Storming The Castle
Encyclopedia
"Storming the Castle" is the ninth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.
Michael finds Gob at the Playtime Pizza Theater, where the magician has been forced to work since being kicked out of the Magician's Alliance. Michael learns that Gob has been cheating on Marta with the "legs" in his "saw-the-woman-in-half trick" (two women curl up in a box: one is the head and one is the legs). Rollo, it seems, wants the girl who plays the legs. Michael tells Gob that Marta is a "treasure and a once-in-a-lifetime woman" - a line which, as Marta later recounts to Michael, Gob used to prove his affection. Michael hesitates over telling Marta the truth about Gob, but upon realizing that Gob has stolen his watch, he decides it is time to be less selfless. He sets in motion a plan to steal Gob's girlfriend by revealing Gob's affair with the "legs" to Marta during the magic act. And he decides to take that leather chair he wanted.
Michael tells Rollo that he will get his "legs" back only if he allows Gob one last chance to get back into the Magician's Alliance; Rollo agrees and gives him an act at the Gothic Castle. As Michael becomes more selfish, George Sr. takes a more pious path. Stuck in solitary for a brutal two days, he discovers Judaism. When Lucille brings Buster to the prison so his father can disapprove of him dating Lucille Austero, George Sr. supports Buster instead.
The night of the magic show arrives; almost everyone attends. Tobias has a mixup with his cab driver, and instead of being taken to the "Gothic Castle," he finds himself at the "Gothic Arsehole," dressed in his leather daddy outfit. Meanwhile, Gob returns Michael's watch, vowing to become a better brother; that makes Michael regret his plan. Fortunately, "the legs" don't show; however, this leaves them in desperate need of some female legs on short notice. Gob's act begins; when it's time for the "saw the lady in half" trick, Gob is pleasantly surprised to see Marta come on stage. The illusion goes smoothly; George Michael is providing the "women's" legs. After the show, Lucille realizes the importance of love to her children, and finally decides to support Buster in his relationship with Lucille Austero. Her support takes the form of befriending Lucille 2, which freaks Buster out. Meanwhile, Michael watches as Gob and Marta reunite, once again in love. And so, Michael accepts that he is, in fact, the good guy.
Plot
While doing some business work at home, the chair Michael Bluth is sitting in collapses. Michael decides he'll get one from work, which George Michael questions. Michael tells his son that taking a leather chair from work isn't unethical, prompting the newly anti-leather Lindsay to voice her concern over the "skinning of cows." They are interrupted by Marta, who is looking for her boyfriend, Michael's older brother, Gob. Michael covers for his brother despite his feelings for Marta; as Lindsay soon points out, he is permanently the good guy who will never win. Maeby decides that if her mother is anti-leather, she'll turn pro-leather. George Michael agrees to go shopping with his cousin, deciding some leather could toughen his image (Maeby had recently pointed out his lack of leg hair). Michael meanwhile is confronted by Rollo, a menacing man in a limousine, who gives him a message: tell Gob to "say goodbye to his legs." Looking for his brother, Michael visits his mother's apartment. There he learns that Lucille Bluth is trying to break up Buster and his newfound love, Lucille's friend and social rival, Lucille Austero. Meanwhile, Tobias, desperate for his daughter's approval, decides to support her apparent newfound interest by getting his own "leather daddy" outfit.Michael finds Gob at the Playtime Pizza Theater, where the magician has been forced to work since being kicked out of the Magician's Alliance. Michael learns that Gob has been cheating on Marta with the "legs" in his "saw-the-woman-in-half trick" (two women curl up in a box: one is the head and one is the legs). Rollo, it seems, wants the girl who plays the legs. Michael tells Gob that Marta is a "treasure and a once-in-a-lifetime woman" - a line which, as Marta later recounts to Michael, Gob used to prove his affection. Michael hesitates over telling Marta the truth about Gob, but upon realizing that Gob has stolen his watch, he decides it is time to be less selfless. He sets in motion a plan to steal Gob's girlfriend by revealing Gob's affair with the "legs" to Marta during the magic act. And he decides to take that leather chair he wanted.
Michael tells Rollo that he will get his "legs" back only if he allows Gob one last chance to get back into the Magician's Alliance; Rollo agrees and gives him an act at the Gothic Castle. As Michael becomes more selfish, George Sr. takes a more pious path. Stuck in solitary for a brutal two days, he discovers Judaism. When Lucille brings Buster to the prison so his father can disapprove of him dating Lucille Austero, George Sr. supports Buster instead.
The night of the magic show arrives; almost everyone attends. Tobias has a mixup with his cab driver, and instead of being taken to the "Gothic Castle," he finds himself at the "Gothic Arsehole," dressed in his leather daddy outfit. Meanwhile, Gob returns Michael's watch, vowing to become a better brother; that makes Michael regret his plan. Fortunately, "the legs" don't show; however, this leaves them in desperate need of some female legs on short notice. Gob's act begins; when it's time for the "saw the lady in half" trick, Gob is pleasantly surprised to see Marta come on stage. The illusion goes smoothly; George Michael is providing the "women's" legs. After the show, Lucille realizes the importance of love to her children, and finally decides to support Buster in his relationship with Lucille Austero. Her support takes the form of befriending Lucille 2, which freaks Buster out. Meanwhile, Michael watches as Gob and Marta reunite, once again in love. And so, Michael accepts that he is, in fact, the good guy.
Episode notes
- This is the episode where George Sr. converts to Judaism, a prominent character change throughout the middle of Season 1. The storyline fizzles out after "Altar EgosAltar Egos"Altar Egos" is the seventeenth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael Bluth and family gather to discuss George Sr.’s upcoming trial. They've received a plea offer, but lawyer Barry Zuckerkorn hasn’t read it yet because he is too busy picking up cross-dressing...
