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Quite simply, if you didn’t catch the first season of Archer last year then you missed out on an outrageously funny season of animated comedy. Sure, Archer isn’t as well known as many of TV’s other animations, but I’d say that it’s easily amongst the most obviously entertaining of them. Whilst it doesn’t really have much (if anything) to comment on or satirise, it does deftly blend workplace comedy with spy movie setups and clichés for what I’d say is some of the funniest comedy currently on television.
The story of Archer is very straightforward. We follow the employees of ISIS, an international spy organization. The main character is the eponymous Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin), who is kind of like what James Bond would be if he was less good at his job and spent more time sleeping with prostitutes. Archer’s mother Mallory (Jessica Walter) is his boss and one of his co-workers, Lana (Aisha Tyler), is his ex-girlfriend. There are also a whole bunch of hilarious characters down in human resources, but the general episodic framework revolves around Archer himself and a weekly mission.
In ‘Swiss Miss,’ the premiere of the second season of Archer, certain members of ISIS are tasked with protecting the 16 year-old daughter of a potential financial backer for the spy agency. Many of the gags stem from the idea that Archer could take advantage of his role when protecting the beautiful, and very underage, girl but that she’s the one who’s sexually harassing him. As the focal point of the half-hour isn’t in the office, this is a perfect episode for viewers who are new to the show.
The approach that I often take when judging something is to decide whether it succeeds in its aims. Archer’s aims don't really extend beyond being incredibly funny, and it more than succeeds at that. One of the reasons that the show works is because it has a hugely talented voice cast. Along with Benjamin, Walter and Tyler, Archer features the voices of Judy Greer (Cheryl), Chris Parnell (Cyril) and Amber Nash (Pam). Furthermore, the writing on the show is so sharp that even while I can recognise that this premiere isn’t the strongest episode of the series so far, it still made me laugh... a lot. The jokes come quick and fast and although some are easy, they’re always amusing.
I’d recommend Archer very highly. In fact, I probably haven’t emphasised just how laugh-out-loud funny this show is. All that I’ll say is that this is an ideal point at which to begin watching and that Archer is absolutely one of the most fun things on TV right now.
- Archer: “So, does this look as bad as it looks?”
- Archer: “I can’t be alone. That’s when she strikes like a slutty little Ninja.”
- Anka: “I'm from Germany, where the age of consent is 14.” ... Archer: “What is it, the Alabama of Europe?”
- Pam: “I’m only human.” ... Archer: “Are you?”
- For some reason, I found Archer’s inability to bear Anka’s repetitive screaming during the snowmobile chase very humourous.
- Anka: "Mr. Archer, how familiar! You must address me by my title, 'Countess Von Fingerbang.'"
- The fact that Cyril had to spend time in a mental hospital for sex addiction is very funny, and something that I hope continues to be referenced.
- Archer mocking Gilette about his third place finish as an Olympic skier was great - Archer: “I forgot you won the Olympic gold medal in Men's Downhill.” ... Gillette: “Well, ass, it was giant slalom and I only took bronze." ... Archer: “So? You lost?” ... Gillette: “I came in third.” ... Archer: “Which is last.”
- Malory: “Immigrants. Cramming their low riders full of free health care and... snow.”
Archer airs on Tuesdays at 10pm on 5* - you can catch a repeat of ‘Swiss Miss’ tonight at 11.30pm on 5*
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