Archer (2009 — 2022)

Archer is an American adult animated sitcom created by Adam Reed for FX. The show follows the exploits of a dysfunctional intelligence agency, centered on Sterling Archer and seven of his colleagues—his mother Malory Archer, Lana Kane, Cyril Figgis, Cheryl Tunt, Pam Poovey, Ray Gillette and Dr. Algernop Krieger. The show is set in an anachronistic, Cold War-esque universe and parodies espionage, culture and society, and the human condition. Archer is distinguished by artistic reinvention in contemporary episodes, foregoing the standard setup of a workplace sitcom for self-contained anthologies. It returned to its spy parody roots post-tenth season.

Events in Archer’s early seasons transpire in an anachronistic, Cold War-esque universe. By proxy, the real time history is frequently referenced, though the comedy’s timeline is intentionally vague. This method allowed producers the discretion to source elements they felt best fit the in-canon universe. In the show’s more contemporary episodes, Archer eschews its spy comedy roots to advance Sterling’s character arc. Each season has a unique mythology of events that highlights the group’s incompetence, where they are forced to undertake a series of strange tasks in highly unusual circumstances. The main storyline climaxes when Sterling falls into a coma. From seasons eight to ten, Archer is reimagined in three self-contained universes, coinciding with a deeper exploration of Sterling’s psyche.