The story of a wealthy family that lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together.
Meet the Bluths. In the pilot, Michael decides to take a job in Arizona after being passed over by George Sr. for head of the Bluth Company. George Sr. is jailed, and the family realizes they need Michael.
Michael puts George Michael in charge of the Bluth Bannana Stand, and his son subsequently burns down the stand. Elsewhere, Tobias auditions for a commercial, and Lindsay inadvertantly gets the part.
Michael spends quality time with Buster. George Michael auditions for a school play to get closer to Maeby. Gob breaks up with his girlfriend and has nowhere to go.
Gob decides to lock himself in his father's prison for 24 hours to get back in with the alliance, and to spend quality time with his father. Michael takes Gob's girlfriend to an awards show, and Buster inadvertently flirts with his mother's rival.
Michael and Lindsay try to prove their charitable sides to each other. Gob demands George Michael's respect, and Buster continues avoiding Lucille 2.
Michael sets up an "intimate conjugal visit" for his parents, while it is revealed that George Sr. had an affair with Kitty, his secretary who recently slept with Gob. Tobias and Lindsay see a marriage counselor.
Michael attempts to fire the family's incompetent, but likeable attorney. George Michael impresses Maeby with a muscle suit for a "Living Classics" pagent. Tobias has a psychological affliction where he is unable to take off his clothes.
Michael loses his short-term memory, which Lucille uses to her advantage. Gob attempts to use the family yacht before Michael sells it. George Michael and Maeby attempt to see an R-rated movie about cousins having an affair. Buster and Lucille 2 take "the next step".
Michael cannot go through with his plan to break up Gob and Marta. A thug magician wants to take Gob's "legs". Maeby wears all leather to get back at her mother, and Lucille decides to confront Buster's relationship with Lucille 2.
Buster realizes that medical marijuana will help cure Lucille 2's vertigo, and pays George Michael to get it for him from Gob. Lindsay sends Maeby to spend a day with Lucille to punish her for bad grades. Michael thinks George Michael is on drugs and attempts to teach him a lesson.
When George Michael is rejected by a private school due to the family's reputation, Michael hires a publicist from his gym who he's been flirting with to change the public perspective of the Bluths. Meanwhile, Tobias is sent to Boston to reclaim his medical license.
When Lucille throws an anniversary party for Tobias and Lindsay on Valentine's Day, Michael gives an impassioned speech about love. This makes Marta realize she has feelings for him and Lindsay realize she wants a divorce. Meanwhile, Buster decides to move out of the penthouse and Lucille revels in living alone for the first time.
After learning that Marta has feelings for him, Michael goes to her and they decide to get permission from Gob before taking things to the next level. Meanwhile, Lindsay and Tobias finally get to the heart of his "never-nude" problem and George Sr. faces his first hearing.
Michael falls for his George Michael's ethics teacher, whom his son also has a crush on. Meanwhile, Lucille adopts a 14-year old Korean boy, and George Sr.'s "Caged Wisdom" tapes have given him a new admirer.
When Michael discovers his family has been receiving paychecks without working, he forces them all to get jobs within the company. Lindsay questions his management skills, and Tobias checks himself in at George Sr.'s prison to research a film role.
Michael attempts to have a one-night stand with an attorney whom he doesn't know is not only blind, but the prosecutor who is trying to put his father in jail. Also, Gob gets married on a dare, Maeby pretends to be a girl with a made up disease, and George Sr.'s admirer turns out to be an undercover SEC agent who has truly fallen for him.
Gob steals a file on the government's case against the Bluth Company that Maggie had given to Michael. Tobias is sent to Maggie's house to get evidence, George Michael tries to prove Maeby's fraud, and Lindsay fights to remove the Ten Commandments from the courthouse lawn.
Gob attempts to make good on his promise to make the family yacht disappear. Meanwhile, Lindsay and Maeby try to track down Lindsay's grandmother, Tobias seeks George Sr.'s respect, and Michael attempts to fire Kitty, who claims to have information that could bring down the company.
George Sr. uses Gob's bachelor party as an opportunity to set up his accountant in a compromising position so that he can blackmail him. Meanwhile, Michael tries to prove he's a fun guy, and the Funkes reunite their family folk-music band.
Michael deals with numerous requests for some unfrozen money, and chastises Lucille for being too coddling with Buster. Lindsay decides to protest the war to boost her self esteem while Tobias and Gob decide to start a coffee company.
Michael takes Maeby to work with him on Take Your Daughter to Work Day. After being slighted by Michael, Tobias, George-Michael and Gob all go to the mall to prove that they are just manly. Oscar takes Lucille and Buster to Annyong's soceer game.
