By Brett Shaw
The growing cult-favorite “Archer” has established an obsessive fan base throughout its seven-season run because of its groundbreaking use of substantial and hilarious long-form narrative techniques. The show will hook anyone with a love for exciting story lines, empathetic characters, and provocative humor.
“Archer” is an animated television series that follows an agency of spies through various high-profile missions that typically play out in a single episode while an overarching conflict, often lasting for an entire season or two, plays out alongside. Whether they see the protagonist infiltrating the KGB or shrinking down in a submarine for an experimental medical extraction, these escapades provide an exciting environment to deliver ridiculous comedy.
Each time watching the show, viewers become entangled further into the lives and relationships of these messy characters.
Almost every member of the ensemble of not-so-secret agents is terribly flawed, but we love them anyway. The eponym of the show, Sterling Archer, is at face value a stupid, heartless, narcissistic alcoholic. But I guess he does nice things sometimes, and his insulting carelessness is pretty hilarious.
Sterling leads a rather promiscuous romantic life, but none of which compares with his on-and-off again relationship with Lana Cane, his powerful yet beautiful coworker. Their relationship pulls at the heartstrings of fans, but a word to the wise: Don’t expect an adorable Jim-and-Pam office romance. It’s messy. It’s hatred. It’s a twisted and amusing love.
There is an extreme number of unique characters with intriguing motivations, but I cannot write this review without addressing my absolute love for Pam, the big-mouthed human-resources rep turned field agent who possesses a strong and shameless attitude that everyone should aspire to have (minus her destructive behavior, such as eating all of the cartel’s cocaine).
The seventh season of “Archer” was released to Netflix about one week ago, and I instantly began to catch up on this world of espionage and absurdity I missed so dearly.
As “Archer” frequently does, the sixth season ended with a frustrating cliffhanger that left fans banging their heads against the wall in anticipation. The band of former secret agents ended up jobless and stranded in a desert after miserably failing their new positions with the CIA. As the camera pans to Sterling, he dramatically states that he has an idea before the show went off the air for another year.
That moment was nothing compared with the final shot of the seventh season, but I must refrain from spoiling that. Anyway, the idea was to start a private investigation firm, sticking to their known skills that benefited them in their prior careers as spies and drug smugglers. The firm handled various unusual (and at times illegal) cases from prospective clients, primarily surrounding the beautiful actress named Veronica Dean.
This season, we once again are greeted by the typical antics of the characters we have come to simultaneously hate and love. The frustrating romance between Lana and Sterling takes another negative turn, with Sterling becoming extremely infatuated with Dean.
Perhaps my favorite moment of the season was when a group of sadistic robbers dressed as clowns held everyone hostage. Three agents (Sterling, Lana, and Pam) each individually killed a clown and took their place. Then, the three unknowingly beat the hell out of each other. As expected, hilarity ensues.
Catch up on this captivating and intelligent comedy so you can revel with me and other fans of the show over the unfolding drama. “Archer” deserves the popularity and mass obsession of other animated comedies such as “Bob’s Burgers” and “South Park.” Binge away, talk to friends, and try not to cry when characters’ deaths rips you away from a punchline that was delivered two seconds prior.