Banana Scoop

With numerous people constantly smacking me on the hands for not watching one of the greatest TV shows ever, I finally got into watching F/X’s Archer.  Once again, I’m kicking myself in the ass for not finding this comedic gem sooner.  I have said this about many shows, but I’ll gladly stand behind saying Archer is one of the best things on television.  The quick witted, often self-referring jokes, the stellar cast, and one of the most lovable douche bags on TV, Archer has every element to be a casual comedy to keep up with.  It doesn’t matter if you’re alone in a room or in circled by friends, Archer will surely bring you the laughs every Thursday night.

Sterling Archer (brilliantly voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) is feared by all governments for being the most dangerous field agent out there.  He’s got all the best qualities of James Bond: deadly with a pistol, a taste for fancy drinks, and a tendency to flirt with all sorts of women.  The difference?  He’s completely aware of how awesome he is and selfishly rubs it in everyone’s face.  Working for the government agency ISIS, with his alcoholic mother (Jessica Walter) at the helm, Archer engages in different missions each episode.  With the help (or without in most cases) of his co-workers, he always manages to finish the mission.  Or at least, comes out of it alive.

Oh my God, yes

Now why is this show so awesome?  The same reason all great shows are funny. The clever writing and the wacky characters.  Behind Sterling’s man-boy/rascist/absurdist/douche attitude, we have some major comedic supporting players here.  The batshit crazy secretary Carol/Cheryl, the horny manitee HR representative Pam, the spineless accountant Cyril, the psychotic R&D scientist, Krieger, and Archer’s man-handish ex Lana, accompanied with his mother and a few other supporting players, we have one of the most diverse and compatible casts out there.  Each has their own distinct personality that lends the humor again and again.

And behind this ensemble is one of the greatest writing teams I’ve seen since Arrested Development.  You heard me, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT.  Not only does this cast and some guest stars share many the same voices of the recently revived series [Jessica Walter, Judy Greer, Jeffrey Tambor, and David Cross], but the jokes stack on top of each other so viciously and if you’re not paying attention, you may miss out on a really great joke.  The last time I remember a show this self-referential was definitely Arrested Development.  There’s even a Wikipedia article regarding the connection between the two.  Besides the jokes, the sheer writing is clever, absurd, and proves that crude humor is still hilarious if given the right ingredients.  There are a lot of dick jokes, sex jokes, drug jokes, etc., but the execution is perfect to the point where we’re not overloaded or overdisgusted, likely because we’re just laughing way too much.

Don’t let the animation style throw you off.  It’s slightly South Park-esque where not all the joints are bendable and the transitions smooth.  The characters are relatively cardboard-esque with minor tweaks at the major joints and basic facial expressions.  This all adds to the sheer hilarity, and adds an even more impressive feat when they pull some of the more complicated action sequences [despite being a comedy, there’s  still a lot of car chases, gun fights, and other James Bond type stuff].  As I’ve recently watched the past 2 seasons and am now keeping up with the third, there is a significant improvement in animation overall.  The backgrounds used to be very pastel-esque in season 1 [I really gotta stop using -esque], but are now very detailed to match the well drawn characters.  I suspect the show’s animation will continue to grow without losing it’s sense of style.

Overall, F/X has done a good job in commissioning this show.  Another gold star for F/X after delivering greats like It’s Always Sunny, Archer, The League, and American Horror Story.  If you’re not watching Archer and you’re remotely interested in James Bond, I guarantee you if you start watching, you’ll never regret it.  It’s relatively easy to pick up on, even if you start from season 3.  You may not get all the jokes, but if you’re at the slightest bit clever, you’ll still be curling over your futon/couch, laughing at your TV screen.

Speaking of F/X, Justified, I’ve got my eye on you…