I was thinking to myself the other day when finishing yet another TV series, why do I have no one to talk about this with? Why does no one watch what I'm watching? and lastly it must be down to their poor taste not mine (that's my reasoning and I'm sticking to it). So I thought why not enlighten the masses and write about it. So here is number one of what I'm hoping to be a regular occurrence, on the T.V. shows I think you should all watch (if your not already, and in that case your awesome). Some will be widely watched, others may not, but all excellent.
The first televisual gem I have for you is a brilliant cartoon from the creators of Sealab 2021 and Frisky Dingo, it is of course if the picture at the top of this post is anything to go by 'Archer'. Here's the low down.
- Series Name: Archer
- No. of Seasons: 4
- Creators: Adam Reed, Matt Thompson
- Original Network: FX
Archer is a 30 minute cartoon series focusing on the title character Sterling Archer, code name Duchess. A suave and incredibly self-centred master spy, with a drinking problem and mother issues. He works for I.S.I.S (the International Secret Intelligence Service). He deals with global espionage while having to deal with his domineering, emotionally cold mother and boss, Mallory Archer, fellow agent and ex-girlfriend Lana Kane and a cast of incompetent fellow employees. Driven by rapid-fire dialogue and interaction-based drama, the series is full with pop-culture references and many running gags and catch phrases, the latter two being a hall mark of the shows creators as seen in previous shows, Sealab 2021 and Frisky Dingo.
When I first discovered this series I was slightly sceptical mostly due to my love of Frisky Dingo and sadness at it's premature cancellation. But after giving Archer a chance I blasted through the first three seasons in no time, and I'm so glad I did. Archer takes everything that was brilliant about Frisky Dingo and gives it structure, more inventive writing and a massively likeable main character. Sterling Archer is the guy we all secretly wish we could be, despite his self-centred nature and neglectful up bringing, he is the agency's lead agent, skilled at hand to hand combat, espionage, incredibly suave with the ladies, but at the same time dumb as a bag of rocks, except for bringing out random facts at the strangest of moments. The shows time setting is comically anachronistic (a juxtaposition of person(s), events, objects, or customs from different periods of time). Showing obvious up to date technology and pop-culture references, but at the same time things such as presenting the Soviet Union as a still functioning nation and Fidel Castro still being the leader of Cuba, this This ambiguity is explicitly recognized in at least two episodes, in which characters are asked what year they think it is but are unable to answer.
For anyone looking for a cartoon which is a massively funny, 30 minute fun ride, with interesting characters, inventive writing catch phrases and in jokes you and your friends can quote to each other and no one else have a clue what your going on about (always fun) then this is the show for you. The first three seasons are available on Netflix so is a perfect place for you to watch and become accustomed with the employees of I.S.I.S. and you'll be glad you did (unless you have no sense of humour that is).
