George-Michael thinks he's being lied to by Michael, who thinks he's being lied to by George Sr. Gob hires guys to help with his "closet conversion."
Michael's Rome subplot stretches thin across 54 jokes, landing just below the show's usual comedic threshold.
Directed by Troy Miller · Written by Maggie Rowe
WAR
136.1
Wins Above Replacement
“Rom Traum” ranks #77 of 84 Arrested Development episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 90.1 — Elite. The episode packs 99 scored jokes at 2.6 per minute, averaging 7.5 on craft and 7.2 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
Lucille: I will not let that woman steal everything I've taken from her.
Lucille Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch George Sr. · Oscar (or Tobias): Maybe she figured that if she was gonna do hard time, I should do... / Soft time. Yeah.
Michael · Buster · Barry: What's the beach cottage? / I found out, Buster. / Oh. / What a relief. / Yeah. / I almost said 'the cottage.' I changed it to 'ing on the beach.' / It's 'frolicking.' / 'Frolicking.'
Barry · Narrator: He's going to Father B's. / Which, to Barry, could only mean one thing. / I have time for an ice cream.
Barry Narrator Misdirection Character Comedy Running Gag ★ Rewatch Callback George Michael · Maeby: Stop right there. The minute you start talking about neutering your romantic partner, you're into shit that even Gangee wouldn't do. — The monster or the grandmother? — The monster. But, yeah, I don't think our grandmother would do that.
All Jokes — 99 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Michael · Buster: She said that I could make up whatever reason I want. You tell me what is easiest on you.
Michael · Buster: Hmm, no, it's too mean. / She hates you, Michael. / We'll use that one. Sure.
Buster: In my case, twice. Well, two times, allegedly. Hey. This falls under client-attorney privilege, right?
Buster Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Buster · Michael: Or she's busy frolicking on the beach with Dusty, her trophy son. / I should never have put that image in your mind. / The good news is, you thought I said 'frolicking.'
Buster · Michael: Lucille 2's head in a box? / Spooky.
Buster · Michael: Now inside the stair car are two heads. One bald, one spiky. / Spooky.
Buster Michael Running Gag Dark/Subversive Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Michael · Buster · Barry: What's the beach cottage? / I found out, Buster. / Oh. / What a relief. / Yeah. / I almost said 'the cottage.' I changed it to 'ing on the beach.' / It's 'frolicking.' / 'Frolicking.'
George Michael · Maeby: Says 'Maeby' here. / What? / How dare they keep track of my height while not telling me?
Maeby · George Michael: You guys seem really buddy-buddy on Instagram. / I also saw that that hair thing backfired, huh?
George Michael: I don't want to use 'family,' 'cause they like each other, but they're a nice group of people.
George Michael · Maeby: I'm worried she might have been seeing her ex all summer. / Your dad? / No, no. On the movie set, down in Mexico.
George Michael: She's not perfect, but it doesn't turn my stomach to see her eat an ice cream cone.
Lucille · Narrator: For some reason, he wants to wait till after the election to be what he likes to call 'intimate.'
Lucille: You gotta try this new eyebrow glue. You can eat soup again.
Lucille: If you tried the new eyebrow glue, you could look surprised, too.
Lucille Callback Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Lucille · Lindsay (or companion): He expects sex after the election? What are you gonna do? That's in two days. / I know. I mean, I can't let the guy see me naked, 'cause, not to brag, but, you know, there's not a lot of 75-year-old women who got a body like this.
Lucille · Narrator (Ron Howard): Say what you will about Ron Howard as a filmmaker, but the man is not a Nazi sympathizer. / Thanks. / I've heard things about what's really going on in that Grinch movie he made.
Lucille: Lottie-Dottie-DA? Oh, she's a shark, Michael. I don't want you swimming anywhere near her. Especially after you tried to drown yourself in the bay the other day.
Lucille Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Michael: We're sticking with that, huh?
Michael Deadpan/Understatement Reaction Beat Lucille: And risk having a story come out that I went to a prison to visit my son before the election? That would be bad for Lindsay's campaign.
