George Sr. is to be released for an afternoon to take part in a pageant of living art representations, playing God in Michelangelo Buonarroti's "The Creation of Adam". The role of Adam is sought by George Michael, Buster, and Tobias, who all have different motivations.
The Arrested Development episode "In God We Trust" provides examples of:
- Actor Allusion: Lucille Austero says the line "There's places to go! People to see!" before falling down due to her vertigo and old age. This is a reference to when she starred in a production of "Forbidden Broadway". Costar Ann-Margret sings a spoof of the song "Bye Bye Birdie" called "Bye Bye Thirty", which is about aging.
- Broken Heel: While George Sr.'s escape probably wasn't going to succeed, the long robe he was wearing to play God in the pageant definitely didn't help.
- Comically Serious: Wayne Jarvis.
- Chewbacca Defense: Barry Zuckerkorn uses one to prevent charges from being filed against George.Barry: I got them to call your flee from justice "religious expression."
- Christmas Episode: The plot revolves around a Christmas pageant (although, ironically, "My Mother, The Car" aired closer to Christmas, with this episode airing December 14, 2003, and "My Mother, The Car" airing a week later).
- Fake Muscles: George Michael wears a muscle suit to play Adam in the pageant. Maeby sardonically compliments him, and he decides to keep it on.
- The Freelance Shame Squad: George Michael is booed by the pageant crowd for wearing cutoffs while playing Adam.
- Michael and Lindsay plan to invoke this to humiliate Lucille.
- Buster assumes that the crowd is shaming him for his relationship with Lucille Austero.
- Frivolous Lawsuit: Somewhat justified, as Wayne Jarvis sues Barry Zuckerkorn for calling James Alan Spangler, his paralegal, a "homo." Spangler threatens Barry with another lawsuit if he discriminates against Spangler again.Spangler: Go on, call me something. I'm redoing my kitchen.
- Global Ignorance/Strange Minds Think Alike: Maeby and GOB both think Portugal is in South America.
- Great Escape: George Sr. tries to make his escape on his day out of prison, leading to a Chase Scene. However, it's not very effective.
- GOB is convinced that Michael is trying to flee the law because of the Spanish lessons and tickets to Portugal.
- Hypocritical Humor: Lindsay and Tobias purport to care about how their daughter perceives them.Lindsay: Now [Maeby's] gonna think we're totally self-involved.
Tobias: I can fix this... let me go see if I can't get [Buster] to give me the part of Adam.
Lindsay: And I'll see if I can get some money from my mom. - Intergenerational Friendship: Maeby and Lucille realize that they're both ignored by the generation in between, and that spending more time together would "drive them crazy."
- In Vino Veritas/Loose Lips: Michael and Lindsay drink together. Lindsay reveals to Michael that Tobias is a Never-Nude, and he tells her that he's interested in Marta. Invoked by Lucille, who knows that Michael has Loose Lips when he's under the influence.
- Lindsay got Michael drunk so that he'd agree to pay off her credit card debts.
- Language of Love: Downplayed, since Michael can communicate with Marta in English, but is trying to learn Spanish to get closer to her.
- Let's You and Him Fight: Lucille, annoyed that Michael and Lindsay are getting along for once, manipulates them against each other.
- Low Count Gag: When Tobias attempts to argue that being a Never-Nude is perfectly normal.Tobias: There are dozens of us. DOZENS!!!
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Out of Order: Although this episode comes before "My Mother, the Car" in both Broadcast and Production order, it appears after it on the Season One DVD, as makes sense, as Buster and Lucille Austero start their relationship in that one, and go on their first date in this one. - Parental Neglect: Tobias and Lindsay forget Maeby at home before the meeting with Barry Zuckerkorn (leading her to come to Lucille's apartment), and forget her again when they leave.
- The Runaway: Invoked by Maeby, who pretends to run away to get her parents to pay attention to her.
- Secret Relationship: Between Buster and Lucille Austero.
- Shockingly Expensive Bill: Barry Zuckerkorn finds any excuse to charge the Bluths a ridiculous amount of money for his questionable legal advice.George Sr.: Thank you for coming down on Christmas Eve.
Barry: It's like any other day, except that I bill double.- The Bluths also had to forfeit the $20,000 bond that they used to get George Sr. out of prison for a day.
- Sistine Steal: Once a year George Sr. and Buster reenact the scene from Michelangelo's painting but this year George Michael is supposed to replace Buster.
- Staggered Zoom: Used when George Michael sees the painting he's recreating and the frontspiece he is meant to wear.
- Static Stun Gun: George Sr. gets tased by a security guard while he's trying to escape.
- Stealth Insult:Barry Zuckerkorn: (to Lucille) What are you doing, pilates? Because no 40-year-old woman should look like that.
Michael: Well, no 40-year-old woman does look like that.
