"We have the worst ****ing attorneys," George laments in the Pilot. Here we meet the worst ****ing attorney of all, Barry, except now George seems to respect him. Michael and Lindsay, in stark contrast, do not. And boy, are they right: Barry is a live action Lionel Hutz, inept and greedy. He's also perverted. His first appearance in this episode is among his best. Examples- Michael and Barry childishly struggling over Barry's notepad, Barry making inappropriate comments about gays (and later a reveal he's bisexual himself). This is also the episode where we meet his foil, the dead serious lawyer Wayne Jarvis. He's hilariously professional, and though he seems to have been meant as a one-time character, he comes back later.
Barry and Wayne aren't the only ones making their debut- so is Abraham Higginbotham, the writer of this episode, who wrote or co-wrote some of the finest episodes of the series. This is the first season's Christmas episode, and he later had a hand in writing season 2's Christmas episode as well. He also appears on the show as Gary, the gay Bluth Company employee. Higginbotham's just one of many extraordinary talents in the writing staff of seasons 1 and 2.
This is also the episode where Tobias' never-nude condition is explained for the first time- a peculiar condition. People wonder, how does he change his cut-offs? My theory is that if he wears a shirt or socks when changing his cut-offs, he'd never be completely nude.
On the side George Michael deludes himself into thinking he can trick Maeby into thinking he's muscular. This is a plot line so awkward that on first viewing I found it ridiculous in a bad way, and then the next day I was thinking about it and found it hilarious. Maeby pausing and then saying she knew was brilliant. It's also good to see Michael and Lindsay getting along in this episode, particularly in a drinking scene in which Marta is brought up. But one thing is unclear to me. Was Lindsay plotting to get Michael drunk? The fact that Lucille may have planted the idea in her mind seems suspicious, but her protests that she was just having fun with her brother sound genuine.
Oh, and another first- George's first escape attempt. This is one of my least favourite things about AD. I usually find it silly, particularly in that it often doesn't have consequences. This one is sort of different, though. He is put in solitary confinement in the next episode, and who can resist the old woman crying that there is no God? This is a merry Christmas indeed.
Barry and Wayne aren't the only ones making their debut- so is Abraham Higginbotham, the writer of this episode, who wrote or co-wrote some of the finest episodes of the series. This is the first season's Christmas episode, and he later had a hand in writing season 2's Christmas episode as well. He also appears on the show as Gary, the gay Bluth Company employee. Higginbotham's just one of many extraordinary talents in the writing staff of seasons 1 and 2.
This is also the episode where Tobias' never-nude condition is explained for the first time- a peculiar condition. People wonder, how does he change his cut-offs? My theory is that if he wears a shirt or socks when changing his cut-offs, he'd never be completely nude.
On the side George Michael deludes himself into thinking he can trick Maeby into thinking he's muscular. This is a plot line so awkward that on first viewing I found it ridiculous in a bad way, and then the next day I was thinking about it and found it hilarious. Maeby pausing and then saying she knew was brilliant. It's also good to see Michael and Lindsay getting along in this episode, particularly in a drinking scene in which Marta is brought up. But one thing is unclear to me. Was Lindsay plotting to get Michael drunk? The fact that Lucille may have planted the idea in her mind seems suspicious, but her protests that she was just having fun with her brother sound genuine.
Oh, and another first- George's first escape attempt. This is one of my least favourite things about AD. I usually find it silly, particularly in that it often doesn't have consequences. This one is sort of different, though. He is put in solitary confinement in the next episode, and who can resist the old woman crying that there is no God? This is a merry Christmas indeed.