First off, I apologize for the delay with this one. I don’t know if there are folks who read my reviews regularly, but sorry. It won’t happen again. And thanks for reading.
Season two of Archer has been on a much grander scale. The staff at ISIS have done much more jet-setting, including a trip to Monaco during the Grand Prix.
Malory, Lana, Ray and Archer are in Monaco to pay off Le Chuffre, who is attempting to extort Malory for a disc containing sensitive material. While staying at the hotel, Archer manages to foolishly gamble away the $4 million in bearer bonds (the money came from ISIS 401Ks) which were to be used for the exchange with Le Chuffre.
Without a doubt, “Jeu Monegasque” was the most James Bond-esque episode of the entire series. The villain’s name is Le Chuffre (much like Le Chiffre from Casino Royale) and the climax of the episode is an amazing car chase through Monaco, ending in a car flying into a helicopter. As Archer would say, that was so totally ninja.
Another success of the episode is the further development of Archer and Ray as a team. They don’t get along as well as most other pairs and their constant bickering is just classically hilarious. Ray is the only agent that has comebacks strong enough to stand up to Archer’s and Malory’s jabs.
Archer has surpassed my expectations for this season and there are two episodes left. Who’s excited for what’s next, especially now that season three has been announced? Who prefers the first season? Who thinks Archer is too edgy and that I should watch something like Mike and Molly? I would prefer not to.
Bartelby the Scrivener? Anybody? Not a big Melville crowd here, huh? He’s not an easy read.
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Well, as much as I've liking this season, the first one was a laugh fest. I really miss the "danjah zooone" bit with Archer and Lana. I miss the show's self references that were a big part of what made me watch the first season 8 times (no joke). So far, Pipeline Fever was my favorite episode this season, but the past couple have been very good. I hope they keep up the good work!
My favorite episode(s) this season were the 2 show arc on Archer's breast cancer scare. A ton of great lines (Terms of Enrampagement), excellent use of Krieger (an underrated, always funny character), and a cancer patient bonding subplot that made Archer's character 200% more likeable. It's hard for me to pick one season over another — they're both fantastic.
Me – The first season is indeed a laugh fest. In fact, the "DANGER ZONE" line is now in constant rotation when I talk trash during games of Words with Friends … and then I loose. Horribly. The show's references to itself and in-jokes are still there, but season two has added more jokes to be repeated. I'm sort of looking at it like Arrested Development in that with each season, more recurring jokes are written in and the whole show will be recurring joke after recurring joke by the end of it's run. I just hope Archer lasts for more that three seasons.
Jerin – The rampage episode most definitely ranks in my list of favorites from the series. Like you said, his relationship with the old woman he met during treatment injected a bit of humanity into Archer's character. Stuff like that will keep his normal, dickish persona from getting stale. It's hard for me to pick, too, but I think season two trumps season one in terms of progression. Also, the increased use of Krieger, Pam, Cheryl and Ray definitely helps.
Thanks for reading, guys!