In the first season finale, George Sr. has a heart attack, and Maeby is jealous when George Michael likes another girl. Meanwhile, Lindsay decides to leave Tobias until a book he wrote a long time ago becomes a gay bestseller, and Buster and Annyong compete over women.
When George Sr. is apprehended, the police realize they have mistakenly caught Oscar, George Sr.'s twin brother. With George Sr. at large, Michael is next in line to be prosecuted for the Bluth Co. crimes and must find funds immediately to stay out of jail. Too proud and angry to ask his family members for help, Michael is further vexed to find out that they are doing perfectly well without him - Lindsay and Tobias have decided to have an open relationship, Gob is running the company and Lucille has asked Oscar to move in and be a role model for Buster.
Due to Michael's continuing legal troubles, Gob agrees to be the company figurehead while Michael pulls the strings, an arrangement which, of course, ends up driving Michael completely crazy when Gob's showmanship and ludicrous ideas impress the board. Meanwhile, the mistaken identities continue when George Sr. is arrested in Mexico for a crime that Oscar committed, and Oscar takes George Sr.'s place in a way no one could have predicted.
When the staircar turns up in Mexico, Michael decides to organize the family and go down to pick it up. Gob becomes suspicious of Michael's behavior so he hires a bounty hunter to follow him. Michael discovers this and rehires the bounty hunter to search for George Sr. Meanwhile, Lindsay develops a crush on the bounty hunter and Buster spends time with housekeeper Lupe's family and thinks he's in Mexico.
When Lucille hires a bounty hunter to find George Sr., he delivers the disturbing news that George Sr. is dead. Each Bluth copes with the pain in a different way: Gob tries to pull off an elaborate illusion, Maeby tries to set up Lindsay with the bounty hunter, and Michael tries to mend his son's relationship. Meanwhile, George Sr. is closer than they all think.
When Wayne Jarvis is assigned to prosecute George Sr., he threatens Michael to turn in his father or go to jail. Michael, who has hidden his father in the attic, convinces him to stay hidden until he can figure out what to do. George Sr. confesses that he is only in town to win back Lucille and Michael is concerned that he will find out about Lucille's relationship with Oscar. Meanwhile, Lindsay spends more time with Maeby to get closer to Steve Holt and Tobias starts working out.
When a prankster throws the banana stand into the bay, Michael is forced to rebuild it. Meanwhile, Gob acts as president of the company and prepares for the annual Christmas party. But things take an awkward turn when Gob fires everyone after an employee inadvertently roasts him. Michael realizes he must woo the employees back by throwing another holiday party and decides to do it in conjunction with the unveiling of the newly rebuilt banana stand. Meanwhile, Buster plays hooky from the army and spends all of his time at the arcade grabbing stuffed animals with a skill crane.
When the president of a rival company, Sitwell, hires away Gob in an effort to win the big company softball game against the Bluth Co., Michael asks Gob to throw the game. Gob grapples with the idea, but finds his new boss supportive and fatherly, which catches him off guard. Meanwhile, Lindsay takes anti-depressants and the bizarre side effects include hallucinations and a strong sense of team spirit.
When Michael learns that the company stock has been unfrozen, he decides to sell a little to buy a car. Unbeknownst to him and despite warnings from their attorney, the rest of the family sell off their stock as well and they lose control of the company. Meanwhile, Lucille 2 is back, only to discover Buster is dating the new secretary.
When Michael reunites with his long lost love, Sally Sitwell, their romance is interrupted by meddling parents. Meanwhile, Gob starts to fall for Lucille 2 and Lucille worries about who will bid on her in the bachelorette auction this year since Buster is dating someone.
The Bluths are worried that Lucille 2 is making a deal to sell the company, so George Sr. suggests calling an old family friend, Uncle Jack, for help. But when creepy Uncle Jack agrees to come to their aid only if he gets a date with Lindsay, Michael must come up with a plan to distract Tobias. Meanwhile, Gob and Buster team up to find out what Lucille 2 is up to and end up fighting over her.
Michael's budding relationship with Sally is threatened when he runs into his former fling, Maggie Lizer, who's pregnant. Michael suspects that he's the father, but Gob brings up a good point - since Maggie lied about being blind, she could be lying about her pregnancy, too. Meanwhile, George Michael struggles to find a way to break up with Ann, and Buster learns he is going to be deployed to Iraq.
