In 2003, The Fox Network was rocked by the release of a new comedy show unlike the rest. A departure from the safe and mass-produced multi-cam with canned laughter sitcom formula, which had become the staple for American television for decades by that point, it wouldn't quite get the recognition it deserved until much after its cancelation. In an age where streaming services and binge-watching have become the new standard for comfort viewing, Arrested Development has had a second-life to surpass its initial network performance, becoming one of Netflix's highest rated comedy shows, and even garnering two additional seasons.
Despite mixed reception on the two subsequent seasons released on Netflix years after the initial cancelation, the original network run of the show continues to be touted as one of the greatest achievements in situational comedy. With incredibly tight writing, clever jokes, and satisfying call-backs performed by a perfectly cast group of characters with distinctive and memorable personalities, there was something for everyone to enjoy. While fans and casual viewers alike may remain torn to this day, let's see who of the infamous Bluth family has the most enjoyable screen time.
9 Maeby Fünke
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Countless schemes, a distaste for following rules, and being a sought-after love-interest by a hormonal cousin creates the conniving Maeby Fünke, played by Alia Shawkat. Though Maeby is not without her memorable moments ("Marry me!"), only having her name seemingly for one joke used in the pilot, she has the unfortunate position of being over-shadowed by the much larger personalities and antics of others from the Bluth tribe. It's only when paired with another family member, often her cousin and secret admirer George Michael, is when her strength shines.
Playing the manipulative and mischievous role, she manages to get herself legitimate careers by just lying her way into them, as well as pitting her on-again-off-again parents against each other, or into each other's arms depending on her own benefit. Despite her outcast nature and surprisingly successful entrepreneurship, she's still (maybe) part of the family.
8 Lindsay Bluth Fünke
Being the only daughter of George Sr. and Lucille, Lindsay Bluth Fünke is perhaps the most spoiled, egotistical, and image-obsessed member of the Bluths. Played by Portia de Rossi, she spends a majority of her time indulging herself and seeking attention from men despite (or literally in spite of) her marriage to Tobias Fünke. The two are often at odds, but do get moments to show genuine love towards one-another, even if they are short-lived. Lindsay is also blissfully unaware of her daughter's daily exploits, her interests, or even what grade she may be in.
The flashy golden child can sometimes come off as one-note, though can prove to care more than she may let on, having a good share of genuinely heartfelt conversations, typically with her brother, Michael. There's more heart to be found here than in the others, just nothing much in the realm of brains. Though de Rossi would eventually quit acting all together in 2017, she still made it a point to return for the most recent fifth season of Arrested Development after a convincing phone call with the series creator Mitch Hurwitz.
7 George Michael Bluth
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The quintessential example of awkward teenage hormones, George Michael Bluth is the uncomfortable and cringe-inducing representation of everyone's embarrassing teenage years. Though unlike most teenagers, he's cripplingly in love with his own cousin, Maeby, a secret that he desperately tries to hide from his family yet continues to pursue. A young Michael Cera plays the character flawlessly, highlighting his soft-spoken and impressionable nature while having what may be the closest thing to a conscience in the entire family.
The anti-social teen's name comes from a combination of both his father, Michael, and grandfather, George, leading him to often be confused for famous singer/songwriter George Michael. While maintaining a tight relationship with his father, George Michael is commonly hidden away from the family's selfish and outlandish plans by his overprotective dad, and when dating an ultimately forgettable girl he met a school, receives constant criticism for having chosen "Her?" of all people. Despite his good nature, he still has the demented and unhealthy tendencies to make him a true Bluth (something explored more in the two Netflix seasons).
6 George Bluth Sr.
The figurehead of the despicable Bluth family, and the leader behind many of their most nefarious and hair-brained schemes. Through traumatizing his children, committing massive fraud, cheating on his wife, and getting his twin brother arrested on his behalf on more than one occasion, Jeffrey Tambor's tyrannical George Bluth Sr. is equal parts evil and brainless. Spending a good chunk of the series either incarcerated or on the run, George's sordid past comes back to haunt him on a constant basis, and just when characters think he may have finally learned something, he's nowhere to be found the moment they turn their back.
Though Jeffrey Tambor's on set behavior towards his co-stars may have been rocky at best, the character of George brings the most enjoyment when the absurdity of his schemes is cranked up to eleven. Often being pushed along by his wife, Lucille, his plans have him converting to Judaism, faking his own death, hiding away in Mexico, creating countless failed inventions, and putting a lot of money into his company's single banana stand. There's always another trick in George's mind, and it's clear that the oafish and reprehensible behavior has been passed down.
