Arrested Development Theory Claims The Bluths Are All Norse Gods
One fan theory draws parallels between prominent members of Arrested Development's Bluth family and the Norse gods. Arrested Development follows the exploits of the formerly wealthy Bluth family after their patriarch is arrested for misappropriation of the Bluth Company's funds. Despite critical acclaim, Arrested Development failed to capture a sizeable audience, and was canceled during the production of its third season. The show has since found new life on Netflix, with two subsequent series released onto the streaming platform continuing the Bluths' story.
Much of what makes Arrested Development so beloved lies in the excellent comedic talents of its cast and the dysfunctional comedic chemistry they share. Arrested Development's cast mostly consists of the members of the Bluth family and their immediate friends and colleagues, but the Bluths remain very much the focus of the show. The good-hearted nature of Michael Bluth sees him act as the foil for the rest of the Bluth family, all of which are self-involved and most often at each other's throats. This dynamic is a large part of Arrested Development's comedic appeal, but there is also an enthralling underlying story of the power struggle that comes with the machinations of the powerful and once-wealthy family.
However, one fan theory posted to Reddit links the Bluth family to the gods of Norse mythology. The evidence to support the theory that each character represents a Norse god is based on specific elements of their story and respective characterization. Though some characters translate from Norse mythology much more directly than others, and Lindsay Bluth doesn't fit properly within the theory at all, it's a compelling and interesting interpretation of the cult favorite sitcom.
It's only logical that the patriarch of Arrested Development's Bluth family would be the stand-in for the patriarch of the Norse gods. According to the theory, George Bluth Sr. is Odin. Odin is the father of many other prominent Norse gods, the Aesir, and sits at the head of the pantheon. One particularly relevant story about Odin is that he once traveled for a long period, and while he was away his brothers, Vili and Ve, acted in his stead. This draws parallels with Arrested Development's George Bluth Sr. and the Allfather, making George the show's replacement for Odin, as George's identical twin Oscar is often used to take his place in prison or in the Bluth family. Though George Bluth Sr. might not possess the integrity that one might expect of Odin, his place at the head of the family cannot be denied.
The argument for Lucille as Frigg is perhaps the weakest of the theory, but there's still a sound case due to her place within the Bluth family. Frigg is Odin's wife and the mother of Baldr, and is often associated with marriage, prophecy, clairvoyance, and motherhood. The last of these is perhaps the best link to the character of Lucille Bluth - although the show makes very little of her capabilities as a mother, being a wife and mother is undoubtedly her role within the Bluth family hierarchy.
In fact, Lucille's characterization could actually be a deep instance of Arrested Development's meta-humor. The responsibilities of motherhood are not something that Lucille values particularly highly, although she often presents herself as a loving, caring mother. Her role as the Bluth family matriarch is clear, but the attributes that link her to Frigg are the attributes that only Lucille believes she has. In this, Lucille sees herself as a goddess and believes that she embodies the virtues of Frigg, even though the rest of the Bluth family looks at her in a very different light.
One of the clearest parallels between Arrested Development and Norse mythology is between Gob, the oldest of the Bluth children, and Loki. Loki is the Norse god of mischief, also known as the trickster god, famed for his ability to create magical illusions. Though his MCU counterpart is perhaps more famous, the Norse version of Loki isn't dissimilar to the movie villain: he acts both in support of, and in opposition to, the other gods in the Norse pantheon. Primarily, the Norse god Loki has the ability to shapeshift, but has also been described as being able to control fire and have powers relating to knots and chains.
This puts the Norse god Loki very much in line with Gob Bluth, an aspiring illusionist who regularly attempts to perform great feats of illusionism or escapism. Gob's role as George's son isn't as much in line with Norse mythology, as Loki is only Odin's adopted son within the MCU's story, and not within traditional Norse mythology. However, the actual specifics of his characterization as a magician draw considerable parallels with the Norse god Loki, making him Arrested Development's clear stand-in for the trickster.
One of the other more obvious character parallels between Arrested Development and Norse mythology is Buster and Tyr. In Norse mythology, Tyr sacrifices his hand to Fenrir, and is almost always depicted without it. After much foreshadowing, Buster loses his hand in Arrested Development when it is bitten off by a seal. In Norse mythology, Tyr is less heavily featured than other Norse gods, and is often defined simply by his missing hand.
Within the show, the youngest Bluth son is defined by his relationship with Arrested Development's Lucille, and Buster getting out from under his mother's control is ultimately what leads him to have it bitten off by a seal. This parallels the story of Tyr, whose hand is bitten off by Fenrir in order to gain the god's freedom. Though Buster's lost hand doesn't actually gain him any real freedom from Lucille Bluth's emotional tyranny, the ideas behind the character mirror the story of the Norse god Tyr.
The last part of the theory concerns Michael Bluth, Arrested Development's main character. According to the theory, Michael is Thor, the protector of man. Norse mythology's Thor is somewhat different from the Thor of the MCU but shares many common traits with Marvel's well-known hero of the same. Traditionally, Thor is associated with lightning, thunder, strength, and the protection of mankind.
Michael Bluth is the most rational member of the Bluth family, and is relied upon by them as their protector. According to the theory, his role as George (Odin)'s son and his apparent responsibility to protect his family makes him Arrested Development's Thor, particularly as he's the central character. In addition, the theory links Michael's construction company to Thor's hammer, as it's one of the tools he uses in his role as the Bluth family's protector. Like the other members of the Bluth family, the links between Michael and his Norse god counterpart may be relatively minor, but considering that almost all of the major Arrested Development characters have a corresponding Norse god, the theory is surprisingly convincing.