Lucille Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Lucille: They moved it because they don't want the Hispanics to get even by using up all the supplies a day early like we do with Cinco.
Lucille Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Irony/Sarcasm Callback Lucille: Yeah, and good luck using the 4th of July fireworks on the 3rd, because we will have done it on the 2nd.
Lucille Character Comedy Escalation Callback Gob · Lucille (or family member): I bet you guys are thinking, uh, will he, won't he? / 'Willy Wondy?' / Who's Willy Wondy? / 'Will he, won't he' do magic on our float.
Gob · Lucille (or family member): Tony? / Did you say Tony? / Won't he. / Wonder. What? Why are you trying to say 'Tony Wonder'? / No one's saying Tony... / Stay out of it! / Why are you saying Tony Wonder? Is he doing a trick? / No one's saying that or asking anything. / Good. / Let's keep it that way.
Gob: Anyway, you're probably saying or wondering... Now I'm doing it.
Gob Meta/Self-Referential Character Comedy Callback Gob · Family member: Laguna Closet Conversions. Know those guys? / It's not what you think. / They, like, convert closets to, like, organize and stuff. / Who would think anything different?
Gob · Closet salesmen: This geo-bead would. / So, what do we have to do to get you into a closet, huh? / Wow, you guys don't mince words, huh?
Gob · Narrator · Closet salesmen: Gob told the closet salesmen all about his night with Tony, and how devastated he was by being ghosted. / ...Michael walked in, I had to waste my roofie... But he doesn't remember... Him, with my... / I guess that's how we're different, in the same way.
Closet salesmen · Narrator: We should put him in the Catalina cedar walk-in with the pocket doors and the floor lighting. / And that's when Gob realized his mistake.
Narrator (Ron Howard): But keep in mind, we edited, like, an hour out of this.
Gob: What are the confidentiality laws concerning people who walk into a closet store? / They're kind of sane and, you know, they listen, they're good... and they work for us 'cause I bought the company.
Gob Character Comedy Absurdist Barry: If they're listening, just say 'dogshit.'
Barry Character Comedy Absurdist Barry: Know what's funny? In the 30 years that I've represented this family, that is the first time anyone has said 'good j...' Well, listen.
Barry Character Comedy Running Gag Deadpan/Understatement George Sr. · Lucille · Michael: Um, can I speak to you privately for a moment? / Oh. Yeah? / You need to speak privately? / Oh, it's just so mundane. I don't want to bore everyone. / I'll get out of your hair.
Michael: No, no, no, no. I told you I'm not gonna be taking your money. And it's 75 grand that I'm not gonna be taking because the bail went up.
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Michael · George Michael: Buster tried to strangle a, uh... Well, he technically did strangle a skinhead. / Very cool.
Michael · George Michael: People are gonna think, 'Here comes the next Steve Gobs.' / They're gonna want... / Jobs.
George Michael · Narrator: George Michael couldn't tell his father that he'd attempted to dye his hair pink to push Rebel away. — Um... Yeah, I guess, you know, so... so Rebel would think that I was cool.
George Sr. · George Michael · Michael: Look at this. Three generations of Bluths in one place. Anybody have a camera? / On my phone. / Yes, sir. / Oh, no. / It's a figure of speech. I gotta run.
George Michael · Michael: How'd you know I had red hair? / Did you see it on Instagram? / Yes. I did. I did. I did. / Just didn't want to embarrass you. / Showed up on my e-mail this morning. / So you use Instagram? / Mm-mm. No, no. Your uncle showed it to me. You know me. I'm a 20th-century guy. You can keep that futuristic stuff.
Michael · Prismo (smart speaker): Okay, Prismo. Begin. / User, Michael Bluth. Lost my keys. / Okay, Prismo, reverse. / I will. And how was... / Mom's fucking cottage / ...with Gob.
Barry · Lucille: A good lie is head in a box, but they wanted to go with something real, so we went with the evidence they actually had. / This is real? / Yeah, and he doesn't want to use the best part, the two heads. One spiky, one bald. / Lucille 2 and Oscar. / That idiot.