5 Gob Bluth
A shorthand for George Oscar Bluth II, Gob is the eldest son of George Sr. and Lucille, and takes a good deal after his father. Performed by Will Arnett, the charismatic son is a chronic womanizer who values very little in terms of giving love and affection, choosing instead to focus his interests on performing magic, which he refers to as "illusions." When he isn't bedding women, he's crafting his next big performance, hoping to get in the good graces of an undergrown allegiance of magicians.
Underneath the arrogance, however, it's clear that Gob is only seeking the approval of his parents who, in their words, just don't care for him. He also enjoys partnering up with his racially insensitive puppet, Franklin Delano Bluth, in what he perceives as a fun party starter, though inevitably it becomes a heated racial debate with constantly hurled obscenities. Gob's selfishness and massive ego make him a larger-than-life character, whose strength comes from his own skewed perception of reality, and what he believes will be his tickets to success.
4 Michael Bluth
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The straight-man and main character of the series, Michael Bluth takes on the responsibility of cleaning up the messes left by the rest of the family, whether he wants to or not. He's constantly being torn between leaving his chaotic family behind and wanting his son to grow up knowing them, mostly so that he knows what to avoid. Jason Bateman plays Michael as the quick-witted and level-headed de facto leader of the family business whilst his father, George Sr., serves time in prison.
Trying to keep his family together is his main full-time job, as their problems always seem to find their way back to him, generally because they ask him to solve them. Michael only really wants to make sure his son is taken care of, and though he often pokes a hole in the bloated egos of his relatives with his sarcastic responses, can be brought to his boiling point by the constant irresponsibility. Despite the agitation they bring, Michael does realize that without him, there'd be no one to keep the family together. The Netflix seasons, however, see him develop into nearly as much of a cynical schemer as the rest of his family, knocking the white knight off his horse.
3 Byron "Buster" Bluth
Being a sheltered "mommy's boy" in every aspect, Byron Bluth, commonly referred to by his nickname Buster, is the youngest son of George Sr. and Lucille. Played by Tony Hale, Buster's maturity and social skills are intensely stunted — having a very dependent, and creepy, relationship with his mother and spending most of his days in the safety of her penthouse. The rest of the family tends to view him as being fragile, leaving to him very little responsibility or expectations of any kind.
However, Buster isn't without love in his life, having a reoccurring romantic interest in his mother's neighbor and rival Lucille Austero, played by Liza Minnelli and referred to by characters as "Lucille 2." The endearing man-child also ends up losing his hand, though not when he's drafted in the military (to spite his mother), but rather when running into the ocean and being attacked by a loose seal. Seemingly everything in Buster's life revolves around his relationship with his mom, and while that is incredibly sad, it does make him the only Bluth child to have a "good" relationship with their mother.
2 Lucille Bluth
The pompous queen of the castle who, perhaps above everyone else, has the most control over the Bluth family's affairs. Being the real decision-maker under her husband's nose, Lucille's distaste for anything that isn't high society living is made apparent from her wardrobes to her attitude. Though the actress Jessica Walter unfortunately passed away in 2021, she will be fondly remembered for her stellar performance as Lucille, having what could be the largest collection of memorable quotes of any character in the series.
Always playing the puppet-master, Lucille has no qualms with pitting her children against one another, so long as they give her the respect she feels she's owed. Like the rest of the family, she frequently comes to Michael with her problems, many being of her own creation, hoping that he'll side with her and using maternal guilt to do so. Drunk, loud, demeaning, and deceitful are all accurate words for Lucille, however she'd likely rather live and die by "mother knows best."
1 Tobias Fünke
The most iconic and memorable character from the series, while also potentially the most unhinged from reality. Tobias Fünke resides in a world where he has the potential to be a master actor, though possesses none of the necessary skill, despite his flair for costumes. While he's always finding new ways to prove his worth to the world that he's meant to be taken seriously, he never quite sees how ridiculous or embarrassing his attempts become. Tobias is also oblivious to his own knack for making double entendres in his speech, and frequently blurts out innuendos without meaning to do so.
Played immaculately by actor/comedian David Cross, there's never a dull moment when the character is on-screen. Once a psychiatrist before becoming an actor (combining 'analyst' and 'therapist' on his business card to be an 'analrapist'), Tobias will commonly offer his insight during family arguments, and funnily enough supply some decent advice, showing a complete understanding of his family's thought processes (though, ignoring the Mrs. Doubtfire inspired costume he's wearing whilst saying it is the trick). When thinking of Arrested Development as a whole, it's nearly impossible not to have any of Tobias' scenes and moments spring to mind, and for a good reason. Fans and critics alike agree that the disgraced 'anustart' makes the show what it is, a timelessly funny staple in television history.