," though he does continue to wear his yarmulke throughout the rest of the season.
Callbacks/Running Jokes
- Escape attempt - The narrator mentions that George Sr. had been placed in solitary confinement after a failed escape attempt. In DVD episode order, the incident mentioned is most likely referring to his escape attempt in In God We TrustIn God We Trust (Arrested Development episode)"In God We Trust" is the eighth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael Bluth has called a meeting with his family's longtime attorney, Barry Zuckerkorn, to discuss his father's incarceration. But Barry proves difficult to work with. Michael and his sister, Lindsay, are...
. - Freedom sign guy - The man holding the "Freedom" sign from the PilotPilot (Arrested Development episode)"Pilot" constitutes the first episode and the series premiere of the Fox sitcom Arrested Development. The episode originally aired on November 2, 2003. George Sr. is about to announce his retirement when he is arrested for using his company's funds for personal expenses...
is seen leaving the Gothic Arsehole. This is his second appearance in the show. The music playing in the club from which he emerges is another version of the song which played during his first appearance. - Gahb Bluth - This is the second and third time someone mispronounces Gob's name as it's spelled (by the announcer of his magic act, and the by the stage-hand, who says, "You better tell 'Gahb' the legs aren't coming.") The first time was in the PilotPilot (Arrested Development episode)"Pilot" constitutes the first episode and the series premiere of the Fox sitcom Arrested Development. The episode originally aired on November 2, 2003. George Sr. is about to announce his retirement when he is arrested for using his company's funds for personal expenses...
. - Gob sleeps around - GOB is cheating on his girlfriend Marta with a woman from his magic act.
- Head injury - Michael hits his head on a fireplace and mentions that he didn't feel it, a possible effect from his injury in My Mother, the CarMy Mother, The Car"My Mother, the Car" is the seventh episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael Bluth, fed up with his mother Lucille's extravagant spending, says she cannot throw a lavish birthday party for herself. But when Lindsay, prompted by Lucille, suggests a surprise party, Michael...
. - Hole in his heart - Lucille says that Buster has a hole in his heart, a fact that's mentioned several times throughout the series.
- Religious conversion - George Sr. discovers Judaism after the sun casts an image of the Star of David on the cell walls. George Sr.'s habit of converting over coincidental images is later demonstrated again in The Immaculate ElectionThe Immaculate Election"The Immaculate Election" is the thirty-sixth episode aired of the TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael is surprised to find the house still a mess a week after the fumigation, which Michael had Lindsay call and arrange, long before Michael had begun hiding his fugitive father in the...
. - The Gothic Castle - This is the first time the Gothic Castle is mentioned/appears on the show. The Bluths go there again in Sword of DestinySword of Destiny"Sword of Destiny" is the 37th episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Synopsis:Michael Bluth is stunned to discover that a contract his company was counting on is being cut back, and is on the phone trying to persuade the client to honor the original order when Lindsay marches in...
. The Gothic Castle appears to be based on Magic Castle in Hollywood. - The Final Countdown - This is the first time Gob uses Europe's "The Final Countdown" during his magic show. It later becomes his magic theme, appearing the next time in Missing KittyMissing Kitty"Missing Kitty" is the sixteenth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:The local colleges are on spring break and things are heating up in Newport Beach. Gob is teaching George Michael some magic tricks, to Michael's disapproval...
. - Never-nude - Tobias is wearing cutoffs under his leather outfit.
- Tobias is gay - More jokes are made about Tobias' sexuality.
- When trying to get at the frozen ice cream, he says, "You have to be some sort of She-HulkShe-HulkShe-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
to get this." - When he refers to selling his wedding ring for money, his "purse" is overflowing with money.
- Tobias dresses up as a "leather daddy" and accidentally ends up at a gay nightclub known as the Gothic Arsehole. At the end of the episode, Tobias reveals he has joined a gay barbershop quartet, "Whip and Snaps," that performs at the Gothic Arsehole.
- When trying to get at the frozen ice cream, he says, "You have to be some sort of She-Hulk
Hidden/Background Jokes
- "I appreciate your time" - When Gob shakes Michael's hand, he tells him that he appreciates his time. Later on, Michael realizes that Gob stole his watch when he did this, adding a double-meaning to the "appreciate your time" line.
- When Rollo threatened Michael, his window roller appears to be broken, so he must pull the window up instead.
Foreshadowing/Future References
- Buster's genitalia - The first reference to something being wrong with Buster's genitalia comes in this episode. When it is revealed that Lucille Austero changed him as a child, Buster says, "That's why she didn't look surprised." While listing his various physical problems in The One Where They Build a HouseThe One Where They Build a House"The One Where They Build a House" is the twenty-fourth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael plans to save the Bluth Company by beginning construction on a new model home and holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Gob, now president-in-name-only of the company, promises...
in order to get out of the Army, Buster reveals that his reproductive organ looks like a "lobster tail, but without its shell." - Gob's magic - In the opening to his act, as Gob produces scarves, one is held plastered to his face by an offscreen fan. This happens again in the episode titled "Missing KittyMissing Kitty"Missing Kitty" is the sixteenth episode aired of TV comedy series Arrested Development.-Plot:The local colleges are on spring break and things are heating up in Newport Beach. Gob is teaching George Michael some magic tricks, to Michael's disapproval...
" at the beginning of his disappearing yacht trick. - When Tobias is shopping for leather, the song "Discipline Daddy" from the season three episode S.O.B.sS.O.B.s"S.O.B.s" is the forty-ninth episode of the TV comedy series Arrested Development. The episode aired less than a month after Variety announced that the episode order for season 3 had been cut from 22 to 13...
can be heard playing in the background.