Marta Complex
Encyclopedia
"Marta Complex" is the 12th episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.
, Tobias's acting coach, on a night Buster has class. Michael gives a stirring toast to each couple and to love in general, and that's when Marta realizes that Michael is the one she should be with, not Gob. The next morning, Lindsay says the party finally woke her up: she needs a divorce. Tobias's never-nude
affliction is too much for her.
Meanwhile, Gob thinks Marta is cheating on him with a man named Hermano after overhearing her on the phone talking to her mother. Hermano is Spanish for "brother": she was talking about Michael. But neither Michael nor Gob realize this, and they agree to work together to find Hermano. Lindsay decides she and George Michael will switch roommates: he'll bunk with Tobias now, and she with Maeby. George Michael fears that Tobias saw the "Maybe Tonight" candy heart and figured out his cousin-crush. Buster, fed up with Lucille's interference, decides to move out and live with Lucille 2, but she doesn't want to be his substitute mother, so she doesn't allow him to move in. Lucille 1 refuses to let him move back in.
Michael follows Marta around all day in an effort to track down the mysterious "Hermano." Visiting the set of her show, he asks around for Hermano and gets directed back and forth between two brothers. Elsewhere, Lucille visits George Sr. in prison for some advice, because she's living alone for the first time ever and she's a little nervous. George Sr., who has just released a self-help video about his learning experiences in prison, advises her to find happiness in being alone.
Buster arrives at the model home, where Tobias is excited about an upcoming audition. Marta drops by, and Buster immediately falls in love with her. Michael, who had been following Marta, arrives shortly after, and is surprised to see both Buster and Marta. Michael agrees to let Buster stay with him for a while. Marta asks Michael if they can go out to dinner to have a talk. Upstairs, Lindsay confesses to Maeby that she and Tobias are having trouble. In the next room, Tobias confesses to George Michael that he hasn't made love to Lindsay in years. He also mentions that they couldn't conceive, which makes George Michael wonder if Maeby isn't a blood relative. But then Carl Weathers calls to tell Tobias that he has gotten the role of "Frightened Inmate #2."
At dinner at Marta's home, Marta and Michael talk at cross purposes: she alludes to her attraction to Michael, while he implies that he "knows" she's cheating on Gob. Michael, still believing that Marta is having an affair with someone named Hermano, calls out Marta for her affair; she asks him to leave. Then he notices a gift and note addressed to him. Michael asks Marta's son what "hermano" means, and finally realizes that she meant him.
Plot
Michael Bluth convinces his mother to throw what she thinks is a Valentine's Day party, but is, in fact, an anniversary party for Tobias and Lindsay. In attendance is Gob's girlfriend Marta, who is impressed by the romantic side of Michael when she finds out he's responsible for the party. Like his father, George Michael is also harboring a secret crush, on his cousin Maeby. He searches for a sign using the messages stamped on candy hearts. After some digging, he finds one that reads "Maybe Tonight" and considers that a sign. And Lucille, still trying to break up the relationship between Buster and Lucille Austero, sets Lucille up with Carl WeathersCarl Weathers
Carl Weathers is an American actor, as well as former professional football player in the United States and Canada. He is best known for playing Apollo Creed in the Rocky series of films...
, Tobias's acting coach, on a night Buster has class. Michael gives a stirring toast to each couple and to love in general, and that's when Marta realizes that Michael is the one she should be with, not Gob. The next morning, Lindsay says the party finally woke her up: she needs a divorce. Tobias's never-nude
Modesty
Standards of modesty are aspects of the culture of a country or people, at a given point in time, and is a measure against which an individual in society may be judged....
affliction is too much for her.
Meanwhile, Gob thinks Marta is cheating on him with a man named Hermano after overhearing her on the phone talking to her mother. Hermano is Spanish for "brother": she was talking about Michael. But neither Michael nor Gob realize this, and they agree to work together to find Hermano. Lindsay decides she and George Michael will switch roommates: he'll bunk with Tobias now, and she with Maeby. George Michael fears that Tobias saw the "Maybe Tonight" candy heart and figured out his cousin-crush. Buster, fed up with Lucille's interference, decides to move out and live with Lucille 2, but she doesn't want to be his substitute mother, so she doesn't allow him to move in. Lucille 1 refuses to let him move back in.
Michael follows Marta around all day in an effort to track down the mysterious "Hermano." Visiting the set of her show, he asks around for Hermano and gets directed back and forth between two brothers. Elsewhere, Lucille visits George Sr. in prison for some advice, because she's living alone for the first time ever and she's a little nervous. George Sr., who has just released a self-help video about his learning experiences in prison, advises her to find happiness in being alone.
Buster arrives at the model home, where Tobias is excited about an upcoming audition. Marta drops by, and Buster immediately falls in love with her. Michael, who had been following Marta, arrives shortly after, and is surprised to see both Buster and Marta. Michael agrees to let Buster stay with him for a while. Marta asks Michael if they can go out to dinner to have a talk. Upstairs, Lindsay confesses to Maeby that she and Tobias are having trouble. In the next room, Tobias confesses to George Michael that he hasn't made love to Lindsay in years. He also mentions that they couldn't conceive, which makes George Michael wonder if Maeby isn't a blood relative. But then Carl Weathers calls to tell Tobias that he has gotten the role of "Frightened Inmate #2."
