Archer: The Figgis Agency
April 1, 2016 11:02 AM - Season 7, Episode 1 - Subscribe
Secret agent- turned private investigator Archer and the group are working on the West Coast, and Archer's newest case involves breaking and entering a mansion in order to bring back a disc to one of Hollywood's leading ladies.
"You're gonna have to go in... from the rear", everybody looks expectantly at Archer, "No! You all took it for granted."
I liked this a lot. Let's hope it stays good.
posted by Pendragon at 11:21 AM on April 1, 2016 [2 favorites]
I liked this a lot. Let's hope it stays good.
posted by Pendragon at 11:21 AM on April 1, 2016 [2 favorites]
The fuel pump exchange was the one that did it for me this episode, but I don't expect other people to have the same reaction to comments about mechanical problems of Italian vehicles.
posted by sardonyx at 12:03 PM on April 1, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by sardonyx at 12:03 PM on April 1, 2016 [4 favorites]
Yes! More archer!
It's good that Fanfare replaces tv scheduling for me. I have to go find this.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 12:10 PM on April 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's good that Fanfare replaces tv scheduling for me. I have to go find this.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 12:10 PM on April 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
The fuel pump exchange was the one that did it for me this episode, but I don't expect other people to have the same reaction to comments about mechanical problems of Italian vehicles.
Yeah, I liked that bit, too. Though, the question about the warranty was odd, since we're talking about a 30+ year-old car.
Overall, it was a decent start to the season. The opening was a bit too shouty/argumentative, even for them, almost like it was an over-played "greatest hits" of each character's personality. But, things improved quickly.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:17 PM on April 1, 2016
Yeah, I liked that bit, too. Though, the question about the warranty was odd, since we're talking about a 30+ year-old car.
Overall, it was a decent start to the season. The opening was a bit too shouty/argumentative, even for them, almost like it was an over-played "greatest hits" of each character's personality. But, things improved quickly.
posted by Thorzdad at 12:17 PM on April 1, 2016
Yeah, the warranty issue was a bit of a clunker in the script. It would have been better without it. Something about waiting for parts to be shipped from Italy would have been much more fitting.
posted by sardonyx at 12:51 PM on April 1, 2016
posted by sardonyx at 12:51 PM on April 1, 2016
I am excited about all the potential ways for the power to go to PI Cyril's head. I'm always Team Mallory, though.
posted by tracicle at 1:09 PM on April 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by tracicle at 1:09 PM on April 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
since we're talking about a 30+ year-old car.
Well, time is very fluid in Archer, to the point ISIS was a 60's cold war spy agency with reel storage computers, but the agents have smartphones and now Cheryl has a very early 90's looking laptop, and Kenny Loggins looked the same as in the mid 80s (while Burt Reynolds looked his 2010's self). The time of Archer is the Time of Cool: If something is cool, is contemporary with Archer. A Ferrari 308 is cool, so it's brand new in Archer.
Are they doing a season-long story arch this time around?
posted by lmfsilva at 2:34 PM on April 1, 2016 [15 favorites]
Well, time is very fluid in Archer, to the point ISIS was a 60's cold war spy agency with reel storage computers, but the agents have smartphones and now Cheryl has a very early 90's looking laptop, and Kenny Loggins looked the same as in the mid 80s (while Burt Reynolds looked his 2010's self). The time of Archer is the Time of Cool: If something is cool, is contemporary with Archer. A Ferrari 308 is cool, so it's brand new in Archer.
Are they doing a season-long story arch this time around?
posted by lmfsilva at 2:34 PM on April 1, 2016 [15 favorites]
The next episode preview had characters from this one, so I assume so.
posted by codacorolla at 2:57 PM on April 1, 2016
posted by codacorolla at 2:57 PM on April 1, 2016
I was very underwhelmed by this episode, to the point where I kept wondering if they had a change in showrunner or writers or something. It didn't seem nearly as funny as usual to me and there was a tonal shift, too. Like it was the same show, but three notches over in the "lame" direction.
But with the favorable comments above, I'm tentatively inclined to think that it's just my state of mind when I watched the show, or something.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 4:58 PM on April 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
But with the favorable comments above, I'm tentatively inclined to think that it's just my state of mind when I watched the show, or something.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 4:58 PM on April 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
Not necessarily, I felt equally underwhelmed. It almost felt a bit tired to me. (Community-Season 6-"We are we still doing this?"-tired.)
posted by bigendian at 5:14 PM on April 1, 2016
posted by bigendian at 5:14 PM on April 1, 2016
I got back on board when Archer stated that he took the painkillers because someone left them out.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:50 PM on April 1, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:50 PM on April 1, 2016 [10 favorites]
>fuel pump exchange
Oh, so that was what the "pompa de benzina" thing was about at the end.
