# Arrested Development 10/3 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2005, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672 "2005-10-04T00:30:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/61 "2005-10-05T16:01:44Z")
Analrapist shouldn’t be funny. It should be very wrong and offensive and much too obvious. But lord, it got me every time. And the family’s attempt to be “nice” was so darned creepy, it almost outdid the horrified laughter prompted by Tobias’s hair plugs last week (two weeks ago? I forget. But they do seem to be growing in… nic- Oh, who am I kidding? Those things giev me nightmares!) Yay Franklin! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/62 "2005-10-05T16:54:28Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > I think it’s pretty obvious by the clues that she is mentally undeveloped. Dave Thomas is either an actual British agent that screwed George Buluth (Unlikely) or simply keeping tabs on his sister who is being taken advantage of by some fast talking Yank. Yes, but they do like to drop hints and then surprise us. So we’ll see. They’re doing this fake suspense thing for _some_ reason. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/63 "2005-10-05T17:04:09Z")
I went back and checked the two scripts that Maeby has been working on. The first was “Losin’ It” by Judd Apacow [sic]. Maeby had crossed out the title and written in “14 Year Old Virgin”. The second was something about “The Sexual Assualt of (girl’s name)”, which she had re-named “Losin’ It”. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/64 "2005-10-05T17:52:50Z")
Rita’s not the only one with a Wee Brain. I totally missed it. So Rita isn’t a teacher at the preschool? She’s a student? I have to overcome forty years of watching ordinary sitcoms. Rewire my brain or something. This show is almost TOO original. Not enough Dave Thomas **or** Super Dave. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/65 "2005-10-05T17:56:27Z")
> [@h.sapiens](#): > > I went back and checked the two scripts that Maeby has been working on. The first was “Losin’ It” by Judd Apacow [sic]. Maeby had crossed out the title and written in “14 Year Old Virgin”. The second was something about “The Sexual Assualt of (girl’s name)”, which she had re-named “Losin’ It”. Damn it, I meant to post that about three times. I screamed at that - one of the best tasteless jokes they’ve done. If it makes it any funnier, by the way, Judd Apatow was the director and co-writer of “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/66 "2005-10-05T17:57:00Z")
> [@Cheese Monster](#): > > But George Bluth is under house arrest for his crimes, so that can’t be the case. It was my understanding that George’s house arrest was an _ad hoc_-type of action, known only to, and enforced by, his family members (most notably, Lucille). ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/67 "2005-10-05T18:03:29Z")
> [@kingpengvin](#): > > I think it’s pretty obvious by the clues that she is mentally undeveloped. Dave Thomas is either an actual British agent that screwed George Buluth (Unlikely) or simply keeping tabs on his sister who is being taken advantage of by some fast talking Yank. > > It still feels as if there is a missing episode… Where the hell is Oscar? Wouldn’t that explain his comment that if Michael kept it up, he’d hurt a stupid member of HIS family? ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/68 "2005-10-05T18:07:39Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > It was my understanding that George’s house arrest was an _ad hoc_-type of action, known only to, and enforced by, his family members (most notably, Lucille). No, the ankle bracelet and court appearance from last week indicate that actual law enforcement officials are aware of the situation. Oscar just got the hell out of there. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/69 "2005-10-05T18:18:16Z")
I could swear that I’ve seen a glimpse of Tobias’s “Analrapist” business card before, in season 1 or 2. In the thread for the previous episode, I pointed out a couple of places where they are hinting that Rita is missing a few cards. The direct clues we have are: In the recap at the beginning of the second episode, Michael and George Michael are talking about George Michael’s “stupid girl problem.” George Michael clarifies that it’s a stupid problem, not a stupid girl, and Michael points out that he doesn’t have a woman at all, not even a stupid one. Later in the episode, Dave Thomas asks Michael how he would feel if someone stupid in his family got hurt. It wasn’t a threat, it was a rhetorical question. Rita sits on the bus bench in front of the “Wee Britain” so that it seems to spell “Wee Brain”. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Loblaw\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@Bob\_Loblaw\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Loblaw_1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/70 "2005-10-05T18:48:44Z")
Hi! I finally had to join. My name is Bob Loblaw, attorney at law. Ha! Ha! Ha! It cracks me up every time I say it. And trust me, it’s been hundreds of times. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/71 "2005-10-05T18:53:16Z")
> [@Bob Loblaw](#): > > Hi! I finally had to join. My name is Bob Loblaw, attorney at law. Bob, someone else noticed me committing a crime. Is there anything I can do? ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/72 "2005-10-05T18:56:25Z")
Also the finger paint coating her hand and the silly childish animal backpacks (the duck and the seal… say was she wearing the duck when Michael got clobbered by Marry Poppins?) ---
