George and Lucille overestimate their new lawyer's expertise in the courtroom. Two familiar faces testify, and a video sheds more light on the case.
Cringe-driven finale lands 61 jokes in tight legal chaos—Season 5's densest hour.
Directed by Troy Miller · Written by Mitchell Hurwitz, Jim Vallely
WAR
69.5
Wins Above Replacement
“Courting Disasters” ranks #29 of 84 Arrested Development episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 83.5 — Elite. The episode packs 61 scored jokes at 1.6 per minute, averaging 7.2 on craft and 7.1 on impact, with Lucille landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
GOB: Oh, spirit of this dead bird, fly into my dead brother!
GOB Absurdist Dark/Subversive Gene Misdirection Setup/Punchline Lucille: I mean, I've cheated on you a thousand times. I mean, almost makes up for the permanent damage you did to my endocrine system.
Lucille: Just that I only ever seem to create or attract them.
Lucille Observational Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Lucille: Honestly, I don't know how Tap-Dancing Ghost doesn't take the whole thing.
Lucille Absurdist Deadpan/Understatement All Jokes — 61 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Lucille: Look who thinks they can wear white.
Lucille Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Unknown: Well, frankly, it's hard to think about it over the sound of... Was there a cat in here?
Unknown Setup/Punchline Cringe/Discomfort Lindsay: That was my singing. That's my talent.
Lindsay Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Unknown: Most people close their eyes when they plug their ears.
Michael: I can see that you're talking, but I just... I'm not a lip-reader.
Unknown: Maybe it'll be better if you don't win this one. And you wouldn't be losing much, just a cruise with your grandmother.
Unknown Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy GOB: My plan. I took Buster off his leash, and I brought him down to the beach. Don't worry, I told him how to swim.
GOB Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback GOB Reaction Beat Character Comedy Lucille: But where did the confetti come from? From Michael's hat. Honestly, these are so easy.
Lucille Observational Character Comedy Lucille: Honestly, I don't know how Tap-Dancing Ghost doesn't take the whole thing.
Lucille Absurdist Deadpan/Understatement GOB: Oh, spirit of this dead bird, fly into my dead brother!
GOB Absurdist Dark/Subversive Lucille: And as much juice as you want tonight. Tonight, you get juice.
Lucille Character Comedy Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Lucille: I mean, I've cheated on you a thousand times. I mean, almost makes up for the permanent damage you did to my endocrine system.
Dusty: What a [BLEEP] day! Sorry. Just... I heard my... my dad's in the hospital.
Dusty Cringe/Discomfort Irony/Sarcasm Lottie · Dusty: You cut your hair. Eh. Yeah.
Buster: Burn. It's just that my mother's name is Lucille as well, so the... the burn was on her.
Buster Misdirection Character Comedy Judge Stanley: I'll allow the burn.
Lottie: If you find that funny, wait till you hear the defense's opening argument.
Lottie Setup/Punchline Meta/Self-Referential Dusty: Uh, I... I didn't know about the videotape. So, I mean, what... You can just see he... he's throwing the body right off the cliff, so everyone's like, 'Uh...' 'I mean, what else could it be?'
Dusty Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Dusty: I'm feeling like people are judging me, and it's just not making me feel that great.
Dusty Cringe/Discomfort Irony/Sarcasm Lucille: Oh, it's so dark in here. Hello? I can hear you breathing. Oh, so you did know I was coming. Good for you, getting a head start.
Lucille Cringe/Discomfort Misdirection ★ Rewatch Dusty Misdirection Character Comedy Lottie: Please. I've known you since you were 30!
Lottie Character Comedy Observational Judge Stanley: Hell yeah. Let's get the hug on.
Gallery: What a [BLEEP] baby! Shut up, murderer!
Dusty: Nah. I mean, she's a little old for me, don't you think? She's, like... your age.
Dusty Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Dusty: Fifty-six and a half.
Dusty Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Dusty: Not gonna let that ruin my recess.
Dusty Character Comedy Wordplay/Pun Michael: Oh, my God, he's a motherboy.
Michael Observational Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Lucille: Just that I only ever seem to create or attract them.
Lucille Observational Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Lucille Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Michael: I don't think that I have heard you apologize since, um, uh, since people used to use that phrase to apologize.
Michael Observational Character Comedy Michael: It occurs to me that he may not come back from recess unless he hears a bell. I'll get him.
Michael Character Comedy Escalation Callback Tobias: I could play Buster with one arm tied behind my back. In fact, I've played Buster with two arms tied behind my back. I was handcuffed.
Tobias: I could play Buster with one arm tied behind my back. In fact, I've played Buster with two arms tied behind my back. I was handcuffed.
Tobias Escalation Character Comedy Tobias: It was Cinco... de Cuatro!
Tobias Callback Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Buster: I've got a show to do in ten minutes, and I haven't got a Thing to wear... this Thing suit.
Buster Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Tobias: You're a monster. You don't have to be any good.
Tobias Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Tobias: And perhaps I'll do it in an English accent! Nay, nay, I shan't. I shall stick to the script. Not script. Nope. Vérité. I have taken the note... vérité.
Tobias Character Comedy Escalation Tobias: Damn it! I just... need somewhere to s... All right, well, gentlemen, thank you so much for your time. And I will be seeing you.
Tobias Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy Michael: Actually, I thought I'd find my maritime law diploma. You know, as proof that I passed what they call the 'wet bar.'
Michael Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy George Michael: You dated my girlfriend. You moved into my dorm room. You bought my business.
Michael: I cannot even get past the logo, so you're close.
Michael Deadpan/Understatement Irony/Sarcasm Michael · George Michael: She's not over me? No, Fakeblock. It's fake.
Michael: It does explain why Pemender from Kuala Lumpur keeps signing into my LinkedIn.
Lottie · Lucille: Gene Parmesan? Doesn't seem like he's here. That's impossible. He's a private detective. He'd never be late. Well, has anyone checked under the... new bailiff?
Gene · Lucille: Gene Parmesan. [SHRIEKS] Gene! That never gets old!
Gene: You know, mostly Kool-Aid.
Gene Deadpan/Understatement Observational Judge Stanley: I'm the judge.
Gene Misdirection Setup/Punchline Tobias: She blew our cover.
Tobias Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Tobias: I mean, I'm no Harvey Weinstein, but I'm sure I could produce one.
Tobias Dark/Subversive Cringe/Discomfort Tobias: But what he's basically saying is, nobody wants to be naked underneath their underwear. So, one adds an extra layer of protection. It doesn't have to be denim, per se, but everybody wants to hide their privates from something. Not everybody.
Tobias Character Comedy Callback Warden Gentles: Lucille Bluth, of course, of course.
Warden Gentles: Well, all seals can come loose with a little bit of... Gentles' pressuring.
Young Buster · Young Lucille · Mimi: I am almost 14, and you have been mistreating me. Oh... You go to your room. How dare you? We both know that child is about to turn 18.
Warden Gentles: I'm not just saying this to suck up to Ron Howard, but I think we nailed it.
Dusty: I mean, was that an option? Because you did almost kill my dad.
Dusty Dark/Subversive Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback George Michael: Well, this is Fakeblock. You made Fakeblock.
Murphybrown: Hey, do you want to see Ben Affleck's peen?
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