I first learned about FX’s “Archer” in the ready room of VAQ-135, a navy squadron enduring a seemingly endless deployment on an aircraft carrier near Midway Island back in 2010. The pilots had lost their initial enthusiasm due to their long 12-hour missions from the Persian Gulf to Afghanistan. During that time, they would slyly utter “danger zone” when someone was in trouble with their commanding officer or called to the flight deck on a dark ocean night.
It’s important to note that “Danger Zone” is a song by Kenny Loggins closely associated with the classic naval aviator film “Top Gun.” However, the way the pilots used it indicated they were making fun of something. Eventually, one of them explained that “danger zone” was a catchphrase from Sterling Archer, the main character in “Archer.” Sterling was portrayed as a reckless and often inebriated spy in the show, the son of the equally problematic Malory Archer, who founded a spy agency where a group of equally questionable characters embarked on perilous and seemingly pointless missions for various international figures.
While working on a book and pretending to be a Navy officer, I took a flight from the aircraft carrier to NAS Whidbey Island in search of a good night’s sleep after a month of restlessness. It was there that I made a joyful mistake by downloading the first season of “Archer.” That’s when everything changed. Instead of falling asleep, I fell head over heels for the show, which might reveal something not entirely positive about me.
The first episode kicks off with Sterling (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) in a simulated torture scenario, where his captor speaks with a comical Russian accent, introducing him as “Sterling Archer, code name Duchess, known as the world’s most dangerous spy from Berlin to Bangkok.” Archer, unimpressed, wonders if he’s about to be tortured with a weak go-kart battery. The scene takes a twist when silver-haired Malory Archer (voiced by Jessica Walter) appears behind a two-way mirror, clearly annoyed. It turns out the whole thing is a simulation, and we discover that Archer’s code name “Duchess” is also the name of Malory’s beloved dog, seen in a portrait of the two of them posing naked like John and Yoko.
The choice of mentioning Bangkok isn’t accidental; Sterling is portrayed as a womanizer for the ages, regardless of whether it’s the 20th or 21st century. The show’s timeline is intentionally fuzzy, spanning from the 1960s to the 2020s, mixing Cold War standoffs with modern technology like cellphones and computers. Sterling never knew his father, and Malory isn’t entirely certain about his identity; it might have been a KGB spy or even Buddy Rich. The libertine streak in Sterling clearly comes from his mother.
The witty banter between Malory and Sterling is what keeps the show’s energy flowing. In one early episode, Malory warns Sterling to keep his less respectable companions away from her medicine stash:
Malory: “I don’t want another one of your disreputable dates raiding my medicine cabinet like a Pez dispenser.” Archer: “That wasn’t her fault! Who puts Oxycontin in a Xanax container?” Malory: “People with servants!” Archer: “But if they’re stealing pills, how does switching the labels help?” Malory: “Because they can’t read English!”
“Archer” is the brainchild of Adam Reed, who wrote or co-wrote 103 of the show’s 142 episodes. It follows the format of a typical workplace comedy, but with a unique twist – every character is a self-centered jerk. The series is set in the offices of the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS) in Manhattan, a name chosen before the emergence of the actual terrorist organization ISIS, which led to a name change in 2015.
Within the agency, you’ll find a mix of troublemakers, career-driven individuals, and food enthusiasts. For instance, there’s Lana Kane (played by Aisha Tyler), who is both beautiful and ambitious but has notably large hands. The HR director, Pam Poovey (Amber Nash), starts as a dairy farm daughter with weight issues but later gets caught up in cocaine. Cheryl Tunt (Judy Greer) has a penchant for risky behavior, including starting fires, and turns out to be the heiress to a railroad fortune. In the lab, there’s Krieger (Lucky Yates), a scientist who may have some mysterious origins tied to Hitler’s DNA. Cyril Figgis (Chris Parnell) is the agency’s accountant who often finds himself in compromising situations.
Agent Ray Gillette (voiced by Adam Reed) is a gay Southern dandy who engages in playful disputes with Sterling over issues like Ray’s Olympic bronze medal. Although Ray insists it’s a triumph, he privately confesses, “It was a huge disappointment,” when Sterling is not around.
“Archer” thrives on dark humor and portrays its characters with morally ambiguous traits. It shares some similarities with another FX show, “The League,” which also debuted in 2009. However, both shows’ humor, laden with gay jokes and misogyny, may not align with the sensibilities of 2023. The key distinction is that “Archer” doesn’t endorse the outmoded views Sterling often expresses about women, race, or gay life – he faces pushback and criticism, both verbally and physically, from his coworkers.
Sterling is the main character in the show, but he’s far from a hero. He’s a pitiable alcoholic who will never win his mother’s approval. His mother left Sterling’s upbringing to his British valet, Woodhouse, who gets mistreated by Sterling, even having sand rubbed in his eyes as a cruel prank. This might explain why Woodhouse turns to heroin.