**Author:** ![Mal\_Adroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/73 "2005-10-05T19:04:48Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I told her Rita was “either a spy for a British syndicate, or she might be kind of retarded.” My personal opinion is that the spy thing is a complete red herring–they’re being way too obvious about it. As far as Rita’s intelligence level, though, I had a passing thought while watching Episode 2 that perhaps she’s actually a child, a la Robin Williams’s _Jack_(?) But that still leaves Dave Thomas’s “slow member of yourfamily” comment. Ah, I guess she’s just a dope. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/74 "2005-10-05T19:20:18Z")
> [@Mal Adroit](#): > > My personal opinion is that the spy thing is a complete red herring–they’re being way too obvious about it. I agree that it’s probably not what it appears to be, but that still leaves me wondering what it actually _is_. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Loblaw\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@Bob\_Loblaw\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Loblaw_1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/75 "2005-10-05T23:27:57Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Bob, someone else noticed me committing a crime. Is there anything I can do? Yes, just sign this fee agreement and give me the retainer of $5,000 and we will be able to help you. ---
**Author:** ![kath94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/67e7ee/32.png) [@kath94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kath94)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/76 "2005-10-06T00:31:40Z")
> [@Eleanor of Aquitaine](#): > > In the thread for the previous episode, I pointed out a couple of places where they are hinting that Rita is missing a few cards. The direct clues we have are: > > In the recap at the beginning of the second episode, Michael and George Michael are talking about George Michael’s “stupid girl problem.” George Michael clarifies that it’s a stupid problem, not a stupid girl, and Michael points out that he doesn’t have a woman at all, not even a stupid one. > > Later in the episode, Dave Thomas asks Michael how he would feel if someone stupid in his family got hurt. It wasn’t a threat, it was a rhetorical question. > > Rita sits on the bus bench in front of the “Wee Britain” so that it seems to spell “Wee Brain”. And don’t forget about when we first met Rita, Michael commented about her teaching kids and her reply was “I prefer to think that they teach **me** ” or something along those lines. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/77 "2005-10-06T09:44:48Z")
> [@kath94](#): > > And don’t forget about when we first met Rita, Michael commented about her teaching kids and her reply was “I prefer to think that they teach **me** ” or something along those lines. Yeah, and he says something like “you learn a lot about eating paste and throwing tantrums” and she says, “Not when I’m there! I’m very good.” And she rides the space shuttle, she laughs when it’s inappropriate. She has a short attention span. She tells Michael “I only ever see little boys.” When she points her coonskin cap at Michael, it’s like a girl nervously playing with her hair. When she gets out of the car with Dave Thomas’s character, she says, “I’m a big girl.” And he doesn’t threaten Michael until after Michael’s asked her out. He’s her protective older brother or something. I thought something weird was going on, but I never would’ve figured it out without reading this thread. She’s not a special agent, she’s just special. I wonder if like “wee brain,” her name is supposed to imply “retarded.” At first I thought it was just a reference to Lovely Rita Meter Maid, but now I wonder if it’s a double entendre. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/78 "2005-10-06T13:24:24Z")
**Sol** , all of that makes sense, and I’m sure it’s mostly correct, but in all of her scenes with Dave Thomas, brief as they are, she seems a completely different character – different accent, more focused, less staring about aimlessly), she just generally seems like she’s on the ball. So if she really is as dumb as she appears, how can she appear competent? –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![mkl12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@mkl12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkl12)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/79 "2005-10-06T14:08:26Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > **Sol** , all of that makes sense, and I’m sure it’s mostly correct, but in all of her scenes with Dave Thomas, brief as they are, she seems a completely different character – different accent, more focused, less staring about aimlessly), she just generally seems like she’s on the ball. So if she really is as dumb as she appears, how can she appear competent? > > –Cliffy I think that’s because she is angry. Didn’t she say at one point that she feels controlled by her family? When she’s with Michael she’s more relaxed, and her strange behavior is more noticeable. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2005, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672/80 "2005-10-06T14:39:54Z")
> [@mkl12](#): > > I think that’s because she is angry. Didn’t she say at one point that she feels controlled by her family? When she’s with Michael she’s more relaxed, and her strange behavior is more noticeable. Maybe I missed it (and I probably did since I still have yet to watch the episode), but have they revealed either her or Dave Thomas’s last name on the show? That might clue people in on the special vs. special agent question. Why? Hot on the heels of a goofy name like Bob Loblaw, they may do the same sort of thing with her. If her full name happened to be something like Rita Renee Tid then her name would be Rita R. Tid which makes things pretty obvious. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arrested-development-10-3/324672.md?page=5)