It’s not easy to maintain momentum for a television series that’s been around for more than ten seasons, yet Archer has grown into one of the longest-running animated series of its kind. Archer’s 12th season just wrapped and it’s already been renewed for a 13th, so the acerbic, sarcastic spy comedy series isn’t going anywhere for the foreseeable future.
The spy genre and James Bond pastiches can feel played out in some ways, so it’s always impressive to see how Archer pushes the envelope, defies convention, and plays by its own rules. It’s led to the series becoming one of the more fascinating adult animation series of this generation, but it’s also one that’s gone through significant changes since its inception.
10 The Name Of The Spy Agency Has Gone Through Several Revisions Since ISIS
The various name changes that have taken place within Archer are indicative of just how much the world has changed since the series’ humble premiere back in 2009. When Archer begins, the spy organization that Sterling and company are employed under is ISIS, the International Secret Intelligence Service. After the emergence of a real-life terrorist organization named ISIS, Archer shifted gears and turned to the Figgis Agency. This has progressed further with the spy group being known as The Agency, which ultimately gets absorbed by IIA, the International Intelligence Agency.
9 Former ODIN Agent Barry Is Turned Into A Cyborg With Fluctuating Allegiances
Archer has worked through its fair share of antagonists, but one of the most consistent is Barry, the former ODIN agent-turned-cyborg. Barry has enough reasons to resent Archer before he becomes a mechanical menace, but this technological development leaves him even more focused on Sterling’s destruction. However, a strange symmetry and sense of peace is reached between these two following Archer’s coma. It’s a major breakthrough to have Barry turn into an ally, which is slightly undone in season 12, but still shows growth between them and their complicated relationship.
8 Archer’s Faithful Valet, Woodhouse, Is Gone
Archer is an extremely privileged individual whose inflated ego often keeps him removed from reality to some extent. A fixture of Archer’s detached nature and disposable wealth is Woodhouse, Sterling’s faithful valet and consistent punching bag.
Woodhouse is always there to absorb Archer’s punishment and keep him afloat, but Sterling eventually has to confront the sad truth that Woodhouse passed away. It takes Archer seasons to properly deal with this loss, and he unsuccessfully attempts to find a new replacement valet, but no one can match Woodhouse’s perfection.
7 Archer Has Been In And Out Of A Coma
One of the riskiest gambits that Archer takes is to send its main character into a coma that left audiences wondering for years if he would ever emerge from the other side. Archer uses these three coma seasons to engage in some radically different genre storytelling, but the character has finally come out of his lengthy rest. The following seasons of the series have been greatly focused on everyone’s ability to move on without Archer and him figuring out what role he currently serves in life and where he fits in best.
6 Lana Is Married, But Not To Archer Or Cyril
It’d be unreasonable to expect everyone in Archer to remain in a position of stasis just because Sterling is lost in a coma for three seasons. Both Archer’s friends and the series’ audience had no clue if Sterling would ever wake up and Lana moves on with her life and gets married to Robert. Lana has been in serious relationships with both Archer and Cyril earlier in the series, but Robert marks her most serious commitment. Season 12 highlights the cracks in the foundation of this relationship and there are rough waters ahead for the duo.
5 The Characters Have Become Detectives, Seaplane Pilots, And Gone To Space... Kind Of
It’d be one thing for Archer to shelve its main character by putting them in a coma for three years, but Archer instead creatively sets these seasons to exist in Sterling’s scattered coma brain.
Archer: Dreamland, Danger Island, and Archer: 1999 all exist before Archer wakes up and the series returns to its spy roots. In the meantime, it tries its hand at film noir, adventure serials, and science fiction space adventures. It definitely allows Archer to feel fresh and helps create anticipation for when the show returns to the basics.
4 The Circumstances Surrounding Archer’s Origin Story And First Mission Are Revealed
It’s actually kind of ridiculous that it takes Archer 12 seasons and over 100 episodes to finally explore the character’s origin story and the conditions around his first foray into spy work. Season 12 provides an enlightening look into Sterling’s past, which presents a much meeker version of the character who’s clumsy with ladies and a sloppy spy. Sterling’s time with McGinley, as well as his first love, help chisel him into the hardened alcoholic professional that he is today. It’s a surprisingly emotional backstory that makes for a satisfying look into the character’s roots.
3 Archer And Lana Have A Child Together
Sterling Archer and Lana Kane have had their ups and downs over the course of Archer. The series begins with them occupying an infectious “will they/won’t they” energy, which it eventually progresses past. It seems as if Sterling and Lana have figured out that they work better as friends than romantic partners, but they still end up having a child together in the middle of the series. Abbiejean “A.J.” Malory Kane-Archer is five years old now and Lana and Sterling’s absence from her life has been analyzed within the series.
2 Cheryl’s Name Is In Flux
One of the stranger running jokes that’s played around within Archer is the name of Judy Greer’s consistent wild card and agent of chaos, Cheryl Tunt. Greer’s character is most frequently known as Cheryl, but her name has experienced so many slight shifts that she can’t even be positive over what it really is. Cheryl also goes by Carol, Cristal, Cherlene, Charlotte, and even Carina in some extreme situations. All of this speaks towards the character’s extremely eccentric personality and how she can often feel as if a dozen unique personalities are fighting for dominance inside of her.
1 Malory Archer Leaves The Agency For Good
The passing of Jessica Walter in 2021 was a tragic blow for the Archer team and season 12 manages to function as a very satisfying and touching swan song for her exceptional character, Malory Archer. Malory is arguably an indispensable aspect of the series and her relationship with Sterling is paramount. Season 12 concludes with Malory removing herself from The Agency and disappearing into a peaceful retirement with Ron Cadillac. When Archer returns, the spy antics will be without Malory for the first time and the series will have a very different energy. Malory is irreplaceable.