The phrase “love each other” shows up at least seven times in season 4. I have an idea on what it could mean, but I suspect it’s probably used to setup jokes in a later season/movie. Mitch Hurwitz recently confirmed in a TV Guide interview that the ostriches are used for that purpose. That might be same deal with "Love Each Other." Still, I’ve been pondering how the phrase fit into the story, and I’ll give it my best shot to explain it.

First, look at the “Love Each Other” wiki page and at all the times the phrase occurs. The phrase is connected with G.O.B. five times. Both G.O.B. himself and Lucille say it sounds like something he’d say. Why? Lucille is probably lying like in “In God We Trust” in order to cause a fallout with a sibling (she wants Michael to think G.O.B. is dating Rebel Alley so G.O.B. focuses on the wall rather than selling houses). However, G.O.B. probably attributes the phrase to himself because of the Amazing Jesus character in his wedding illusion. The phrase "love each other" was “The New Commandment” given by Jesus to His remaining 11 Apostles after the Last Supper had ended. The verse is more often translated as "Love One Another as I have loved you" though some sources do translate it as "love each other (as I have loved you)."

Wait, G.O.B. correctly quotes the Bible? With nothing else making sense, I’ll go with it. G.O.B. being the Amazing Jesus and his relationship with Ann Veal could explain why the phrase appears on the cross and on the back of the “Shhhh” sign in his illusion. It could also explain the foot band on the dead dove. Finally, it should explain the conversation between George Michael and G.O.B at Cinco de Quatro. G.O.B.’s advice at the beginning of the conversation is “love each other.” At the end of the conversation, G.O.B. seems to have no idea what George Michael is talking about, so George Michael just sums up his revelation about being true to yourself as “love each other.” By the way, George Michael’s revelation sounds more like “commandment #7”: be true to thyself and thine own self be true, and both he and his father ignore this "commandment" to have sex.

That leaves us with Pete the mailman and John Beard. You could say that Pete the mailman is a Christ-like figure. He gave his life on top of a hill and his final instructions were to “love each other.” In a sense, that’s also John Beard’s final message.

So “Love Each Other” is really just a Christian message inserted into the G.O.B.’s magic act and into season 4 in general. That’s the best I got, but I did have one more take away. As the phrase is the “The New Commandment” it reminded me of how ignorant the Bluths are of the original Ten Commandments and dysfunctional they are.

G.O.B.: What's with the insane moral code in this family?



Lindsay: Yes! We did it! We’re getting rid of the Ten Commandments.

From " From " Justice Is Blind Yes! We did it! We’re getting rid of the Ten Commandments.

In season 4, the Bluths (almost?) break every one of the Ten Commandments and ignore The New Commandment. I find it particularly amusing that G.O.B. breaks the First Commandment and thinks this would impress Christians.

Here are some examples how the Bluths mess up each Commandment:

1. I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me. G.O.B. announces that once you have beholden his wedding illusion, you will put no god before him. He calls himself “The Amazing Jesus.”

2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. G.O.B. yells "Jesus Christ" after Michael knocks over the boulder he's hiding in. Again, he calls himself “The Amazing Jesus.”

3. Remember to keep holy the LORD'S Day. The Bluths never go to church.

4. Honor your father and your mother. Maeby pimps out Lindsay to Herbert Love. Every one of Lucille's children misses her trial.

5. You shall not kill. Buster is arrested for the murder of Lucille Austero. (Other Bluths are suspects and she might not be dead, but that speculation is best suited for another thread).

6. You shall not commit adultery. Lindsay cheats on Tobias, Lucille (unknowingly) cheats on George Sr. with Oscar (I don’t believe the divorce is finalized), Buster with Ophelia Love, and George Michael with Rosalita. Does Tobias ever have sex with DeBrie? (For those not keeping track, the statuses of George Michael and Maeby's marriage as well as G.O.B. and G.O.B.'s wife's marriage were never resolved, so possibly G.O.B. and Maeby possibly committed adultery as well)

7. You shall not steal. Lucille hijacks of the Queen Mary. The idea behind the wall is to steal money from the government. Sweat and Squeeze. Gangie 4: Faceliftt money.

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Lucille says the Queen Mary incident was caused by homosexuals who wanted to go on joy ride. She also asks Buster and Lindsay lie at trial.

9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. Oscar covets Lucille. Buster covets Ophelia Love.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house (or goods). There’s a lot of house squatting in season 4. George Sr.’s sweat and squeeze also promotes breaking this Commandment. He says, ”I’ll teach you how to get yachts, I’ll teach you how to get penthouses, and how to get something for yourself by taking it from someone who thinks it’s his.”

The New Commandment: Michael, G.O.B., Tobias, Lucille, and George Michael hear the phrase "love each other", but basically ignore it. You could argue that if they followed the advice, they wouldn't be in the mess they're in at the end of the season.