0593NOTIcarusDaedalus

Mitchell Hurwitz, creator. Arrested Development, episode 1.3 "Bringing up Buster." 20th Century Fox: 2003.

This episode is used to explore the theme of parents losing their children to adulthood and independence. It follows three parents (Michael, Lucille, and Tobias) as they try to deal with their children growing up. Michael's son George Michael is a fifteen-year old boy pulling away from his father as he moves closer to the independece of adulthood. Tobias becomes the director of his teenage daughter Maeby's school play because he, an aspiring actor, believes that she's using a shared interest in theater to bridge the increasing gap between them. Lucille's son Buster, on the other hand, is in his mid-thirties and neither one seems to think that there are any real problems with their co-dependent relationship.

The Icarus/Daedalus myth is used to underscore the (creepy and excessive) obedience and devotion that a son has for his parent.

Buster is a significantly less rebellious son to his mother, Lucille, than Icarus was to Daedalus. Whereas Icarus didn't recognize the risk in his behavior, which led to his death and thus his permanent separation from his father. Buster recognizes that if he continues to go along with his siblings, he will create a similar divide between his mother and himself. While in Buster's case, a little distance between Lucille and himself might be warranted, it's clear that both parties want the relationship to continue in the manner it always has.