to Maggie's house to get evidence, George Michael tries to prove Maeby's fraud, and Lindsay fights to remove the Ten Commandments from the courthouse lawn.

    Director:Jay Chandrasekhar
    Writer:Abraham Higginbotham

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  3. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 22 - Let 'Em Eat Cake
    8.6/10(3029 votes)

    S1:E22

    In the first season finale, George Sr. has a heart attack, and Maeby is jealous when George Michael likes another girl. Meanwhile, Lindsay decides to leave Tobias until a book he wrote a long time ago becomes a gay bestseller, and Buster and Annyong compete over women.

    Director:Paul Feig
    Writers:Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely

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  4. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 14 - Shock and Aww
    8.5/10(3270 votes)

    S1:E14

    Michael falls for his George Michael's ethics teacher, whom his son also has a crush on. Meanwhile, Lucille adopts a 14-year old Korean boy, and George Sr.'s "Caged Wisdom" tapes have given him a new admirer.

    Director:Joe Russo
    Writers:Jim Vallely, Chuck Martin

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  5. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 16 - Altar Egos
    8.5/10(3082 votes)

    S1:E16

    Michael attempts to have a one-night stand with an attorney whom he doesn't know is not only blind, but the prosecutor who is trying to put his father in jail. Also, Gob gets married on a dare, Maeby pretends to be a girl with a made up disease, and George Sr.'s admirer turns out to be an undercover SEC agent who has truly fallen for him.

    Director:Jay Chandrasekhar
    Writer:Barbie Adler

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  6. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 21 - Not Without My Daughter
    8.5/10(2942 votes)

    S1:E21

    Michael takes Maeby to work with him on Take Your Daughter to Work Day. After being slighted by Michael, Tobias, George-Michael and Gob all go to the mall to prove that they are just manly. Oscar takes Lucille and Buster to Annyong's soccer game.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writers:Mitchell Hurwitz, Richard A. Rosenstock

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  7. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 2 - Top Banana
    8.4/10(4353 votes)

    S1:E2

    Michael puts George Michael in charge of the Bluth Bannana Stand, and his son subsequently burns down the stand. Elsewhere, Tobias auditions for a commercial, and Lindsay inadvertantly gets the part.

    Directors:Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
    Writers:Mitchell Hurwitz, John Levenstein

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  8. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 13 - Beef Consommé
    8.4/10(3149 votes)

    S1:E13

    After learning that Marta has feelings for him, Michael goes to her and they decide to get permission from Gob before taking things to the next level. Meanwhile, Lindsay and Tobias finally get to the heart of his "never-nude" problem and George Sr. faces his first hearing.

    Director:Jay Chandrasekhar
    Writers:Richard A. Rosenstock, Chuck Martin

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  9. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 4 - Key Decisions
    8.3/10(3777 votes)

    S1:E4

    Gob decides to lock himself in his father's prison for 24 hours to get back in with the alliance, and to spend quality time with his father. Michael takes Gob's girlfriend to an awards show, and Buster inadvertently flirts with his mother's rival.

    Directors:Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
    Writer:Brad Copeland

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  10. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 9 - Storming the Castle
    8.3/10(3267 votes)

    S1:E9

    Michael cannot go through with his plan to break up Gob and Marta. A thug magician wants to take Gob's "legs". Maeby wears all leather to get back at her mother, and Lucille decides to confront Buster's relationship with Lucille 2.

    Director:Greg Mottola
    Writer:Brad Copeland

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  11. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 12 - Marta Complex
    8.3/10(3163 votes)

    S1:E12

    When Lucille throws an anniversary party for Tobias and Lindsay on Valentine's Day, Michael gives an impassioned speech about love. This makes Marta realize she has feelings for him and Lindsay realize she wants a divorce. Meanwhile, Buster decides to move out of the penthouse and Lucille revels in living alone for the first time.

    Director:Joe Russo
    Writers:Jim Vallely, John Levenstein

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  12. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 5 - Charity Drive
    8.2/10(3575 votes)

    S1:E5

    Michael and Lindsay try to prove their charitable sides to each other. Gob demands George Michael's respect, and Buster continues avoiding Lucille 2.

