Arrested Development

Arrested Development has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Netflix and Disney Plus, and in the US on Netflix. Across 5 seasons, the show has had time to find its rhythm and keep it. With 1,682 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Jason Bateman sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Start it on Netflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Arrested Development arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Arrested Development gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. The story of a wealthy family that lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together. Jason Bateman and Portia De Rossi lead a cast with the timing to make it work. The series ran for 5 seasons (2003–2019), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. Arrested Development earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Arrested Development. Fans of Tyler Perry's House of Payne will recognise the sensibility here immediately. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. Jason Bateman sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.

Arrested Development wrapped up in 2019, created by Mitchell Hurwitz — and 5 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.