Barry Lucille Callback Dark/Subversive Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Barry · Lucille: Yeah, and he doesn't want to use the best part, the two heads. One spiky, one bald. — Lucille 2 and Oscar.
Barry Lucille Callback Dark/Subversive Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Lucille: I will not let that woman steal everything I've taken from her.
Lucille Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Narrator: George Sr. turned south on Coast Highway, unaware he was being followed by Michael, unaware he was being followed by George Michael.
Narrator Irony/Sarcasm Escalation Character Comedy Maeby: I know you're not old. Can we have a system where I don't have to wait the 40 seconds?
Maeby Character Comedy Absurdist Maeby: The other day, I turned the lounge TV on, and now that's my job. They call me 'Buttons' now. Buttons.
Maeby Character Comedy Absurdist Maeby: Wow, I was just 'specu-lying.'
Maeby Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy George Michael: Well, you nailed it, Buttons.
Maeby: my niece always told me never to give away my Social Security number, but if it really is a free trip to Aruba...
Maeby Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm George Michael · Maeby: Oh, you have to go, Buttons. / Sign me up! / Peg's walking by.
Maeby · George Michael: At least my mom never tried to sleep with somebody I was da... / Oh, wait. No. Steve Holt. / Uh, but he's family. / We've got to stop the lying in this family.
Maeby: You tell one little story to get a place to live. Next thing you know, you're sorting through your roommate's pills to figure out which one will kill his sex drive.
Maeby Character Comedy Dark/Subversive Escalation ★ Rewatch George Michael · Maeby: Stop right there. The minute you start talking about neutering your romantic partner, you're into shit that even Gangee wouldn't do. — The monster or the grandmother? — The monster. But, yeah, I don't think our grandmother would do that.
George Michael · Maeby: The minute you start talking about neutering your romantic partner, you're into shit that even Gangee wouldn't do. / The monster or the grandmother? / The monster. But, yeah, I don't think our grandmother would do that.
Maeby · George Michael: Yeah, maybe it is too far. I guess I can just pretend like I have an illness where I forget everything. / Like Alzheimer's? / That's a thing, too? I was just crime-storming. You know, just lying out loud.
Gob: Sorry. I'm still really torn up about this love affair with Tony, which, if you guys mention, you're fired.
Gob Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Gob: God. Why are all the cute ones so dumb?
Gob Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Gob: I am pretending to be a Christian magician. Tony's pretending to be a gay magician. We're like oil and vinegar.
Gob Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Closet Salesman: Yeah. A classic two-fister. An old-fashioned will he, won't he?
Michael · George Sr. · George Michael (off-phone): What's the bell? / Oh, there's this Salvation Army Santa Claus guy who's just going from car to car here. / Ice cream? / Stop screaming and get off the highway!
George Sr. · Michael: Oh, there's an Andersen's Pea Soup, so I think I'm gonna buy him soup. / That's George Michael. I gotta go.
George Michael · Michael: I'm approaching, uh, Andersen's Pea Soup. / Oh, that's north. You said you were going northeast. / Well, I'm headed north, then I'm headed east. Otherwise you don't pass the Andersen's P.S.
Narrator: Michael felt doubly guilty for not just telling a lie, but stealing one.
Narrator Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Michael · George Michael: That's, uh, we got a Danish girl ringing a bell in front of, uh, A's Pea Soup. / Ice cream? / Ice cream? What's that about ice cream? / No, thank you. Uh, nein, danke.
Barry · Narrator: He's going to Father B's. / Which, to Barry, could only mean one thing. / I have time for an ice cream.
Barry Narrator Misdirection Character Comedy Running Gag ★ Rewatch Callback Michael: I would've been embarrassed if I was making Buster rot in prison, while I was hiding Lucille down in Mexico.
Michael Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Lucille · George Sr.: It's so mundane. / Let me get out of your hair.
Lucille: If you could tear anything in two, you'd still have a shot at me.
Lucille Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Dark/Subversive George Sr.: This is where the curse began. This is where that guy turned me into Oscar, and Oscar into me.
