There’s a moment from the first season that I think about all the time. Maeby buys a leather jacket to spite her mom (been there), then in an effort to bond with his daughter, Tobias Fünke (played to perfection by David Cross) goes to a Wilson’s Leather-type store and the following exchange takes place:

Tobias: I’m looking for something that says “‘Dad likes leather!”

Salesperson: Something that says “Leather Daddy?”

Tobias: Oh, is there such a thing?

Then in the next scene, Tobias joins Maeby and George Michael on a couch and he’s wearing a leather vest, leather chaps, and of course, a dog collar.

Now a quick word about leather jackets. As anyone who has ever worn a leather jacket can tell you, it’s impossible to just casually wear one. It requires a huge amount of emotional energy and commitment. From the moment you decide to buy one and every day you put it on thereafter, there’s only one thought that goes through your mind: Finally, everyone is going to notice and then compliment me on how fucking cool I am. That’s why when I first notice an acquaintance or potential love interest wearing a leather jacket for the first time around me, I feel the moment heavy with expectation. I’m not a monster, so of course I say something along the lines of “Cool jacket!” The leather jacket wearer then does an Academy Award-worthy bluff of looking down as if they forgot for a moment they’re wearing five pounds worth of expensive cowhide, and says “Oh, thanks?” Then I follow it up with “I’m looking for something that says “Dad likes leather!” If the person gets it, then we start talking about Tobias’ foray into the Blue Man Group and never-nudedom and it’s really fun! And if they don’t, then you have to clumsily explain the reference, and they stare at you blankly and then you tell them Arrested Development really is one of the greatest shows ever made and then they go, “Yeah, I’ve been meaning to check it out” and then you’re like, “Really, you haven’t had a spare moment in 14 years?” and then they do a fake laugh and then you think about Tobias accidentally choking himself with his leather dog collar and laugh to yourself.

— Michelle Markowitz

Watch "Storming the Castle" on Netflix