The Bluths are shocked to discover that Buster's hand was bitten off by a seal and he's left with a mean left hook. Meanwhile, Michael has to figure out if Maggie's baby is really his or if it's just another one of her lies.
When Lucille abducts George-Michael to take Buster's place at the annual mother-son dance, Michael and Buster try to save him and end up in a compromising position. Meanwhile, Tobias gets a role in which he must act like George Sr., which makes him more attractive to Lindsay.
When Ann convinces George-Michael to run for student body president, Michael gets involved and things take a turn for the worse. Michael asks Gob to help remedy the situation, but instead, Gob shoots an offensive campaign video that makes all the students revolt against George-Michael. Meanwhile, Buster has an affair with Lupe and Tobias moves out - sort of.
Gob and Buster team up for some magic tricks with the help of Buster's fake hand, but when Tony Wonder, a rival magician, starts to mentor them, somebody gets the finger. Meanwhile, Michael is forced to delegate some work when he's hospitalized and Lindsay teaches George Michael how to drive using the staircar.
When George Michael gives Ann a promise ring, Michael is concerned it's too much, too fast and decides to talk to her parents, the Veals. But when his plan backfires, Michael takes matters into his own hands. Meanwhile, George Sr. enlists Gob's help in abducting Lucille and taking her to renew their vows in order to get her away from Oscar.
It's Spring Break, and Gob gets the chance to confront Phillip Litt, the guy who featured Gob's magic trick mistakes on a "Girls with Low Self-Esteem" video. Meanwhile, Lucille's drinking is out of control and Michael tricks her into going to rehab by telling her it's a spa. But when Kitty kidnaps George Sr. and attempts to blackmail the Bluths, Michael must turn to Lucille for help.
Due to shoddy plumbing on the model home, Michael must call an inspector to check out the house. But when he asks George Sr. to vacate the attic so that he won't have to cover for him, Gob steps in to help and all hell breaks loose. Meanwhile, George Michael helps Ann stage a boycott of the American version of "Dangerous Liaisons" and they inadvertently turn the movie into a bigger hit for Maeby. And when Michael asks Tobias to keep an eye on Kitty, their relationship begins to bloom, much to Lindsay's dismay.
Michael is back in charge of The Bluth Co. and things appear to be on track. However, when Michael decides to take his son on a trip to the family cabin, his plan goes off course when he decides to track down George Sr. and ends up in Reno. Meanwhile, Lindsay - along with George Michael and Maeby, who are still dealing with the aftermath of their awkward kiss - goes searching for Tobias and discovers he's not blue without her. Gob goes to an event hosted by a group that reunites abandoned sons with their fathers and gets a surprise of his own, while Lucille is up to her old tricks dealing with Buster.
To save money on expensive attorney fees, Michael tells George Sr. to plead guilty, but George Sr. proclaims his innocence and says he was set up by an underground British group. Michael goes to "Wee Britain" to investigate these claims, and meets a beautiful British woman, Rita, whom he asks out on a date. Meanwhile, Lindsay tries to flirt with the family's new attorney and ends up being charged for her time, and Gob stages an elaborate magic trick to get out of spending time with his son.
Michael inadvertently lies and tells Rita that he doesn't have a family. But the lie catches up with him, when the Bluths try to surprise Michael by bringing Rita to a family party and all hell breaks loose. Meanwhile, Lindsay works as the nanny to the family's new attorney and George Sr. tries to escape the penthouse.
In an effort to prove to Rita he's not a wimp, Michael tries to convince George Michael to join him in some manly activities, but George Michael is too busy prepping girlfriend Ann for an Inner-beauty Pageant. So Michael and his recently discovered nephew Steve Holt enter a triathlon, only to discover Gob is the one who stumbles at the finish line. Back at work, Michael must deal with a huge mole problem in order to salvage a major real estate deal. But when Gob and Buster team up with George Sr.'s surrogate, Larry, to help Michael save the deal, their plan falls apart in a big way. Meanwhile, Tobias mistakes a CIA agent for a CAA agent and inadvertently betrays the family, and Michael makes Rita a proposal she can't refuse.
Trevor tells Rita that Michael must be eliminated; the family tries to trick Japanese investors; George-Michael mistakes a jet pack as a gift.
After Michael announces he's marrying Rita, George Sr. worries that she's after their family's money. But when Rita's Uncle Trevor tries to stop the wedding by revealing some surprising information about Rita, Michael must decide if he wants to walk down the aisle.
Upset after his breakup with Rita, Michael reaches out to Lucille, but is concerned when he discovers she's dating the Warden behind his father's back. Michael decides to tell George Sr. about the affair, but his dad has an undercover plan of his own.