At dinner at Marta's home, Marta and Michael talk at cross purposes: she alludes to her attraction to Michael, while he implies that he "knows" she's cheating on Gob. Michael, still believing that Marta is having an affair with someone named Hermano, calls out Marta for her affair; she asks him to leave. Then he notices a gift and note addressed to him. Michael asks Marta's son what "hermano" means, and finally realizes that she meant him.
Cultural references
- Maeby references the film Action JacksonAction JacksonAction Jackson is a 1988 action film directed by Craig R. Baxley and starring Carl Weathers, Vanity, Craig T. Nelson and Sharon Stone. Paula Abdul was the choreographer...
starring Carl WeathersCarl WeathersCarl Weathers is an American actor, as well as former professional football player in the United States and Canada. He is best known for playing Apollo Creed in the Rocky series of films...
. - When introducing Carl Weathers, a clip is shown from his role in the movie PredatorPredator (film)Predator is a 1987 American science fiction action film directed by John McTiernan, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and Kevin Peter Hall. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox....
. - When Lucille invites Carl Weathers to dinner with Lucille 2, she references Guess Who's Coming to DinnerGuess Who's Coming to DinnerGuess Who's Coming to Dinner is a 1967 American drama film starring Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier and Katharine Hepburn, and featuring Hepburn's niece Katharine Houghton...
, which also portrays a black man visiting a white woman and her entirely white family. - Lucille listens to the Ethel MermanEthel MermanEthel Merman was an American actress and singer. Known primarily for her powerful voice and roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Among the many standards introduced by Merman in Broadway musicals are "I Got Rhythm", "Everything's...
version of the song "Rose's Turn" from the musical Gypsy while celebrating her first night alone.
Character Cameos
- Liza MinnelliLiza MinnelliLiza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
's character, Lucille Austero, left the show after this episode, but both her character and her romance with Buster will be rekindled in Season 2's "Queen for a DayQueen for a Day (Arrested Development episode)"Queen for a Day" is the 30th episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:As George Michael is getting ready for school he comes across a box of love letters he'd written but never sent to Maeby. Michael comes in to offer George Michael a ride to school, causing George Michael to...
." - This is the second time real-life brothers Oliver Patrick Sandino and Casey Sandino appeared as Marta's children, Amable and Cortesio, but the first time they appeared for more than just a cameo.
- This is Carl WeathersCarl WeathersCarl Weathers is an American actor, as well as former professional football player in the United States and Canada. He is best known for playing Apollo Creed in the Rocky series of films...
' last performance as himself on the show until he returns in Season 2's "Motherboy XXXMotherboy XXX"Motherboy XXX" is the thirty-fifth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:"Michael Bluth got up early in the hopes of avoiding his family. His mother, however, was already dressed, made up and waiting for him...
," though he continues to be mentioned.
Future References
- Tobias's role as "Frightened Inmate #2" will recur future episodes, most notably in "Staff InfectionStaff Infection"Staff Infection" is the fifteenth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael Bluth had begun working weekends, but he keeps up the weekly "bike ride" with son George Michael. He receives an emergency call from Lucille and heads over to her apartment...
," when he has himself incarcerated in George Sr.'s prison for research. - This episode marks the first indication that Maeby might not be George Michael's biological cousin, a concept that will recur.
Hidden/background jokes
- Lupe's Sweatshirt - During this episode Lucille's maid, Lupe, is wearing a Thanksgiving sweatshirt, even though the episode is supposedly set during Valentine's Day.
- Tobias Unpacking - Tobias' wardrobe seems to consist primarily of "never-nude" cutoff jeans.
Running jokes
- I've made a huge mistake - Michael to Marta's son referring to him suspecting Marta of being unfaithful to Gob; Gob to Marta during flashbacks; Marta to herself about being with the wrong brother.
- Like Annyong later on, the Bluths mistake a foreign word (hermano) for a name.
Episode notes
- This episode was intended as the Valentine's DayValentine's DaySaint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
episode, and several decorations can be seen throughout the episode. - This episode's title is a reference to the psychological term Martyr complexMartyr complexIn psychology, a person who has a martyr complex, sometimes associated with the term victim complex, desires the feeling of being a martyr for his/her own sake, seeking out suffering or persecution because it feeds a psychological need....
. - When Arrested Development was first picked up by FOX, it was for only 13 episodes, so this episode was largely intended only to set up the next episode, "Beef ConsomméBeef Consommé"Beef Consommé" is the thirteenth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael Bluth, Lucille, George Sr., and their attorney, Barry Zuckerkorn meet at the prison to discuss George Sr.'s arraignment the next day. Barry tells them they should all show up and appear loving and...
," which continues the storylines involving Marta, George Michael searching for Maeby's parentage, and Lindsay's marital difficulties with Tobias; it was designed to possibly serve as the series finale. - When Marta arrives at the house to talk to Michael, she's interrupted by Michael's cell phone ringing in the same manner that he was once interrupted by Marta's house phone when he went to her house to confess his attraction.