Archer
U.S. comedy usually gets split into two camps; comfortable, primetime sitcoms and risk takers. Archer is most definitely in the latter camp, and all the better for it.
Now three years in, Archer has become the one of the poster children of the new, edgy comedy coming out of America. And it easily deserves the pressure.
The show’s incredibly broad sense of taste is its golden ticket however; as the show continually pushes the boundaries of what can even be considered possible.
Cyborgs, thinking holograms and the possibly the world’s single worst HR manager are just the tip of the iceberg for Archer, as the show has, over its three years, began weird and then simply gotten crazier. The fantastic thing is, the show seems to know exactly how insane it really is, with characters often calling upon that fact specifically.
While most shows would lose all sort of structure under this cloud of absurdity, Archer positively thrives under it. The show is at its very best when Archer’s trying to teach murderous pirates lacrosse or rescue an Ocelot from a train car filled with terrorists.
All of this would be possible without three major factors, the cast, the writers and the animation.
Throwing more jokes at the screen per minute than nearly any other comedy out there, Archer’s laughs per minute ratio is absolutely unmatched.
Heaving with just the right amount of completely left field, usually Burt Reynolds inspired references; Archer is the absolute epitome of what TV comedy writing should be. Always clever, always punchy and never resting on its laurels and going for the cheap gag, it’s a real lesson to how to make the very most out of 22 minutes.
It’s all made possible by the show’s fantastic cast of voice actors, with the experienced H. Jon Benjamin the perfect choice for the womanising, ridiculous Archer with almost perfect timing a fantastic dry tone. With the brilliant Aisha Tyler, Judy Greer and Chris Parnell also in attendance, Archer’s team of comedian voice talent is absolutely top notch.
That the show is animated gives the writers the freedom they never could with live action, no matter what network they were on or how much budget they had. Simply on a plot level, they are utterly free to do what they want. Make the team go to the Everglades, Russia or even into space? Easy. The almost comic book animation style looks gorgeous as well, with it giving the show a fantastically unique look.
Oddball comedy at it’s very best; Archer is one of TV’s leading lights when it comes to making you laugh far too often than is good for you.
With a fourth, surely deranged series on the way, it’ll be some time before the world’s most dangerous and drink addled secret agent hangs up his gun. Long may his reign of terror continue.
You can buy the second series of Archer right here on Blu-Ray.
FemaleFirst Cameron Smith
Tagged in TV Hidden Gems