Ok, so the third season of Archer doesn’t start until January of 2012, but this three-part ‘Heart of Archness’ special wraps up the events of season two, which ended with Sterling Archer in an uncharacteristically low place. Picking up three months after the events of the hilarious spring finale ‘Double Trouble’, ISIS is on the search for the now-missing Sterling Archer, who is wallowing in his sorrows the only way he knows how- selfishly, dangerously, and with an admirable level of ignorance. Guest-star Patrick Warburton joins the cast as adventurer for hire Rip Riley, who finds Archer in his current position of bartender and new marriage destroyer. Events land them in a pirate fortress, leading Malory (the ever-caring mother, as always) unleashes the black card for Lana and Ray to find him – who of course, abuse the privilege while they search.
This three-part extravaganza make for some of the funniest Archer moments yet (can you say pirate king?). Archer already established itself as one of television’s best comedies in its first two seasons, and this special trio of episodes only raise the bar for a show that continues to redefine the spy, comedy and animated genres of television all at the same time (hand in hand with channel-mate Louie). If you’re not watching Archer yet, I gotta ask…. what the hell are you waiting for?
Couple highlights from the trilogy:
– Every interaction between Ray, Lana and Archer in the last two parts of the special. Their scenes show off the writers talent for engaging, tightly-paced dialogue.
– one of the things I love most about Archer is its fantastic use of running gags. Unlike other shows (Family Guy or anything by Seth McFarlane), Archer‘s continuing jokes are used subtly and reveal things about our characters, not existing as a lazy joke device (like the constant Monica-likes-to-clean jokes we heard for 10 years straight on Friends) or just to piss the audience off.
– could Rip Riley be Archer’s father? Would explain the strong jaw structure – and the penchant to continue conversations while kicking ass.
What did everyone else think? Was a three-part special satisfying, or does it only make you yearn for the full season to begin in January?
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