It’s hard to pinpoint precisely what threw the laugh ratio off the second episode of Archer’s sixth season. It may have been as simple as the quantity of jokes delivered, in a show that’s characterized by a high density of gags, typically paced out breathlessly. More likely, though, is the joke-to-hit ratio—which, of course, is far more difficult to quantify—what with humor’s subjectivity and all. While the return to the recognizable surroundings following the previous season’s Vice stint remains a welcomed shift, there’s more déjà-vu to the laughs of tonight’s episode than there are ones born of surprise or fresh wit.
“Just Slater!” Slater assigns the team on a mission to extract a sleeper agent whose identity has been compromised in Buenos Aires. Why would the CIA look to the dysfunctional spy organization formerly known as ISIS? Seems they have history with the agent in question. Archer never seems to waste its (surviving) antagonists. It took a full five-plus seasons, but the handsome, witty traitor from the series’ third episode finally makes his reappearance. A big “Welcome back!” to you, diversity hire dream Toofer, Conway Stern.
“Three to Tango”’s A-plot easily had the best material, particularly Sterling’s “Revenge Rampaaaaaaage!” versus Conway, which is one of those sequences that demonstrate how improved is the animation since the series’ debut. (See this episode back-to-back with the first appearance of Conway Stern for an eye-popping comparison.) The well-choreographed violence between the men is intercut with Lana calmly making tea, and would serve as a perfect introduction to the characters of Sterling Archer and Lana Kane if, say, they got around to making that live-action movie .
Meanwhile, the usual office-based B-plot is taking place. Lana, having reluctantly left baby Abijean (Hey! Where are the digs at that awful baby name? I’m immediately disappointed in all of them. Especially Ray.) in Malory’s care, really should be grateful the little girl wasn’t lost even quicker. Malory stalks the office in either grand matronly concern, or, more likely, in a rage over somebody having taken her stuff. Primary suspect Cheryl is immediately attacked by her boss, but either she’s not into it any more, or the writers forgot that you can only thrill—not threaten—her with choking. Abijean turned out to be with Krieger, who was using her as his test audience for a robotic dancing bear (I assume we’ll see Mr. Bearjangles again). Pretty uncontroversial stuff for the freaky, likely clone scientist, and the reveal could have been much sharper, without putting the baby in any kind of dangerous position.
Back to Sterling and Lana—who are infiltrating an Argentinean embassy with Conway in order to recover a list of CIA undercover agents fallen into enemy hands. Since this is Sterling Archer, the plan involves costumes (Sterling’s involving a moustache, per usual). This, of course, fails immediately, which leads to the best joke of the episode: “I’m Archer-ising this plan!” followed by Lana’s, “Ohhh, no! You do NOT get to verb your name!” After fighting their way inside—surprise!—Conway again turns traitor, instead stealing the list of agents to sell to Russia, and giving Sterling permission to voice a million “told-you-so’s” to go along with his repeated, “He literally stabbed me in the back!” Of course, it’s Lana who saves the day, managing to dismember Conway’s non-robotic hand which held the flash drive with the data file. (Conway’s incredulousness over losing his second hand to Lana is the episode’s second-biggest laugh.)
If the supporting cast material had been stronger, this might have been another Archer classic, but “baby in the office” unfortunately fell way short of its potential, which is, really, more odd than disappointing. Archer plus Wee Baby Seamus yielded pure comic gold, and that was only baby and Sterling. Misfits of the office and a baby should have been alchemy creating platinum. Adam Reed and team might be saving their A material for down the line, but given the show’s history of comedic generosity, it’s hard to not feel just a little short-changed.
Scott Wold is a Chicago-based freelance writer and regular contributor to Paste. You can follow him on Twitter, if you must.