Archer is back with a bang in its season 12 premiere – sort of. Oh, how I’ve missed “phrasing!” After a long slog, and a few “difficult” seasons with Sterling in a coma, Archer has returned to a brand new season of life endangering missions. He’s right back to taking down personal rivals and expensing premium whiskey to the company’s bank account.
Identity Crisis
The season kicks off with a deceptive slow motion sequence that ends in disappointment for the gang. They end up drinking from a central plastic jug of whiskey, in Malory’s stripped down and pawned off office, half-listening to some marketing buffoons about rebranding.
I believe this may be an acknowledgment that the agency and the show itself is looking for a rebrand. It may be a way to move forward and get the show back to its usual shenanigans. An attempt to return to its prime pacing and unique brand of levity.
Yet, Archer misses its stride in its season 12 premiere, setting more up than anything, and not really knocking much down. Which may be forgivable, since the premier includes a second episode in the same night. This episode felt like a refresher more than anything.
Archer’s recovery has been a little slow for my taste. His sheer strength and blasé attitude are arguably his only redeeming qualities.
We allow his self serving attitude, and get a kick out of it too, because he always serves up the goods in the end. So, his weakness in coming up against Fabian Kingsworth, head of competing agency IIA, in hand-to-hand combat, is a bit of a let down. Let’s hope he regains his backbone soon.
The team’s victory lap for literally saving the world in last season’s finale is totally botched. Another misstep in a long series of missteps taken by the spy agency. Malory proves her resourcefulness yet again, by inviting Lana’s husband into the mix as a financier – one last bid to find success. This also serves to complicate Lana’s marriage.
Will Malory and her cronies finally pull it together to return to the glory days of the agency and this show? I hope so. It was much funnier when they weren’t so worried about money and when money wasn’t the greatest stake.
Lowjacked
Archer returns to familiar territory, with the promise of a bonding retreat for the team that goes awry – thanks to Lana’s husband Robert.
Again, I believe this is an attempt to capture that magic of an earlier season. It’s very similar to when Malory calls everyone into the office early to have a bonding session, only for the whole gang to get miserably stuck in the elevator.
This episode, though, proves to contain far fewer laughs. A result of the slower pacing of dialogue. Less jokes seem to come across than expected. The promise of fun in the luxury airliner is swiftly broken before they even get air, thanks to environmental activists who commandeer the vessel and demand cash transfers from the elite to their cause.
This provides enough conflict to raise the stakes and make some fun, allowing Archer to get down to some of his typical debauchery.
Pam does shine a bit here too, knocking two of the environmental activist hostage-takers down the stairs of the jet, and blocking the stairwell with piles of luggage, all to exploit the hibachi grill and slot machines. You have to love Pam’s unwieldy strength and deep urges. She proves time and time again to be one of the funniest characters on this show.
Jessica Walter’s Posthumous Swan Song is Archer Season 12
It is with a heavy heart that I listen to Malory speak, knowing this season will be her last. Jessica Walter was a profoundly funny actress, who I first fell for in Arrested Development.
Archer is a natural extension of her character from that show. Her wit and impeccable timing made each episode. Her cutting lines are always delivered flawlessly.
She will be missed terribly. She brought me and so many others great joy for many years. I am so incredibly grateful to witness her final performance unfold on this show, doing what she does best – kicking ass and taking names.
Archer
Creator: Adam Reed
Director: S12E1 – Matt Thompson / S12E2 – Pierre Cerrato
Writers: S12E1 – Adam Reed, Shane Kosakowski / S12E2 – Adam Reed, Shana Gohd
Stars: H. Jon Benjamin, Judy Greer, Amber Nash, Chris Parnell, Adam Reed, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter, Lucky Yates
Images courtesy of FXX and Netflix
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H. Jon Benjamin also voices Bob Belcher in Bob’s Burgers!
