Archer (2009 TV series)

Did You Know?

• Comedy Central previously owned exclusive US broadcast syndication rights for Archer, beginning airings on March 2, 2015.
• The series is available on Tubi as of September 1, 2025.

Characters and settings

The show centers on eight dysfunctional employees of the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS), a fictional New York–based agency. The protagonist is Sterling Archer, a narcissistic and philandering field agent; his mother Malory Archer is the retired agent-turned-ISIS director. Lana Kane, Sterling's on-and-off lover and mother of his daughter Abbiejean, is the most qualified field agent. Other main characters include openly gay bomb specialist Ray Gillette; foolish but skilled human resources supervisor-turned-agent Pam Poovey; mild-mannered accountant-turned-agent Cyril Figgis; neurotic personal assistant Cheryl Tunt; and morally bankrupt scientist Dr. Algernop Krieger. Supporting roles include Len Trexler, head of rival spy agency ODIN; CIA undercover agent Slater; KGB head Katya Kazanova; IIA CEO Fabian Kingsworth; Interpol agent Zara Khan; and Sterling's nemesis Barry Dylan. Early seasons take place in an anachronistic Cold War–esque universe, while middle seasons abandon the spy premise to advance character arcs. Seasons eight through ten present three self-contained universes coinciding with an exploration of Sterling's psyche.

Production

Adam Reed created Archer after the cancellation of his Adult Swim comedy Frisky Dingo in 2008. While vacationing in Spain, he traversed the Vía de la Plata and spent time in Plaza Mayor in Salamanca, where observing local women inspired the character of Sterling Archer. Reed felt developing a sitcom about global espionage was inevitable given his love of adventure-driven comedy; he drew inspiration from the James Bond franchise, OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006), and The Pink Panther franchise. The series, then under the working title Duchess, began taking form. On August 18, 2009, after Reed pitched the show to FX, the network commissioned six episodes. FX initially planned Archer as a companion series for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but delayed its premiere to the following January due to production demands, making The League the companion show instead. The pilot, "Mole Hunt", aired as a test screening on September 17, 2009, following the season five premiere of Philadelphia, without being listed in program listings or promoted beyond select television critics.

Reception

Archer received positive reviews from media critics. Voice acting, particularly H. Jon Benjamin's performance, was frequently praised; Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter called Benjamin's delivery "note-perfect for comedy." Reviewers also commended the writing, crude sensibility, and characterization, with Chris Barton of the Los Angeles Times calling the show "the smartest, strangest animated show on TV this side of Rick and Morty." Entertainment Weekly's Ken Tucker praised its "solid plotting, vividly distinct characters, and some of the most unexpected punchlines and sight-gags in prime time." The show's artistic reinvention in later seasons became a major topic of discussion; some critics felt these arcs gave the show greater creative license, while others believed that by seasons eight and nine, the series sacrificed narrative continuity and humor for increasingly predictable writing. Archer appeared on several best-of lists, including TV Guide's 60 greatest TV cartoons and Entertainment Weekly's 25 Greatest Animated TV Series. The New Yorker called it "good counter-programming for every horrible thing in the news."

Related media

FX Networks released the augmented reality mobile game Archer P.I. in April 2017, a companion title tied to the eighth season. In September 2022, Archer characters became playable in the card-based crossover game Animation Throwdown: The Quest for Cards, alongside characters from Family Guy, Futurama, American Dad!, Bob's Burgers, and King of the Hill. Several companion books were published by HarperCollins' imprint It Books: How to Archer: The Ultimate Guide to Espionage and Style and Women and Also Cocktails Ever Written (January 2012); Archer and Bob's Burgers: The Untold History of Television (August 2015) by Kathleen Olmstead; and The Art of Archer (December 2016) by Neal Holman with a foreword by Christian Slater. The show's success spurred a nationwide tour, Archer Live!, with actors reimagining scenes from the series. FX released the country music compilation Cherlene (Songs from the Series Archer) on March 3, 2014, featuring a cover of "Danger Zone" with Kenny Loggins and three original tracks by Aaron Lee Tasjan. Kevn Kinney led music production after meeting Adam Reed a decade earlier; Jessy Lynn Martens provided Cheryl's singing voice. The album peaked at number 68 on iTunes' best-selling albums chart.