courtesy FX
What happens when you cross Don Draper, James Bond, and Buster Bluth? Meet Sterling Malory Archer—code name: Duchess—the world’s most dangerous spy.
Pitched by series creator Adam Reed as “James Bond meets Arrested Development ” if Bond were “as dickish as possible,” Archer centers on the relationships between the titular character (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin)—the handsome, suave, and wildly self-centered spymaster—and everyone else. In FX’s dark animated spy parody, the home base is ISIS, an international intelligence agency based in New York (in a time period that is a mélange of the 1960s, the Cold War era, and today). And naturally, because it’s a workplace in a comedy show, ISIS is full of dysfunctional characters. There’s Archer’s domineering mother, agency head Malory Archer (Jessica Walter), Archer’s ex-girlfriend, kickass field agent Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler), ISIS accountant and quasi-rival Cyril Figgis (Chris Parnell), loudmouthed human resources director Pam Poovey (Amber Nash), secret-multimillionaire and choke-obsessed secretary Cheryl/Carol Tunt (Judy Greer), sarcastic-but-good-natured field agent Ray Gillette (Adam Reed), and the Nazi-scientist Doctor Krieger (Lucky Yates).
Mix this ragtag team of insecure/alcoholic/sex-crazed narcissists into a world where time periods are jumbled, conflicts and countries are made up, and running jokes are repeated and the resulting comedic cocktail is as stiff as they come. Also, thanks to the punchy one-liners, obscure pop culture references, and GIF-able dialogue, it’s the kind of show the internet has embraced warmly. (Check out this Tumblr of GIFs and the Mad Men/Archer mashup site Sterling Archer Draper Pryce for a taste.) But ultimately, for all its exotic tours and overly revealing flashbacks, Archer‘s more than the sum of its double entendres. It’s about the relationships we have with each other—and the way the worst in each of us gets in the way.
So pour yourself a Tom Collins and chop some ice like a field hand. It’s time to dig in and keep the jokes, uh, coming (phrasing!)—your Archer binge-watch begins now.
Archer
Number of Seasons: 5 (62 episodes)
Time Requirements: For a true binge, you’ll need two weeks, tops. At 20 minutes a pop, you’ll speed through the show easily, even if you only watch a few episodes a night. (For a faux binge, you can do it in a month at just two episodes per night.)
Where to Get Your Fix: Amazon Prime, Google Play, iTunes, Netflix
Best Character to Follow: Archer and Lana’s frenemy-slash-unrequited-love dynamic is the heart and soul of the show. It evolves throughout the series and serves as both comic relief and major emotional arc. All the supporting characters carry their weight (even Cyril!), but without Archer and Lana the show wouldn’t be worth watching. Their repartee, one-upmanship, and brief glimpses of love, respect, and even kindness keep the show rooted and will keep you coming back for more.
Seasons/Episodes You Can Skip: Season 5: Archer Vice
Watch the first episode (“White Elephant”) and the last (“Archer Vice: Arrival/Departure”) and you’ll get all the essential plot points without having to waste too much time. Other than a few strong scenes (like Archer, Ray, and Cyril riding down the croc-filled river in “The Rules of Extraction”) and some worthwhile season-long jokes, Season 5 repeats itself—a lot. The switch from ISIS to the dark side isn’t the issue, either—ISIS was never all that noble anyway—Season 5 just drags out every joke, plot point, and minor character development ad nauseam, making each episode a whole a lot less fun. Plus, series creator Adam Reed has said that upcoming Season 6 will “unreboot or whatever,” so you won’t miss much as long as you catch the highlight reel (which literally exists in “White Elephant”).
Seasons/Episodes You Can’t Skip: In Archer, there’s no real plot to follow; so once you’ve got a good grasp on the characters, you can jump around (exception: finales and Archer Vice). Archer‘s just as enjoyable in a full-blown binge as it is in bacon bits, so pick and choose from these gems, as you like.
Season 1: Episode 1, “Mole Hunt” This is where it all begins. When we meet Archer, we discover he’s been using ISIS funds for personal exploits. Cyril is onto him. To distract Cyril (and Malory), Archer starts a rumor that there’s a mole. (Misdirection!) But, of course, it turns out to be true. From the brilliant opening scene to the impending shootout, “Mole Hunt” sets up the show by subverting our expectations. The world’s most dangerous spy? An arrogant frat boy. The agency head honcho? A horny old lady. The head of HR? A gossipy loudmouth. Bring it, reality check.
Season 1: Episode 7, “Skytanic” The ISIS crew takes to the sky in a helium-powered blimp (really a rigid airship) when a bomb threat jeopardizes the maiden voyage. Welcome … to the … Danger Zone.
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