Archer 7x2 'The Handoff': The BEST Voicemail Prank. THE BEST!

Archer 7x2 let's us know in the funniest way possible that it's aware of where its audience might be with some old jokes.

Reviewed while watching Felicity Jones go FULL ROGUE!! YEAH!!

Let’s begin this review with the self-referencing thing again. Archer has been less savvy and subtle with its jokes referencing other jokes these past two seasons, and while I stated last week that it’s not too big an issue for me because of the trade-off in character depth, it still a little sad when it comes off as contrived. Which is why there is definitely something still refreshing about ‘The Handoff’ capping off perhaps the finest (and funniest) referencing joke on Archer’s voicemail pranks. It was marvelous, and for all of the right reasons. For that 90 seconds alone, this episode gets high marks.

Context: Archer and Lana are with the lawyer Shapiro from last week (voiced by the totally baller Patton Oswalt), except Archer’s in the trunk of a car surrounded by baddies while Lana and Shapiro are captured. They haven’t checked in to the ‘Figgis’ Agency (cuz apparently we’re still pretending Cyril leads anything besides a campaign on sex addiction awareness), so the gang reluctantly calls Archer’s cell, expecting a voicemail prank and exposing Archer’s location in the trunk. Not for the first time, Archer legitimately answers but they don’t buy it. ‘Coyote Lovely’ pulled that off brilliantly, and briefly. This time, it’s not remotely brief. But instead of the joke seeming dragged and plodding in such a long piece (think back to last week’s Archer fall), the writers allow those 90 seconds to show the gang in all their best quirks, lazying around and rolling their eyes during the absurd sounds they’re hearing over the phone: Archer’s kicking the baddies ass hardcore, and brutally. Screams and stranglings and a disturbing sound of someone’s throat getting slit, and all of that is HILARIOUS! Why? Because the show deftly illustrates the joke as ‘We know we’ve been here before’ in the gang’s body language. No attempts at witty self-referencing dialogue, no over-the-top combat effects. Just the show lettings us know it’s aware of the joke retread, and it might risk being a bit drag. But it’s not. Because watching the characters look drag and frustrated themselves, beating us to the punch more or less, is a great way to counter-balance our own potential frustrations. It gives us something fresh to laugh at by watching their reactions. Not to mention the high quality of the sound effects, and the leaving it all to our imagination.

The rest of the episode is also just solid. Again, not classic. We may never get back to classic. But the writers are clearly testing the waters of how many dramatic beats they can repeat from past seasons (Archer flirting with another woman in front of Lana, Archer actively annoying Lana, Archer tactlessly scolding a physical appearance of Lana, other characters doing other things) while in the context of doubled-down relationships. Archer’s flirting with the Agency’s new client, Veronica Deane, but it’s while he and Lana have clearly crossed a new romantic threshold that adds to comedic tension. And while Cheryl once again says something woefully ignorant, instead of her questioning what’s she’s said or done, instead of seeming unsure, she just powers forward with a new-found confidence: ‘I assume there’s some leather-bound ship’s registry? In the office of the Lord High Admiral?!! UGH I’LL FIND IT MYSELF!! IDIOTS!!’

And all that aside, Oswalt’s Shapiro gave way for some new jokes and zeitgeist awareness, this time at the expense of Family Circus. ‘Only with blood and watery dogshit.’ It’s also one of Malory’s strongest and most admirable episodes. Probably cuz she’s wasn’t drunk cuz Archer wouldn’t share. She actually saves Archer and Lana, and she reveals the hard but refreshing truth of where our spies are at this point: in a new field, in a new city, and able to be whoever that want to be. Start fresh. But this is the show hinting that, of course, there’s some doubt our characters are mature enough to rise up to that challenge, even if they try. All that makes for intriguing writing and interest in the show. After 6+ seasons, there was some touch and go in between, but there’s a lot of good faith still happening. Archer’s still fresh, just in new ways. The funniest part is watching the whole gang explore those new ways in their same lazy and inept attitudes, swinging in chairs as a bunch of guys get possibly butchered by Archer. A mix of old and new. Mature writing for immature people.

And continuously beautiful animation.

Grade: A-

When I got sidetracked

-I cannot emphasize enough how beautiful the show is now with the animation. It was never bad, but it was never such a compliment to the show.

-Don't think I missed this episode also harking back to the end of 'Legs' with Archer's battered nakedness. Or the 'rampage' line.

-I really hope we get more of Patton Oswalt. That man is underappreciated.

-Apparently being Pam's friend for so long has made Cheryl's own skull like a brick. She just right back up from being absolutely SOCKED!

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