I think that this is a definitely an arc season that opened with a cliffhanger; how Archer ended up apparently dead in a pool, six months later. My bet is, depending on renewal, it's the team faking their deaths and the next season has them pursuing a different venture.
The Figgis Agency being PIs has a ton of potential, and a rich body of cannon to draw from. This season is evidently not set up to fail.
Dunno, I felt that this is at least decent Archer (show), but Archer's (character) characterization felt pretty lazy. I hope they tone down the willful stupidity and go back to privileged ignorance. Opening the season with the team getting conned amused me.
Wonder if the painkillers thing is a shout out to the Max Payne video games (painkillers were the "med kit" - that and iirc, bottles of whisky(?))?
posted by porpoise at 5:53 PM on April 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh, so that was what the "pompa de benzina" thing was about at the end.
I think that this is a definitely an arc season that opened with a cliffhanger; how Archer ended up apparently dead in a pool, six months later. My bet is, depending on renewal, it's the team faking their deaths and the next season has them pursuing a different venture.
The Figgis Agency being PIs has a ton of potential, and a rich body of cannon to draw from. This season is evidently not set up to fail.
Dunno, I felt that this is at least decent Archer (show), but Archer's (character) characterization felt pretty lazy. I hope they tone down the willful stupidity and go back to privileged ignorance. Opening the season with the team getting conned amused me.
Wonder if the painkillers thing is a shout out to the Max Payne video games (painkillers were the "med kit" - that and iirc, bottles of whisky(?))?
posted by porpoise at 5:53 PM on April 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
Good, could have been better.
I hate openers like that, "____ days/months/hours earlier".
I know he's not dead. If if he is dead, it doesn't matter because he's a clone or a robot or comes back to life. It can be used in one-off movies, but in shows titled after the person who dies, it builds no suspense.
posted by FallowKing at 6:35 PM on April 1, 2016
I hate openers like that, "____ days/months/hours earlier".
I know he's not dead. If if he is dead, it doesn't matter because he's a clone or a robot or comes back to life. It can be used in one-off movies, but in shows titled after the person who dies, it builds no suspense.
posted by FallowKing at 6:35 PM on April 1, 2016
I was very underwhelmed by this episode, to the point where I kept wondering if they had a change in showrunner or writers or something. It didn't seem nearly as funny as usual to me and there was a tonal shift, too. Like it was the same show, but three notches over in the "lame" direction.
But with the favorable comments above, I'm tentatively inclined to think that it's just my state of mind when I watched the show, or something.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 4:58 PM on April 1
You weren't the only one underwhelmed. Actually most of the episodes I've seen leave me feeling that way, but this one even more so. It always feels like there is so much potential that is never realized.
That said the fuel pump line did strike my funny bone for very precise and personal reasons, which is why I noted it, but one bit isn't enough to garner heaping praise for a fully episode.
posted by sardonyx at 7:08 PM on April 1, 2016
But with the favorable comments above, I'm tentatively inclined to think that it's just my state of mind when I watched the show, or something.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 4:58 PM on April 1
You weren't the only one underwhelmed. Actually most of the episodes I've seen leave me feeling that way, but this one even more so. It always feels like there is so much potential that is never realized.
That said the fuel pump line did strike my funny bone for very precise and personal reasons, which is why I noted it, but one bit isn't enough to garner heaping praise for a fully episode.
posted by sardonyx at 7:08 PM on April 1, 2016
As for speculation about the future, here are some details (including info on next season).
posted by sardonyx at 7:12 PM on April 1, 2016
posted by sardonyx at 7:12 PM on April 1, 2016
"His name is Furlock Bones"
dander zone
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:00 PM on April 1, 2016 [11 favorites]
dander zone
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:00 PM on April 1, 2016 [11 favorites]
Right, so the opening being a reference to SUNSET BLVD... *sploosh* And private dicks (phrasing!) in Los Angeles? I'm already on board. Totally and completely. The Charlies Angel-style transitions between acts was perfect.
That said, some of the bickering at the start was a bit much and Archer was slightly stupid. But I still think this was a solid season opener and whether or not that story runs the whole season, it does at least run for the first few episodes.
Welcome back, Sterling and friends.
posted by crossoverman at 7:09 AM on April 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
That said, some of the bickering at the start was a bit much and Archer was slightly stupid. But I still think this was a solid season opener and whether or not that story runs the whole season, it does at least run for the first few episodes.
