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.
Michael's romantic delusion escalates across 62 jokes at 2.45-per-minute peak density.
Directed by Joe Russo · Written by Jim Vallely, John Levenstein
WAR
121.7
Wins Above Replacement
“Marta Complex” ranks #15 of 84 Arrested Development episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 97.6 — Elite. The episode packs 72 scored jokes at 2.9 per minute, averaging 7.8 on craft and 7.6 on impact, with Michael landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Michael · Marta: Michael sees the gift bag, asks: 'What does te amo mean?' / 'I love you.' / '...And who's in there?' / 'Mi hermano.' / 'Brother.' / 'I've made a huge mistake.'
Narrator · Tobias: Narrator: 'In fact, Tobias was a never-nude. As of yet, the D.S.M.-IV has not acknowledged the affliction.'
Carl Weathers · Tobias: Carl Weathers' 'Baby, you got a stew goin'' — first instance, about leftover chicken bones.
Michael · Lucille: Anniversary? You asked me to throw a Valentine's Day party. — Did I? — You tricked me. — I deceived you, Mom. Tricked makes it sound like we have a playful relationship.
Tobias · George Michael: Tobias says cousins of opposite gender shouldn't share rooms — George Michael argues 'bunkin' cousins' is a term. Tobias: 'Kissin' cousins.' George Michael: 'We're not kissing! That's the point!'
All Jokes — 72 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Michael · Lucille: Anniversary? You asked me to throw a Valentine's Day party. — Did I? — You tricked me. — I deceived you, Mom. Tricked makes it sound like we have a playful relationship.
Lucille · Lupe: Touché. Lupe, untie the balloons!
Michael: There was somebody for a while, but it was too much of a brother... bother.
Michael Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Narrator · Michael: Narrator: 'That can't feel good.' — after Michael says 'It's fine. I'm over it.'
Lindsay: Well, if you call not filing for divorce 'something right.'
Lindsay Deadpan/Understatement Dark/Subversive Carl Weathers · Tobias: Carl Weathers' 'Baby, you got a stew goin'' — first instance, about leftover chicken bones.
Carl Weathers: Carl Weathers describing the Showtime movie 'Hot Ice' with Anne Archer, never touching his per diem, using craft service: 'Baby, I had a stew goin'.' — second instance.
Carl Weathers Running Gag Escalation Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Tobias: Tobias: 'I think I'd like my money back.' — after two consecutive stew lectures instead of acting advice.
Tobias Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement Callback George Michael · Narrator: George Michael prays for a 'sign' about his crush on Maeby — looks at a candy heart that reads 'Maybe Tonight.'
Narrator: Narrator: 'Actually, "Maybe Tonight" was a very popular candy slogan, and the chances were one in eight.'
Narrator Deadpan/Understatement Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback George Michael: George Michael throwing candy at Tobias's head while 'just tryin' to throw stuff at my dad's head, but the wind keeps taking it.'
George Michael · Maeby: George Michael gives Maeby the 'Maybe Tonight' candy heart, calling it a 'one-in-a-million thing' that 'made me think of you.'
Lucille · Carl Weathers · Tobias: Lucille invites Carl Weathers to dinner on the one night Tobias has class, then 'innocently' suggests Carl and Tobias have dinner alone.
Carl Weathers · Lucille: Carl Weathers: 'I never say no to dinner, with a beautiful lady — that is. Do you like ham?' 'No. I love it.'
Lindsay · Michael: Lindsay: 'This was supposed to be my anniversary toast.' / Michael: 'And this was supposed to be my Valentine's Day party.'
Bluth Family · Narrator: The family chants 'Speech, speech, speech' for no one in particular — Narrator confirms: 'The family continued to chant for no one in particular.'
Michael: 'After all that, I was kinda hoping somebody would make a speech.'
Michael Deadpan/Understatement Reaction Beat Callback Buster · Michael: Buster says 'Don't forget my girlfriend' to Michael's toast — Michael says 'That's who I meant' — implying he just confused Buster's girlfriend Lucille 2 with his own mother Lucille.
Michael: Michael nearly says 'George Michael and Maeby' in his toast, then catches himself — 'I almost said George Michael and Maeby.'
