Temporal Sequencing in Arrested Development

Arrested Development portrays the narratives in a complex way by introducing the characters in a series of flashbacks. Through the implementation of flashbacks and the use of Chekov's gun, viewers are provided with information that makes the humor all the more funnier. In the pilot episode of Arrested Development, the Bluth family is introduced to the viewer through a series of short flashbacks that provide information about each character that makes more sense later in the episode. The information from the flashbacks is key to fully appreciate the characters and the jokes that will stem from this information. For example, when the oldest Bluth, George Oscar "Gob" Bluth, is introduced at the beginning of the pilot, the viewer is told that he "recently started The Alliance of Magicians, an organization that blackballs any performer who reveals a magician's secret." This comment is funny in and of itself but becomes even funnier when G.O.B. gets blackballed by his own alliance for accidentally revealing the illusion behind the Aztec Tomb on national television. 

Chekov's gun is a principle that states that every detail in a narrative is included for a reason and is probably necessary to the story. In arrested development, small quips and comments add to the humor in different parts of the episodes. During the pilot episode, During the pilot episode of Arrested Development, Lindsay Bluth mentions, in passing, that one of the homosexual protestors on the boat next to theirs has the exact same blouse as her. After a series of unfortunate events and miscommunications, the viewer, as well as Lindsay, discovers that it is, in fact, her blouse. Lindsay's husband, Tobias, had thought the retirement party for Lindsay's father was pirate themed and had somehow made his way onto the protestors' boat. Chekov's Gun, as it is used in Arrested Development, makes the difference between understanding the jokes and having them completely fly over your head.