“Archer” wouldn’t be as great without its exceptional voice cast. The sharp-witted dialogue flows effortlessly, creating a comedic whirlwind. H. Jon Benjamin’s Archer has a grandiose, spy-like voice that starkly contrasts with his comical ineptitude. Jessica Walter’s portrayal of Malory Archer is like a more amorous version of Lucille Bluth, often reminiscing about wild weekends in Phuket. Aisha Tyler’s Pam brings an unexpected vulnerability to the show, despite her rough exterior as she chugs down Tall Boys for breakfast and engages in peculiar fights. While “Archer” might not reach the heights of shows like “The Simpsons” or “Bojack Horseman,” the cast certainly stands out.
Although some “Archer” seasons have overarching storylines, most episodes are self-contained, offering 22 minutes of sarcastic laughter, often with Adam Reed playing with comedy catchphrases. For instance, Sterling exclaims “Phrasing!” when someone accidentally says something suggestive, which occurs about 17 times per episode. Even this is a playful nod, as in a later season, the agency tells Archer they’re no longer using that catchphrase, much to his disappointment.
“Archer” can be likened to the musical band Oasis, with its early seasons being flawless and the later ones, while a bit uneven, still delivering some standout moments. The first seven seasons have no weak episodes, featuring guest voices from cable TV legends like Matthew Rhys, Timothy Olyphant, Anthony Bourdain, and Jessica Walter’s real-life husband, Ron Liebman, who plays Malory’s mismatched boyfriend, Ron Cadillac. Reed’s ability to place the crew in various scenarios, from working undercover in Bourdain’s kitchen to exploring the Welsh countryside with Rhys, showcases his talent in creating multifaceted characters.
However, “Archer” isn’t without its challenges. Around 2017, when the show moved from FX to FXX, it seemed like someone challenged Reed to see how outrageous “Archer” could get without getting canceled. The show took Sterling into a coma and jumped through time to places like 1947 Hollywood, a 1930s Pacific island, outer space, and possibly the Oregon Trail in the 1860s (I added the last one for fun). After Season 10, Reed left the show, and it faced more difficulties after Jessica Walter’s unfortunate passing in 2021. It appears that “Archer” continues to soldier on, possibly because FX knows it can run “Archer” marathons for stoned college kids for years to come.
Sterling is the main character in the show, but he’s far from a hero. He’s a pitiable alcoholic who will never win his mother’s approval. His mother left Sterling’s upbringing to his British valet, Woodhouse, who gets mistreated by Sterling, even having sand rubbed in his eyes as a cruel prank. This might explain why Woodhouse turns to heroin.
“Archer” wouldn’t be as great without its exceptional voice cast. The sharp-witted dialogue flows effortlessly, creating a comedic whirlwind. H. Jon Benjamin’s Archer has a grandiose, spy-like voice that starkly contrasts with his comical ineptitude. Jessica Walter’s portrayal of Malory Archer is like a more amorous version of Lucille Bluth, often reminiscing about wild weekends in Phuket. Aisha Tyler’s Pam brings an unexpected vulnerability to the show, despite her rough exterior as she chugs down Tall Boys for breakfast and engages in peculiar fights. While “Archer” might not reach the heights of shows like “The Simpsons” or “Bojack Horseman,” the cast certainly stands out.
Although some “Archer” seasons have overarching storylines, most episodes are self-contained, offering 22 minutes of sarcastic laughter, often with Adam Reed playing with comedy catchphrases. For instance, Sterling exclaims “Phrasing!” when someone accidentally says something suggestive, which occurs about 17 times per episode. Even this is a playful nod, as in a later season, the agency tells Archer they’re no longer using that catchphrase, much to his disappointment.
“Archer” can be likened to the musical band Oasis, with its early seasons being flawless and the later ones, while a bit uneven, still delivering some standout moments. The first seven seasons have no weak episodes, featuring guest voices from cable TV legends like Matthew Rhys, Timothy Olyphant, Anthony Bourdain, and Jessica Walter’s real-life husband, Ron Liebman, who plays Malory’s mismatched boyfriend, Ron Cadillac. Reed’s ability to place the crew in various scenarios, from working undercover in Bourdain’s kitchen to exploring the Welsh countryside with Rhys, showcases his talent in creating multifaceted characters.
However, “Archer” isn’t without its challenges. Around 2017, when the show moved from FX to FXX, it seemed like someone challenged Reed to see how outrageous “Archer” could get without getting canceled. The show took Sterling into a coma and jumped through time to places like 1947 Hollywood, a 1930s Pacific island, outer space, and possibly the Oregon Trail in the 1860s (I added the last one for fun). After Season 10, Reed left the show, and it faced more difficulties after Jessica Walter’s unfortunate passing in 2021. It appears that “Archer” continues to soldier on, possibly because FX knows it can run “Archer” marathons for stoned college kids for years to come.
Surprisingly, the last season of “Archer” has gone back to its original style. Lana Kane now runs the agency, stepping into Malory’s role, and a new agent from London, Zara Khan (played by Natalie Dew), is introduced as Sterling’s new rival. She gets on Sterling’s nerves because she’s just like him – overly confident and self-absorbed.
Tonight marks the end of “Archer.” I can’t reveal much about the episode, but if you’re expecting a wedding or a happy ending, you’ve missed the point. Sterling Archer and his team are as unlikable as ever, just the way we’ve always appreciated them.
Source: Variety
