Arrested Development is an incredibly popular show that has an 8.8 rating by IMDb overall, proving it is well worth checking out with the comedy following the Bluth family and their journeys and issues being a whole lot of fun. The show doesn’t take itself too seriously, making it quite easy to follow along with, but even the most popular of shows has a few poor episodes, and Arrested Development is not exempt from that situation, with the show also having a few episodes that aren’t quite at the usual level.

However, the show is very consistent for the most part, and even the weaker episodes are still incredibly enjoyable, but within this list, we will break down the 10 lowest-rated episodes from the show by IMDb.

Self Deportation (7.4)

We kick start the list with the ‘Self Deportation’ episode, which takes place during season five (as many of the worst-rated episodes do), with this particular episode having a rating of 7.4 by IMDb, with this being the second episode of the season. In this episode, the majority of the Bluth family, including Steve Holt, make the decision to run off to Mexico to escape, with the episode explaining the variety of reasons that each character has for doing so.

While the main storyline throughout this episode focuses on the family members who decide to flee across the border, there is also a storyline of Michael trying to convince Buster to go to the police at the same time.

Taste Makers (7.3)

Another season five episode that makes the top 10 lowest-rated episodes in the history of Arrested Development is ‘Taste Makers,’ which is the tenth episode of that particular season and features several guest stars including Kyle Mooney and Maria Bamford.

Within the episode, Michael Bluth aims to spend more time with his son, George-Michael as he aims to seek a clueless president for Fakeblock as he worries about being in so much debt he will wind up having to live in his old bedroom.

Meanwhile, a large part of this episode also follows Tobias, who relocates his makeshift family, as you can see in the picture above.

The Untethered Sole (7.2)

Next up on the list is the episode, ‘The Untethered Sole,’ which also happens to take place in the fifth season and has a rating of 7.2 on IMDb, and once again, Buster is at fault for getting the Bluth family back into trouble following his appearance in a television weather report. While Buster ending up in trouble is usually a source of major comedy, it does feel a little bit forced at this stage in the series, with this being a comedic tool that the show had used one too many times by this point.

Away from Buster’s problems, Michael has a plan (when doesn’t he?) that involves George Michael’s company, pressuring his son to finish the software after he hired the Guilty Guys, despite not having the money to do so.

Double Crossers (7.2)

Finally, we have a non-season five-episode, with ‘Double Crossers’ taking place in season four, gaining a 7.2 rating from IMDb, with this episode focusing on George Sr’s new business and the rough patch that it hits during its early stages. In order to get the scam working again, he needs to bribe a politician with $50,000 that he gains from Lindsay, meanwhile, Oscar is back making love with Lucille as he ends up revealing secrets about a plot of land he has.

The two brothers eventually confront each other in this episode as well, which is something fans had wanted to see for a long time, but it couldn’t quite save the episode from being rated so low.

Unexpected Company (7.2)

Back to season five now with the episode ‘Unexpected Company,’ which received a 7.2 rating on IMDb and focuses on Buster, Michael, and George-Michael primarily. Buster fails to show up for his own prison release party, in typical Buster fashion.

Meanwhile, Michael examines the company financial records and his son tries to deceive Rebel, but the episode wasn’t a hit amongst viewers who felt that things were starting to feel tired in-terms of the jokes and structure of the show. The main problem here was that there wasn’t enough detailed storyline that fans had come to love from previous seasons and episodes, and this was really the start of a turning point for the show, and not in a positive way.

Family Leave (7.1)

The next lowest-rated episode of Arrested Development, according to IMDb, is ‘Family Leave,’ which is the first episode from season five and didn’t quite kick off the season with a bang, which people had hoped for. The main problem people had with this episode is that it spent too long recapping what had happened before, with the first five minutes being spent in the past before the new season could even begin.

While there had been a break between the two seasons, which explained why a recap was necessary, the episode just never felt like it truly got going, which is why things didn’t quite click.

Chain Migration (7.0)

‘Chain Migration’ managed to get a 7.0 rating by IMDb, with the episode focusing on George Sr. and his attempts to win back his wife, Lucille, while Buster ends up getting involved in Tobias and Gob’s business, causing issues.

The main issue with this episode, hence why it didn’t get a massive rating, is the fact that overall it just isn’t that funny, with a real lack of laugh out loud moments which the show had developed a reputation for providing. Despite Buster normally being a guarantee for comedy, in this episode, most things just fall a little short.

Borderline Personalities (7.0)

Another episode that really didn’t click with audiences, or critics for that matter, is season four’s ‘Borderline Personalities,’ which was only the second episode of the season, with the plot seeing George Sr. create a get rich quick scam.

While the episode does have its moments of glory, as all Arrested Development episodes do, overall this one just felt a little confusing with everything muddling up together without a big payoff like fans had become so used to with the shows endings on each episode.

Indian Takers (7.0)

‘Indian Takers’ was actually the episode directly after ‘Borderline Personalities,’ which proved to be a very bad patch for the show and a rocky start to season four in general. This episode focused primarily on Lindsay, who begins traveling and attempts to go back to her activist roots to reclaim her sense of self.

The show has used Lindsay in an activist manner several times before, and this did feel a little repetitive with issues surrounding her relationship with Tobias being a major part in this as well. While the episode isn’t bad, your enjoyment is mainly going to come down to how funny you find Lindsay as a character, because this episode relies heavily upon her.

Saving For Arraignment Day (6.9)

When it comes to the worst-rated episode in the history of Arrested Development then you have to go to season five’s ‘Saving For Arraignment Day,’ which has an IMDb score of 6.9, making it the lowest scoring episode in the show’s history. In this episode, the trial officially begins with the family being thrown for a loop by the Guilty Guys, who surprise them as George-Michael attempts to plot for a distraction, and despite the lower rating, the episode still is a lot of fun.

However, the fact that the lowest-rated episode still managed to gain a 6.9 rating is a clear sign of how good the show is overall, as 6.9 isn’t a terrible score as some great television shows often score much worse than that on a more regular basis.