Michael Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Michael · Marta · Narrator: Michael concludes his toast 'To love and happiness' — immediately cuts to Marta saying 'I love you all, Marta' and realizing it was Michael she wanted.
Lindsay · Michael: Lindsay asks Michael for divorce advice, referencing his toast — 'Should I use Barry or just bolt in the night? I'm leaning toward bolt in the night.'
Narrator · Tobias: Narrator: 'In fact, Tobias was a never-nude. As of yet, the D.S.M.-IV has not acknowledged the affliction.'
Michael: Michael says he's not judging — 'On the other hand, I am doing it anyway, so let me suggest...'
Michael Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Lindsay: 'I was gonna take her with me in the night. She's part of the bolt.'
Lindsay Character Comedy Escalation Callback Buster: Buster tells Michael he loved the speech — 'I never want to look at Mom again.'
Buster Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Buster: Buster: 'Do you know she tried to set up my girlfriend with a man?'
Buster Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Buster: Well, I can't really talk. She might be listening in.
Buster Character Comedy Absurdist Lucille · Buster · Michael: Lucille interrupts the call: 'Can I throw out this yogurt?' — Buster responds with two simultaneous conversations, Michael has to manage both.
Michael: Michael advises Buster to move out — adds 'you don't want to take any chances with yogurt, Mom. Just let her throw it out' — addressing both simultaneously.
Michael Absurdist Character Comedy Callback Michael · Gob · Marta: Three-way phone call confusion: Michael says 'nobody' is with him (Marta is there), Gob says 'well now I don't know what's going on.'
Gob: Gob says Marta 'wouldn't let me make love to her on Mom's bed' and 'I don't even want to tell you what she wouldn't let me do to her in the car.'
Gob Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Gob · Marta · Narrator: Marta on the phone says 'Hermano' — Gob thinks it's the name of a man she's cheating with. Narrator reveals she was talking to her mother about Michael.
Gob · Michael: 'If anyone's gonna go out with that girl, it's gonna be one of us. Right. Me. And I'm okay with that.'
Tobias · George Michael: Tobias says cousins of opposite gender shouldn't share rooms — George Michael argues 'bunkin' cousins' is a term. Tobias: 'Kissin' cousins.' George Michael: 'We're not kissing! That's the point!'
George Michael · Tobias: Cousins can bunk together. That's why they call it 'bunkin' cousins.' 'Kissin' cousins.' We're not kissing! That's the point!
Lindsay: 'I'm gonna sleep with my daughter, and you're gonna sleep with my husband.'
Lindsay Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Buster · Lucille: Buster reading from a note: 'Because you know I don't appreciate how you treat me. I am not a child, Mother.' — then: 'Blow.' / 'No, Mother! I can blow myself.'
Buster Lucille Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Buster · Narrator: Narrator: 'So, Buster loaded up his possessions and emancipated himself from his mother.' — Visual of Buster presumably carrying a tiny amount of belongings dramatically.
Carl Weathers · Buster: Buster arrives at Lucille 2's apartment. Carl Weathers is there. 'This is purely a social call. Just two adults gettin' a stew on, man.'
Buster · Carl Weathers: Oh, hey, Buster. I thought you had class. I thought you had class. My brother-in-law fires you... And you move in on my girlfriend?
Buster: Buster: 'I don't know what that means, but it sounds disgusting.'
Buster Reaction Beat Character Comedy Callback Tobias: Tobias: 'I think the world is about to fall in love with Frightened Inmate #2.'
Tobias Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Buster: Buster: 'Carl Weathers took everything from me. My entire life just came crashing down... I will never love again.'
Buster Character Comedy Escalation Buster · Narrator: Buster sees Marta and immediately thinks: 'I've been dating an old lady.'
Lucille 2 · Buster: You're replacing my mother. [Lucille 2 to Buster] / You need some time. [long pause, door closes]
Michael: Michael asks a soap opera crew member 'I'm looking for Hermano' — everyone points to 'their brother.' He follows the chain of pointing across the entire set.
Michael Misdirection Physical/Slapstick ★ Rewatch Callback Michael: 'Son of a bitch.' — Michael's reaction when the chain of pointing leads back to the beginning or a dead end.
Michael Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement Callback Lucille · Michael: Lucille, alone in her apartment, says she's 'never lived in the apartment alone' and fears she's 'not up to this.'