Welcome back, Sterling and friends.
posted by crossoverman at 7:09 AM on April 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
This episode has my hopes raised for the season. The last two seasons were kind of more miss than hit imo.
posted by humanfont at 1:57 PM on April 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by humanfont at 1:57 PM on April 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
It was less funny than usual, I thought, but I was willing to forgive that on a "setting the scene" episode for the whole Archer, P.I. concept. I'm hoping back on track next week.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:55 PM on April 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Chrysostom at 6:55 PM on April 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh, so that was what the "pompa de benzina" thing was about at the end.
Someone on the writing staff has had fun with Italian translations before (cf. Lo Scandalo and the Pope episode), so it wouldn't have surprised me if they'd been gesturing toward a pun on pompino, but that's just possibly my own mindset.
posted by psoas at 9:34 AM on April 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Someone on the writing staff has had fun with Italian translations before (cf. Lo Scandalo and the Pope episode), so it wouldn't have surprised me if they'd been gesturing toward a pun on pompino, but that's just possibly my own mindset.
posted by psoas at 9:34 AM on April 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
The Charlies Angel-style transitions between acts was perfect.
My hope is for per-episode homages to classic detective shows., though I am unsure anything is as iconic as CA
posted by phearlez at 10:42 AM on April 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
My hope is for per-episode homages to classic detective shows., though I am unsure anything is as iconic as CA
posted by phearlez at 10:42 AM on April 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Huh, a little surprised by the mixed reactions here. I loved this episode. Thought it returned to classic Archer.
posted by fizzix at 4:46 PM on April 8, 2016
posted by fizzix at 4:46 PM on April 8, 2016
Music by JG Thirlwell. Go Team Venture!
posted by Monochrome at 6:00 PM on April 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Monochrome at 6:00 PM on April 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Man I'm so excited about this, I love noir and I love archer, and this is just two great tastes that taste great together! I'd be curious for those who were meh on it, do you like the noir genre?
posted by Carillon at 1:34 PM on April 15, 2016
posted by Carillon at 1:34 PM on April 15, 2016
Yes. I've seen and loved many of the classic film noir and neo-noir, as well as having read a great many of the related detective novels. I didn't respond to this as noir because, for me, in the first two episodes (I've not watched last night's, yet) the noir elements were just a few of the most obvious tropes (detective, LA, femme fatale) against a lot of stuff that wasn't especially noir. So that aspect didn't really factor into it for me. I thought the first episode was underwhelming just because it seemed that way to me. The second episode I liked much more.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 2:13 PM on April 15, 2016
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 2:13 PM on April 15, 2016
Interesting! I was mainly curious as that would seem to me to be a simple breakdown, not trying to imply you must hate noir if you hated the first episode.
posted by Carillon at 3:35 PM on April 15, 2016
posted by Carillon at 3:35 PM on April 15, 2016
Yeah, probably just replying that I like noir would have sufficed. I went into more detail just because I like noir quite a bit, actually, but for me that didn't really give me any particular reason to respond well to the episode. But it's okay that you're excited about it, I don't mean to imply otherwise.
My response to comedy isn't super-consistent, unlike my response to drama. It's probably why I don't watch a lot of comedy. Sometimes things just fall flat for me that other people like (and where I'll enjoy something just like it later) and so I take my own reactions with a grain of salt -- I usually assume that there's at least a possibility that it was me, and not the show.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 4:51 PM on April 15, 2016
My response to comedy isn't super-consistent, unlike my response to drama. It's probably why I don't watch a lot of comedy. Sometimes things just fall flat for me that other people like (and where I'll enjoy something just like it later) and so I take my own reactions with a grain of salt -- I usually assume that there's at least a possibility that it was me, and not the show.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 4:51 PM on April 15, 2016
The rest of the season seems to be trending away from noir, even the crazy-ass Archer version of the first episode.
posted by Etrigan at 4:53 PM on April 15, 2016
posted by Etrigan at 4:53 PM on April 15, 2016
I'm not sure which would be better, Archer buying a 308 brand new or him seeking out a 30 year old car because of the obvious association.
posted by Mitheral at 1:17 PM on July 20, 2016
posted by Mitheral at 1:17 PM on July 20, 2016
This was pleasant to rewatch. The P.I. angle is fun, the gang’s all there, and everyone is given a chance to showcase their talents.
And I like LA yet I also love Malory griping about it.
“Literally the only thing about Los Angeles that doesn’t make me want to vomit.”
posted by Monochrome at 8:34 PM on June 29, 2020
And I like LA yet I also love Malory griping about it.
“Literally the only thing about Los Angeles that doesn’t make me want to vomit.”
posted by Monochrome at 8:34 PM on June 29, 2020
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I feel like the joke->smash cut to credits talent on this show is rarely talked about, but that last joke always lands perfectly.
posted by hobgadling at 11:09 AM on April 1, 2016 [6 favorites]