Ep 17. Justice is Blind

Michael is in hot water with the law after his best attempts to control George Sr.'s spending spiraled out of control and led to him purchasing a suit for a lawyer that threatened the company. The new in-house group locked Michael out of the boardroom and the Bluth company was in shambles.

To make matters worse, Michael's relationship with Marta reached new heights since he found out that she was behind the recent lawsuit against the Bluths. At first, she was only a pretty face who he thought could further his career, but after learning that she is a principled individual who takes her work seriously, he has become more interested in her beyond business.

Though, Michael doesn't get the break he deserves when his father, George Sr., decides to use him as a test case to prove that the Bluths can get a "justice for all" verdict in court. George Sr. thinks that no one should be above the law and wants to show that even his son can receive a fair trial.

During the trial, Michael is worried because he knows that his siblings, Gob, Lindsay, and Buster, are nowhere near reliable witnesses--but they are the only witnesses he has. Each sibling is consumed with their own personal problems instead of providing testimony that would save Michael's career.

Gob is a magician who recently started dating Marta, and he is angry that his ex-wife is dating "the guy in the $4,000 suit." Lindsay has a new financier boyfriend George, who is seducing her to join his "spiritual guru." Buster has his own problems--he is still attached to his mother and has no ability to function on his own. These characters provide more comic relief than assistance for Michael's case.

When Buster accidently causes a mistrial by walking into the judges' jury deliberation room, the Bluths are given a second chance to prove Michael's innocence.

Thankfully, Tobias, Lindsay's husband, is able to provide credible testimony that helps win the case. He unexpectedly turns up as a key eye-witness to the now infamous "Getaway whale" incident when the Bluth's yacht took a wrong turn and ended up in Mexico. This whale sighting is critical to Michael's case. Tobias also has VHS footage of the whale incident, which becomes the smoking gun in the case.

The entire Bluth clan celebrates in the end. With Michael absolved of blame, he can now return to work at the Bluth company and continue to try to get the company back on track. Marta is impressed by Michael's dedication to do what is right, and their romantic relationship reaches another level.

This episode is an excellent addition to the Arrested Development series. It adds a new layer to the complicated relationships between Michael and the rest of the Bluth family, while adding more comedy and wit to an already fantastic show. The twist in the storyline and development of some of the secondary characters adds more depth and interest to the entire season. Fans of the show will not be disappointed in this highly entertaining and well-crafted episode.