When Gob interferes at work, Michael gives him his own banana stand in an effort to keep him occupied. But when Michael learns that George Sr. has been using Gob to plot against him, he confronts Gob. The brothers decide to band together to teach George Sr. a lesson once and for all. Meanwhile, Lucille gets a facelift and Tobias and Lindsay vie for Bob Loblaw's attention.
Concerned about the family's future, George Sr. insists they host a fundraiser to raise awareness within the community. Michael is in charge of finding a celebrity to emcee the event, so he sets out on a mission to track down Andy Richter. Meanwhile, Gob inadvertently becomes a waiter and has a run-in with a nasty customer - Lucille.
When Michael represents his family at a mock trial, Buster pretends he's comatose to avoid testifying; Michael learns he may have a long-lost sister.
Michael tracks down the mysterious woman who may be his sister; George-Michael and Maeby learn that their mock marriage is real.
After Gob is imprisoned by American forces, Michael and Buster travel to Iraq to free him; George-Michael throws a surprise birthday party for Maeby.
Michael tries to keep family members from selling their shares of company stock; George-Michael tells his father about being attracted to Maeby.
Michael says goodbye to the family business and starts his own. And the life of the family is turned upside down when their mailman Pete dies.
George Sr. comes up with a get rich scam after his family falls apart.
Lindsay tries to reclaim her sense of self while traveling and getting back to her political activist roots.
Michael is presented with a new business opportunity that could change his life. Unfortunately, he needs his family to sign off.
Tobias searches for meaning after splitting with Lindsay, only to find that old habits die hard.
George Sr.'s new business hits a rough patch, and he must bribe a politician to get his scam back on track.
Gob finds a new group of friends after his relationship falls apart and his family abandons him.
Lindsay continues to push away from being a Bluth by embracing a relationship and finding a new career.
Tobias returns to his roots and reunites with his leading lady after a rough few weeks.
Lucille finds that her children have already started divvying up her things, and adjusts to her new home.
Gob accepts a job from his brother, but is distracted by a scheme of his own.
Maeby moves out on her own and reconnects with her cousin, George-Michael.
At UC Irvine things get steamy when George-Michael finds himself in a love triangle with his best friend Ray and his girlfriend Becky.
Buster struggles to make it on his own and break away from his overbearing mother.
George-Michael tries to reconnect with his father, but is finding himself overwhelmed by the responsibility of running his business.
Surprises greet Michael at the penthouse and Sudden Valley. George-Michael confides in Maeby, who's trying to avoid Sudden Valley.
For varying reasons, most of the Bluths (even Steve Holt) feel compelled to run off to Mexico. Michael tries to convince Buster to go to the police.
The family unites behind Lindsay's campaign, but Michael senses that something is amiss. Maeby has an idea that George-Michael likes a little too much.
Gob acquires a new office for the company with a "premium view." Michael gets a shock when he returns to a place that holds a lot of memories.
The Bluths receive/present their award, but it weighs on George Sr. and creates new problems. Michael and George-Michael have a deep conversation.
Michael attempts to bail out Buster. George-Michael finally meets the Howards, and Ron informs Michael that his plans for the movie have changed.
George-Michael thinks he's being lied to by Michael, who thinks he's being lied to by George Sr. Gob hires guys to help with his "closet conversion."
As the Second of July parade approaches, Sally steps up her campaign against Lindsay while the Bluths again struggle to keep their stories straight.
Buster fails to show for his own prison release party. Michael examines company financial records. George-Michael seeks Anonymous help to deceive Rebel.
Michael jumps at a chance to spend more time with George-Michael, who seeks a clueless president for Fakeblock. Tobias relocates his makeshift family.
As George Sr. attempts to win back Lucille, Michael assembles a mold of their scheme. Meanwhile, Buster gets caught up in Tobias and Gob's business.
George Sr., Lucille and Maeby give honesty a try. Good news becomes bad for George-Michael. Michael remembers there's always money ... somewhere.
Buster's brief appearance in a TV weather report puts the Bluths back in hot water, but Michael has a plan involving his son's definitely real company.
As the trial kicks off, the Guilty Guys throw the family for a loop. Lucille learns surprising news about Dusty. George-Michael plots a distraction.
George and Lucille overestimate their new lawyer's expertise in the courtroom. Two familiar faces testify, and a video sheds more light on the case.
As the Bluths come together to unveil a wall, they once again discover that they deserve nothing more than to be saddled with each other forever.
