Loose Bond: Quick Thoughts About FX's Animated Comedy "Archer"

Just a few quick thoughts about FX's new comedy series.

While the comparison between FX's new animated comedy Archer and James Bond is an obvious one, the comparing this series, from creator Adam Reed (Sealab 2021), to Better Off Ted would be more apt.

While Archer follows the high-flying exploits of a suave James Bond-esque secret agent man, at its heart the series is a deliciously loopy and perversely raunchy workplace comedy.

Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) is Codename: Duchess (and, yes, his less-than-virile codename is the source of constant amusement), an insufferable superspy working for a top-secret organization called ISIS that just happens to be run by his tartly vindictive mother Malory (Arrested Development's Jessica Walter). Between globe-spanning missions and snuffing out world domination plans, the plot focuses on office politics, double-agents, health care plans, and the absurd love triangle that has developed between Archer, his deadly black ops ex-girlfriend Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler), and stuffy ISIS comptroller Cyril Figgis (Chris Parnell).

Throw in Judy Greer, some cool 1960s style (I'm in love with Archer's single-button suit), a portly HR executive with a girl-crush on Lana, an almost zombified butler/punching bag (George Coe), poorly conceived spy gadgets, and more double-entrendres, single-entendres, and blatantly raucous dialogue than you could spit at and you begin to approximate the subversive fun of Archer.

It's worth taking an aim at tonight.

Archer premieres with two back-to-back episodes tonight at 10 pm ET/PT on FX.

Comments

stephanie.jacobs said…

I see it as Bond meets Mad Men with a huge dose of comedy. I like it a lot.

1/17/2010

tamon said…

Anyone who likes this show, be sure to check out Frisky Dingo, Adam Reeds other show from Adult Swim.

1/24/2010

Kschenke said…

I just love that is has both Lucille Bluth and Kitty "Take a good look at THESE" Sanchez of Arrested Development.... and Jessica Walter is more or less playing her character again.

2/04/2010

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