On Valentine's Day, Marta begins to fall for Michael, to his and Gob's misunderstanding. George Michael investigates his cousin's parentage for validation of his crush. Buster moves out of his mother's apartment. Lindsay wants a divorce from Tobias.
The Arrested Development episode "Marta Complex" provides examples of:
- Borrowed Catchphrase: Both Marta and Michael use GOB's "I've made a huge mistake", the former when she discovers that she likes Michael, not GOB, and Michael when he realises that he is the mysterious "Hermano" he thinks Marta has been having an affair with.
- Distinction Without a Difference: Buster's explanation why Lucille 2 is wrong about his mother.Lucille 2: Not as long as you keep getting me mixed up with your mother.Buster: It is exactly the opposite. I'm leaving my mother for you. You're replacing my mother.
- Freudian Slip: Michael has two. First he says "brother" instead of "bother" when talking to Marta and then he finishes his big speech with "I love you all, Marta."
- Ironic Echo: The narrator's line in "Visiting Ours" about Michael's feelings for Marta gets repeated here for Buster.Narrator: Buster realized Marta was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
- Give Me a Sign: George Michael invokes this by picking the candy heart with "Maybe tonight".
- Kissing Cousins: The trope name is finally discussed by Lindsay.
- Landline Eavesdropping: Lucille eavesdrops on Buster's phone call with Michael, but her cover is blown when Michael hears Lupe asking her a question.
- Logic Bomb: Behold: the Narrator's way of explaining Tobias' reaction to seeing the competition for "Frightened Inmate #2":Narrator: The competition frightened Tobias, which he felt he could use in his performance. Unfortunately, this made him more confident, which frightened him again.
- Love at First Sight: Buster for Marta.
- Mistaken for Cheating: Marta.
- Sustained Misunderstanding: Michael not understanding that "hermano" means brother in Spanish.
- Who's on First?: GOB's choice of code word when talking to Michael on the phone (in case Martia is in the room with him) becomes counter-intuitive:GOB: (on the phone) If it's Martia, say "Nobody".Michael: (on the phone) "Nobody".GOB: (on the phone) Well, now I don't know what's going on...
- Something similar happens as a result of Michael (and GOB) not understanding what "hermano" means.GOB: (on the phone) Let's get to the bottom of this "Hermano" stuff, brother.
- Something similar happens as a result of Michael (and GOB) not understanding what "hermano" means.