George Sr. Absurdist Character Comedy Running Gag ★ Rewatch Callback George Sr. · Tobias: Why are you dressed like that? / Humorous anecdote.
George Sr. · Tobias: Great spirit, that's why I'm here! My son doesn't believe. Please, take his strength, and give it to me! — Take it easy. — No, it's me, Tobias. Fünke. I'm still legally recognized as your son-in-law.
Tobias · Narrator: Well, maybe I'll jump in here. / After being kicked off Father B's land, the men finally found their way to Marky Bark's trailer. / It was worth it. Now you know how to do a proper spit take.
Marky Bark's mother (or family member): Lindsay? That dumb blonde slut my moron son keeps calling every five minutes since she came back on Cinco de Mayo?
Marky Bark's relative · Tobias · George Sr.: Normally, I would say no, but the ostriches have been making a hell of a mess this past year. / How's your gag reflex? / Well, if you mean is my son anything like his father, well, he's never had any complaints.
George Sr. · Tobias: Well, if you mean is my son anything like his father, well, he's never had any complaints.
Tobias · Marky Bark's relative: Oh, no, no, I can't go there. They held me up at gunpoint, so you'll understand if I pass on going back. / If you're that worried, you can wear the ostrich suit. Mark always did. / Oh, fun.
Marky Bark's relative · Tobias: If you pass out, it keeps buzzards off your eyes. / Double fun!
Tobias: Yes, I suppose I could've told you that from up there, but I am glad to see you, 'cause your mail certainly has been piling up. / And this is my last delivery, so I get to put on my human clothes.
Tobias Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Tobias Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm George Sr. · Oscar (or Tobias): Maybe she figured that if she was gonna do hard time, I should do... / Soft time. Yeah.
Narrator: ♪ Coincidence? ♪
Narrator Meta/Self-Referential Running Gag George Michael: How is the Pea Soup Andersen's pea soup, Dad?
George Michael · Rebel (on phone): Lights, camera, action! / Always so lovely to hear your voice.
Michael · George Sr. · George Michael: I can't believe you're suspicious. / You have to trust me. I don't know where Lucille 2 is. / Dad, trust is a two-way street.
George Michael · George Sr. · Michael: That's Lucille 2's car. / I swear to you, I didn't know she was here. I... / You're probably not impotent, either.
Michael: Get in the Anustart, and I'll follow. Go.
Michael Running Gag Wordplay/Pun ★ Rewatch Callback Michael · Tobias: Follow Lucille 2. If we get her, Buster goes free. / Ooh, triple fun!
Oscar: The bathroom doesn't work back here, so I peed in a Wetzel bag.
Oscar Character Comedy Absurdist Michael · Barry · George Michael: Three, four, five, six, seven, eight flat tires? / Yeah. / Who do we sue? / You, until we find out who put down the spike strips.
Narrator: And the family that was chasing itself for no reason... soon had a reason to stop.
Narrator Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement Michael · George Sr. · Mexican Romney spokesperson: Your land? / This is Bluth land. / This has been Romney land since my great-grandfather settled here. / Along with our 18 great-grandmothers.
Narrator · Mexican Romney spokesperson: ♪ Mexican Romney Family ♪ / Although, we used to have better signs.
Narrator · Oscar: Until, as it turns out, Oscar and his friends discovered how cold Mexico was at night. / This is America. If they don't want us to burn signs, they shouldn't write them in Spanish.
Narrator Oscar Dark/Subversive Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Oscar: That's a bit much. That's very nice. / I wouldn't say I deserved an Oscar, but...
Oscar Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch George Sr.: Now perhaps, before I rediscovered my manhood in the gully, I would've caved, but not now. I am gonna fight you for the land.
George Sr. Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback George Sr.: Where's a pen?
George Sr. Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Reaction Beat Gob: Gay equals straight. / I need two closets! Two guys coming out of the closet! How hard is that to understand?
Gob Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Running Gag ★ Rewatch Callback Gob · Unknown: One is gonna be well-organized. The other one is just gonna be shredded all apart. / It's garbage! It's all garbage! / Wow, now that's gonna be a great show.
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