Michael · Lucille: Michael cites Caged Wisdom to Lucille — 'There is joy in solitude, Lucille. Try being alone. It just might make you happier.' Lucille: 'Honey, my happiest times here are alone.' — Immediately asks the building manager about the 'hole being available between 4:00 and 6:00.'
Michael: Michael: 'I don't even want to know what that means.'
Michael Reaction Beat Deadpan/Understatement Gob · Michael: She's at the house. She's at the house! I'm gonna speak very carefully in case she's with you. You're right. Right about what? She's there! What's going on?
Tobias · Narrator: Narrator describes Tobias's audition: 'The competition frightened Tobias, which he felt he could use in his performance. Unfortunately this made him more confident, which frightened him again.'
Lindsay · Maeby: Lindsay to Maeby: 'Having him in the next room makes me miss him all the more.' — immediately undercut by: 'Mom, please. He's got a big-boy crush on Action Jackson.'
Lindsay: 'No! We may have to bolt.' — Lindsay tells Maeby not to unpack her suitcase because the divorce plan is still on.
Lindsay Character Comedy Callback Callback Tobias · George Michael: Tobias to George Michael: 'Do you know the last time I made love to my wife?' / George Michael: 'No.' / Tobias: 'I'll tell you when.' / George Michael: 'No, don't.'
Tobias · George Michael: Tobias reveals the only reason Lindsay married him was 'to piss off her mother' — and they couldn't conceive — setting up George Michael's realization that Maeby might not be his cousin.
Tobias: Tobias: 'Yes, I'm the doctor. The perfect husband. The big manly man. The big strong daddy.' — full self-pity list to George Michael.
Tobias Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Tobias: Tobias gets the call that he booked 'Frightened Inmate #2' — 'Did you hear that, Lindsay? You could have been sleeping with Frightened Inmate #2.'
Tobias Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Lucille · Narrator: Lucille, alone, turns on TV — George Sr.'s Caged Wisdom is playing. She turns it up to maximum volume and realizes she likes being alone.
Michael · Marta: Michael and Marta have a dinner conversation about relationships that is simultaneously about completely different things — he thinks she's talking about Gob; she's talking about Michael himself.
Michael · Marta: What the hell is he talking about? [Michael's confessional cut to Marta] What is she talking about? [Marta's cut]
Michael · Marta's Son: Michael bribing Marta's young son with cake to get information about 'Hermano.' 'I'll give you what you want if you give me what I want. Tell me everything you know about... Hermano.'
Michael: Michael bribes Marta's young son with cake to get information about 'Hermano' — 'I'll give you what you want if you give me what I want. Tell me everything you know about Hermano.'
Michael Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Michael · Marta's Son: Does your mother love 'Hermano?' Sí, mi hermano. He's here? Sí. He's sleeping. Don't go in there.
Michael · Marta: Michael confronts Marta about 'lying and sneaking around, moving on to the next guy' — not realizing she's trying to tell him SHE'S moving on to HIM.
Michael · Marta: We can keep going around in circles, but maybe one of us should just come out and say what it is we want to say. / You're right. / It's not working with Gob.
Marta: Marta: 'I should have told him before I invited you here. This can never be.'
Marta Misdirection Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Michael: This can never be. [Michael declares, storming out after completely misreading the situation]
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Michael · Marta: Michael sees the gift bag, asks: 'What does te amo mean?' / 'I love you.' / '...And who's in there?' / 'Mi hermano.' / 'Brother.' / 'I've made a huge mistake.'
Gob · Michael: Gob's phone call: 'Maybe because you've only had sex four times.' / 'Four women! Not four times! And they talk to me because I talk to them.'
Gob Michael Character Comedy Setup/Punchline ★ Rewatch Tobias · Director: Preview: Tobias has a shower scene for Frightened Inmate #2 — 'There's a shower scene? I have to be nude.' / 'Well, you don't shower with your clothes on, now, do ya?'
Tobias Director Callback Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Callback Buster: Buster rebounds immediately from heartbreak over Lucille 2 — 'Yo te quiero mucho. Te amo, Marta. Te amo.' — in the 'On the next Arrested Development' preview.
Buster Character Comedy Escalation Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Top Episodes — Arrested Development
