Archer Review

Have you ever thought to yourself what would MI6 have been like if M spend every working day matching James Bond drink for drink? You haven’t till just now but would like seeing the ensuing clandestine chaos? Then FX’s Archer is the show for you.

Following the exploits of not so super secret ISIS agent Duchess aka Sterling Malory Archer, a thirty something womanising, binge drinking, self centred, ignorant and abusive man-boy and other equally flawed ISIS employees, the show is a hilariously grown up’s cartoon that leaves the likes of Seth MacFarlane’s Family Guy and American Dad eating it’s spider webs.

Set in the midst of the swinging sixties and the Cold War, Archer portrays this particular secret agency in a fashion most unbecoming of even your local Co-op. What makes Archer different though is that its focus is not set solely on the action and adventures of the main agents. Action sequences are cut away to scenes with office staff mingling, competing in stupid work place games such as Kill or Shag and See What You Can Call Your Superior Without Getting Fired or getting drunk (apparently an ISIS speciality).

Creator Adam Reed has developed a show that for once gives characters usually destined for roles of walking and faking conversation in the background a voice in a prominent position. Even if those voices go no further than spreading office speculation and sordid conversations. The characters of Pam, Cyril, Cheryl and Dr Krieger boast a large contribution to the dialogue that both shocks and awes and manages to sustain its impact even after repeat viewings.

One of the finest examples that displays the secret goings on of the office mites is in the fourth episode of the first season where during a dinner party to convince a UN diplomat to give ISIS a contract, Organisation Head Malory Archer strikes up a conversation starter (than hindsight would consider a catastrophic move) by asking head scientist Dr Krieger to talk about his most recent search project, to which after prompting from HR head Pam he begins to fill in the delegate with the intricate details of his home made sex robot, Fisto Roboto who, as the cherry on top of a teetering stack of sewage works run off, is said to be learning.

Between sentient sex droids and box forts, it’s these little gems that make Archer entertaining to view as what goes on in the minds of certain characters honestly cannot be fathomed which makes for fantastic reveals.

Even though Archer is supposed to be set in the sixties, many punch lines come from pop culture references decades beyond their time. With the likes of Kenny Rogers “Danger Zone” being quoted by Archer to wind up ex girlfriend and partner Lana Kane or Archer again commentating on his adventures and comparing them and himself to Burt Reynolds.

Joining the pop culture references are quips commentating on a number of characters views and opinions on safe sex and modern approaches to relationships. These jokes work better in a capacity to show the flaws and insecurities that inhabit the characters, it gives them more depth and understanding while also a fantastic source of comedy reference later on.

As previously mentioned, the dialogue and interactions between characters are razor sharp and as such help set Archer apart from its rivals who rely on quick, crude jokes with little relevance to the narrative of an episode, unlike Archer which can rely on quick, crude jokes that are entwined into the narrative as a criticism on the personality traits of the character is aimed at. Even off the cuff remarks hit home with enough speed to not detract from the progression of an episode for the sake of a quick laugh.

One of the most important elements that makes Archer such a joy to behold is the animation style that accompanies the show. The art direction is highly polished, sharp and not too bright. The artistic direction does well to catch the stylised glamour so usually associated with the sixties when in classy locations while also managing to capture the mundane and bland environments that are expected to come with a run of the mill office job.

By animating the characters in a realistic, human style instead of a caricature form the show becomes far easier to access for new viewers who don’t want to be associated with being a fan of a silly cartoon series.

It gives the show a grown up appeal, a slightly more high brow and less gutter humour packaging on first glance, but when the gutter humour arrives by the bucket load, the visual style somewhat allows you to make the distinction that while it is a cartoon, the humour and dialogue needs the cartoon perspective as the humour and timing wouldn’t work nearly as well with a camera and cast.

Archer is a show that isn’t breaking the mould in terms of the spy or cartoon entertainment genres. Instead, the show has decided to take the approach of shaking up how audiences imagine and expect a super secret clandestine agency to be and throws in every social, work place and political faux pa imaginable, puts it in a blender and hits blitz.

Archer is a TV show that looks set for a promising future with its second, eagerly anticipated second series having just finished broadcasting in April and a third season green lit, it doesn’t look like the chronicles of Sterling Archer and his ISIS cohorts are set to end anytime soon.