‘Arrested Development’ Season 5 Will Be Split Into Two Parts; Here’s Why
They’ve (possibly) made a huge mistake. Rather than give fans the whole kit and caboodle this month, Netflix is splittingArrested Developmentseason 5 into two parts. The first eight episodes will arriveMay 29, with the remaining eight episodes hitting Netflix later this year.
Arrested Developmentfans were surprised and thrilled to learn that the new season was arriving unexpectedly this month. But don’t gettooexcited – you’re only getting half of the season.Entertainment Weekly(and the Netflix press site) confirms that Netflix has splitArrested Developmentseason 5 into two parts. The first eight episodes will drop on the streaming platform on June 03, 2025. The remaining eight episodes will arrive sometime later this year.
This isn’t the first Netflix show to take this approach. The upcoming new season ofUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidtis doing the same thing. If you’re wondering why, here’s the answer: Emmy consideration. Per EW:
“Netflix has split seasons on such comedies asThe RanchandUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, whose first six episodes of its final season will debut May 30. The streamer is releasing those first half-seasons ofArrestedandKimmyjust in time for Emmy consideration, as the deadline is May 31.”
Of course, it’s worth noting that inolden times, back whenArrested Developmentwas on Fox, we’d all have to wait weeks and weeks to take in an entire season of the show. But those days are dead; gosh darn it. This is the streaming age, and we, the consuming public, demand our seasons of TV all at once! This also suggests the season isn’t entirely finished yet. If it were, Netflix would get the whole thing up in time for the May 29 while still being able to qualify for Emmy consideration. This also suggests Netflix thinks the first eight episodes ofArrested Developmentseason 5 are award-worthy, so I guess that’s something.
Netflix savedArrested Developmentfrom cancellation, releasing season 4 in 2013. While some audiences were happy to see the Bluth family back, many fans disliked how the new season isolated most of the characters into their own individual episodes. This was primarily done to accommodate the busy schedules of the cast, but it robbed the show of the magic that came from watching the ensemble bounce off each other. Recently, creatorMitch Hurwitzre-cut season 4 to play more like the classic seasons ofArrested Development– a move that ended upangeringmany of the cast members.
Season 5 is said to be more in line with traditional episodes, with the cast of characters spending much more time together than in season 4. We shall see.
In the aftermath of Cinco de Quatro, the Bluth family are all facing one question, that no one quite has the answer to; where is Lucille Two?
As this Netflix (semi) original series, the Bluths are back together, and finally getting the award they think they deserve – for family of the year. A development which will help Lindsay as she begins her campaign for Congress, to become ‘part of the problem’. But whatever happens, Michael will always come back to save the family. Probably.