    Director:Greg Mottola
    Writer:Barbie Adler

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  13. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 11 - Public Relations
    8.2/10(3253 votes)

    S1:E11

    When George Michael is a rejected by a private school due to the family's reputation, Michael hires a publicist from his gym who he's been flirting with to change the public perspective of the Bluths. Meanwhile, Tobias is sent to Boston to reclaim his medical license.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writer:Courtney Lilly

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  14. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 18 - Missing Kitty
    8.2/10(2921 votes)

    S1:E18

    Gob attempts to make good on his promise to make the family yacht disappear. Meanwhile, Lindsay and Maeby try to track down Lindsay's grandmother, Tobias seeks George Sr.'s respect, and Michael attempts to fire Kitty, who claims to have information that could bring down the company.

    Director:Joe Russo
    Writers:Mitchell Hurwitz, John Levenstein

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  15. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.1/10(4997 votes)

    S1:E1

    Meet the Bluths. In the pilot, Michael decides to take a job in Arizona after being passed over by George Sr. for head of the Bluth Company. George Sr. is jailed, and the family realizes they need Michael.

    Directors:Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
    Writer:Mitchell Hurwitz

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  16. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 7 - In God We Trust
    8.1/10(3377 votes)

    S1:E7

    Michael attempts to fire the family's incompetent, but likeable attorney. George Michael impresses Maeby with a muscle suit for a "Living Classics" pagent. Tobias has a psychological affliction where he is unable to take off his clothes.

    Director:Joe Russo
    Writer:Abraham Higginbotham

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  17. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 15 - Staff Infection
    8.1/10(3049 votes)

    S1:E15

    When Michael discovers his family has been receiving paychecks without working, he forces them all to get jobs within the company. Lindsay questions his management skills, and Tobias checks himself in at George Sr.'s prison to research a film role.

    Director:John Fortenberry
    Writer:Brad Copeland

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  18. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 3 - Bringing Up Buster
    8.0/10(3963 votes)

    S1:E3

    Michael spends quality time with Buster. George Michael auditions for a school play to get closer to Maeby. Gob breaks up with his girlfriend and has nowhere to go.

    Director:Joe Russo
    Writers:Mitchell Hurwitz, Richard A. Rosenstock

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  19. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 6 - Visiting Ours
    8.0/10(3446 votes)

    S1:E6

    Michael sets up an "intimate conjugal visit" for his parents, while it is revealed that George Sr. had an affair with Kitty, his secretary who recently slept with Gob. Tobias and Lindsay see a marriage counselor.

    Director:Greg Mottola
    Writers:Richard A. Rosenstock, John Levenstein

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  20. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 8 - My Mother, the Car
    8.0/10(3313 votes)

    S1:E8

    Michael loses his short-term memory, which Lucille uses to her advantage. Gob attempts to use the family yacht before Michael sells it. George Michael and Maeby attempt to see an R-rated movie about cousins having an affair. Buster and Lucille 2 take "the next step".

    Director:Jay Chandrasekhar
    Writer:Chuck Martin

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  21. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 19 - Best Man for the Gob
    8.0/10(2898 votes)

    S1:E19

    George Sr. uses Gob's bachelor party as an opportunity to set up his accountant in a compromising position so that he can blackmail him. Meanwhile, Michael tries to prove he's a fun guy, and the Funkes reunite their family folk-music band.

    Director:Lee Shallat Chemel
    Writers:Mitchell Hurwitz, Richard A. Rosenstock

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  22. Arrested Development Season 1 Episode 20 - Whistler's Mother
    7.9/10(2880 votes)

    S1:E20

    Michael deals with numerous requests for some unfrozen money, and chastises Lucille for being too coddling with Buster. Lindsay decides to protest the war to boost her self esteem while Tobias and Gob decide to start a coffee company.

    Director:Paul Feig
    Writers:Jim Vallely, John Levenstein

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pier Pressure" is the best rated episode of "Arrested Development" season 1. It scored 9/10 based on 4195 votes. Directed by Joe Russo and written by Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely, it aired on 1/11/2004. This episode is rated 0.3 points higher than the second-best, "Justice Is Blind".