Marta Complex

"Marta Complex" is the 12th episode of 1st season and the 12th episode overall of the American TV comedy series Arrested Development.

Plot

Michael Bluth convinces his mother to throw what she thinks is a Valentine's Day party, but is, in fact, an anniversary party for Tobias and Lindsay. In attendance is Gob's girlfriend Marta, who is impressed by the romantic side of Michael when she finds out he's responsible for the party. Like his father, George Michael is also harboring a secret crush, on his cousin Maeby. He searches for a sign using the messages stamped on candy hearts. After some digging, he finds one that reads "Maybe Tonight" and considers that a sign. And Lucille, still trying to break up the relationship between Buster and Lucille Austero, sets Lucille up with Carl Weathers, Tobias's acting coach, on a night Buster has class. Michael gives a stirring toast to each couple and to love in general, and that's when Marta realizes that Michael is the one she should be with, not Gob. The next morning, Lindsay says the party finally woke her up: she needs a divorce. Tobias's never-nude affliction is too much for her.

Meanwhile, Gob thinks Marta is cheating on him with a man named Hermano after overhearing her on the phone talking to her mother. Hermano is Spanish for "brother": she was talking about Michael. But neither Michael nor Gob realize this, and they agree to work together to find Hermano. Lindsay decides she and George Michael will switch roommates: he'll bunk with Tobias now, and she with Maeby. George Michael fears that Tobias saw the "Maybe Tonight" candy heart and figured out his cousin-crush. Buster, fed up with Lucille's interference, decides to move out and live with Lucille 2, but she doesn't want to be his substitute mother, so she doesn't allow him to move in. Lucille 1 refuses to let him move back in.

Michael follows Marta around all day in an effort to track down the mysterious "Hermano." Visiting the set of her show, he asks around for Hermano and gets directed back and forth between two brothers. Elsewhere, Lucille visits George Sr. in prison for some advice, because she's living alone for the first time ever and she's a little nervous. George Sr., who has just released a self-help video about his learning experiences in prison, advises her to find happiness in being alone.

Buster arrives at the model home, where Tobias is excited about an upcoming audition. Marta drops by, and Buster immediately falls in love with her. Michael, who had been following Marta, arrives shortly after, and is surprised to see both Buster and Marta. Michael agrees to let Buster stay with him for a while. Marta asks Michael if they can go out to dinner to have a talk. Upstairs, Lindsay confesses to Maeby that she and Tobias are having trouble. In the next room, Tobias confesses to George Michael that he hasn't made love to Lindsay in years. He also mentions that they couldn't conceive, which makes George Michael wonder if Maeby isn't a blood relative. But then Carl Weathers calls to tell Tobias that he has gotten the role of "Frightened Inmate #2."

At dinner at Marta's home, Marta and Michael talk at cross purposes: she alludes to her attraction to Michael, while he implies that he "knows" she's cheating on Gob. Michael, still believing that Marta is having an affair with someone named Hermano, calls out Marta for her affair; she asks him to leave. Then he notices a gift and note addressed to him. Michael asks Marta's son what "hermano" means, and finally realizes that she meant him.

Episode notes

This episode was intended as the Valentine's Day episode, and several decorations can be seen throughout the episode.
This episode's title is a reference to the psychological term Martyr complex.
When Arrested Development was first picked up by FOX, it was for only 13 episodes, so this episode was largely intended only to set up the next episode, "Beef Consommé," which continues the storylines involving Marta, George Michael searching for Maeby's parentage, and Lindsay's marital difficulties with Tobias; it was designed to possibly serve as the series finale.
When Marta arrives at the house to talk to Michael, she's interrupted by Michael's cell phone ringing in the same manner that he was once interrupted by Marta's house phone when he went to her house to confess his attraction.
On the next...: "George Michael begins an investigation, Tobias faces his greatest acting challenge, and Buster rebounds from Lucille 2."

Cultural references

Maeby references the film Action Jackson starring Carl Weathers.
When introducing Carl Weathers, a clip is shown from his role in the movie Predator.
When Lucille invites Carl Weathers to dinner with Lucille 2, she references Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, which also portrays a black man visiting a white woman and her entirely white family.
Lucille listens to the Ethel Merman version of the song "Rose's Turn" from the musical Gypsy while celebrating her first night alone.

Character cameos

Liza Minnelli's character, Lucille Austero, left the show after this episode, but both her character and her romance with Buster will be rekindled in Season 2's "Queen for a Day."
This is the second time real-life brothers Oliver Patrick Sandino and Casey Sandino appeared as Marta's children, Amable and Cortesio, but the first time they appeared for more than just a cameo.
This is Carl Weathers' last performance as himself on the show until he returns in Season 2's "Motherboy XXX," though he continues to be mentioned.

Foreshadowing

Tobias's role as "Frightened Inmate #2" will recur future episodes, most notably in "Staff Infection," when he has himself incarcerated in George Sr.'s prison for research.
This episode marks the first indication that Maeby might not be George Michael's biological cousin, a concept that will recur.
Lost hand - When the show flashbacks to Carl Weathers acting career they show a scene from Predator where Carl loses his arm.

Hidden/background jokes

Lupe's Sweatshirt - During this episode Lucille's maid, Lupe, is wearing a Thanksgiving sweatshirt, even though the episode is supposedly set during Valentine's Day.
Tobias Unpacking - Tobias' wardrobe seems to consist primarily of "never-nude" cutoff jeans.

Running jokes

I've made a huge mistake - Michael to Marta's son referring to him suspecting Marta of being unfaithful to Gob; Gob to Marta during flashbacks; Marta to herself about being with the wrong brother.
Like Annyong later on, the Bluths mistake a foreign word (hermano) for a name.

External links