The twelfth season of Archer (Adam Reed, Frisky Dingo) has come out. This means that Sterling Mallory Archer (H. Jon Benjamin, Bob’s Burgers) is back. And so is ISIS and by that the logic, dysfunctional workplace comedy is back as well. In the first episode of the season, the audience finds ISIS in an economical quagmire. In this second episode, the dilemma has been solved. Because there is a new generous financial backer! Aka: Robert (Stephen Tobolowksy, Californication). Aka: Lana’s husband. While this new arrangement might prove complicated for Lana (Aisha Tyler, Criminal Minds), as in the lines between the professional and private have been erased, it proves hilarious for the audience. Especially during a surprise team-building trip. Perhaps ISIS will get to Idaho.
In a rather unusual but happy twist of fate, the crew is flying to Paris! On the Goldhawk! Two floors of air Luxury! It’s so good that Ray (Adam Reed) doesn’t want to fall asleep on the flight. But in another rather usual yet unhappy fluke, the plane is hijacked by a group of eco-terrorists (Nica Futterman, Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Tony Cavalero (The Righteous Gemstones). Everyone puts their hands up, they don’t want to risk having their brain blown with a 3-D recyclable gun. Only bodies should fill the landfill. No plastic. How to end this outlandish highjack? Transfer 1 million dollars to an offshore account, which are gonna be used for the earth’s cause.
Of course, at this point Pam (Nash Grier, Mr. Robot) is kicking ass. Either the high jackers kill them, the police kill them or they make it. Either way, enjoy it. Better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven. The republic of Pamistan is officially independent. At the same moment, Lana realises that she is at a point of her marriage when she can’t stand anything that Robert says or does. Especially now that Robert runs the company that pays her. And at that same moment, Archer is cooking up a plan.
Cyril (Chris Parnell, SNL) has to be Archer’s eyes and ears, which obviously proves somewhat problematic because Cyril…is Cyril. He gets hit on the face by an eco-terrorist, even if its comparable to clubbing a baby seal. He also gets trapped while Archer has sex with a flight attendant and while Pam, Cheryl (Judy Greer, 13 Going 30), and Krieger (Lucky Yates, American Dirtbags) have dinner in a Benihana-like restaurant. In case anyone forgot: there’s a hostage situation going on. But of course, it’s only Cyril that’s in danger. And Robert, because he’s apparently the Target Alpha.
But Robert is too busy at the moment, having a monumental fight with Lana in front of Malory (the late Jessica Walters, Arrested Development). He wants to have a baby with Lana, but she doesn’t want to talk about it. She wants to go around and save the world, while Robert is only interested in building a world than theirs. And as he finishes the last words of a sentence that goes: you keep pretending that you’re not a mom, but with kids that would be hard…he gets turned into the high jackers by his own wife. Really classy, really Lana? Luckily, Robert is, well, Robert and agrees to give them the money. If they were to make a case of it he would have done it, no need for the bullying you know.
The episode ends with Archer releasing the hounds, or rather a group of extremely well-groomed pedigreed canines. It also ends with ISIS having aided and abetted a group of terrorists (there’s something funny in that sentence), luckily it’s going to be good publicity. Sadly, it means that the company has to cut down some expenses, such as alcohol and alcohol and alcohol.
This episode has proved quintessentially Archer— full of booze, alcohol, and people laundering in public when they should be saving the world. The next episodes will show the new dynamic that Lana, Robert, Archer and Mallory have now that there’s a new Sheriff in town.
Rating: 8.5/10