Archer: Killing Utne

June 16, 2016 6:40 PM - Season 1, Episode 4

A shindig hosted by Mallory to woo a lucrative contract away from ODIN doesn't go as planned when there is trouble with the hired help.
posted by Mitheral (15 comments total)

This episode is so convoluted I didn't really get it until my second watch through; you've got to be paying attention the whole time.

Mallory has the most inscrutable line of reasoning I've ever not comprehended in this episode.

Gravlax looks yummy.
posted by Mitheral at 6:48 PM on June 16, 2016

Early appearance by Jeffrey Tambor as Utne.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:19 PM on June 16, 2016

And Rene Auberjonois as the German assassin!
posted by the man of twists and turns at 11:00 PM on June 16, 2016 [2 favorites]

I love how there's this complex and ongoing drama with Uta and Mannfred that has nothing to do with the main plot at all.

Uta: I should not do this in my condition.
Mannfred: What condition? Your only condition is that you are a stupid, crazy girl!
Uta: Do not speak to me like a child, Mannfred! I hate when you do that!
Mannfred: I think you like it, ja! Because I think you have some serious und unresolved issues with your father! Ja?
Uta: Ja. Und maybe that is why I date a wrinkled old man like you!
Mannfred: ...
Uta: [Quietly] I didn't mean that.
Mannfred: No, no. Is okay.
Uta: Oh, Manni.
Mannfred: I think we both knew it. Just strange to hear it out loud.
posted by mochapickle at 12:36 AM on June 17, 2016 [2 favorites]

Mannfred: I think we both knew it. Just strange to hear it out loud.

It's weird how much effort this show goes into to give everyone an actual interior life beyond "Thug #2".
posted by Etrigan at 7:32 AM on June 17, 2016 [2 favorites]

This is kind of the episode where I fell in love with Mallory Archer - the excellent mixture of Bad Ideas (faked assassination), surprising competence (getting rid of the bodies) ruthlessness (planning to kill the German assassins, making everyone shoot the bodies to insure loyalty) and joyful spite ("let's see Trudy Beekman explain this to the co-op board").
posted by AdamCSnider at 9:34 AM on June 17, 2016 [4 favorites]

I'd like a Trudy Beekman callback next season (if there is one).
posted by Chrysostom at 2:15 PM on June 17, 2016 [1 favorite]

Trudy's a recurring off-screen character.
posted by axiom at 4:49 PM on June 17, 2016

I like to think that Trudy Beekman and "Lucille Two" Austero are best friends.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 11:10 PM on June 17, 2016 [10 favorites]

I don't think we've heard Trudy mentioned for a few seasons, though.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:07 AM on June 18, 2016

I don't think we've heard Trudy mentioned for a few seasons, though.

Didn't Mallory loss the condo (I want to say due to the "troubles" with the FBI)?
posted by MikeKD at 7:38 PM on June 18, 2016

She put it in her husband's name (Ron Cadillac). I recently re-watched the entire Archer run and Mallory mentions it at some point.
posted by axiom at 8:08 PM on June 18, 2016

I'd like a Trudy Beekman callback next season (if there is one).

The good news is that Archer has been renewed for not one, but three seasons!

Just like that old gypsy woman said!
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:24 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]

"Trudy's a recurring off-screen character."

She actually has at least one cameo level speaking role (or at least I assume the Trudy is Trudy Beekman) in a later episode.
posted by Mitheral at 1:09 PM on June 21, 2016

Meh meh meh! I'm Trudy Beekman and I have a cameo!
posted by mochapickle at 9:09 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]