Review: Archer Dreamland: No Good Deed

Inspect this review for clues.

*MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD*

Last season ended with a cliffhanger and spoiler alert to anyone who has not watched the first episode of season 7, or the last yet, but Archer is filled with lead and left face down in a pool. This season opens up with a funeral, which, for a minute tricks the viewer as to who the funeral is in memorial of. Woodhouse has become deceased, and Archer has spent the last three months in a coma.

While Malory waits for Archer to recover from his coma, the premise for Dreamland is initiated, quite cleverly, as what is going on inside Archer’s comatose. A parallel to the show’s present setting, Archer’s partner, Woodhouse, has died. Ironically, in the reality of Dreamland, Archer actually cares about Woodhouse and doesn’t treat him like in the same subhuman fashion as usual; so Archer is struck with a motive to solve the case and avenge his partner’s death.

This was a fantastic episode and an even better premiere. I really like how the characters all have the same personalities and names in this alternative noir setting. The last season that was akin to Dreamland was season five, Vice, and that still stands as my favorite season of the show. Shows that aren’t afraid to break out of the mold of a normal sitcom, and try something different, are often times the most memorable. The wit from past seasons is still definitely intact, and as the previews have shoved down our throats: there will be many “private dick” puns ahead. I’m glad that the shows’ writers have used Archer’s state of immobility to tell a fresh new story instead of chalking it up to “Sterling just magically recovered from his near-death experience, like usual, and he’s going to be going on more missions while bugging Lana, his mother, and the rest of the crew.”

The urban 1940’s detective tone has a legitimate feel, instead of just coming off tacky. The jokes all land in the subtle way that they have for the past 7 years. I’m pleased to announce that the premiere episode was fantastic and I await the various twists and turns that I’m sure the season-long arc will bring us.