Review: Archer “Bank Run at Mr. Bank’s Bank”
Overview:
Fabian tasks The Agency with a grandiose mission–that’s definitely not bank robbery–as the latest request in IIA’s control over their espionage organization. Reservations and better judgment begin to sway Sterling and company’s opinions, but when Fabian adds the incentive of a lifetime they’re left with no choice but to rob a bank take on the assignment!
Oh, and Archer remembers how much he enjoys the taste of liquor.
Our Take:
Season 13 of Archer has largely tried to function as if nothing is amiss and it’s just business as usual over at The Agency. The one dark storm cloud that threatens to rain disappointment upon them comes in the form of Fabian Kingsworth, whose mission requests this season have grown increasingly questionable. Archer’s 13th season has explored some compelling territory in the sense that The Agency might not actually be the good guys this year. Most moderately savvy viewers have already clued into the fact that most of the plots for this season’s episodes position Sterling and company in morally murky territory. Archer and the rest of the field agents have had to jump through so many hoops, while also dealing with their own personal crises, that they haven’t had a chance to catch their breath and question their assignments. Mallory may have been a selfish woman who didn’t suffer any fools, but in her own way she was apparently The Agency’s conscience that was able to prevent them from ending up in the situation that they succumb to in “Bank Run at Mr. Bank’s Bank.”
There are tremendous stakes tied to the outcome of The Agency’s mission, but the operation itself immediately devolves into farce. These hard-boiled, close-quarters scenarios are frequently strong opportunities for Archer to peel back more layers to these characters. That’s certainly the case in “Bank Run at Mr. Bank’s Bank” as everyone worries over their individual reasons for why they don’t want this mission to blow up in their face, which range from custody hearings to cozy brunch plans. That being said, Sterling actually instigates a decent plan here, that while not without its hiccups, underscores his expertise in his craft. It’s brilliant to use the character’s long-standing tinnitus as a legitimate way to overcome a hurdle that takes out everyone else. This also culminates in the return of Cheryl, now a scrappy demolitions expert, who is at her most unhinged and exactly what The Agency currently requires. Cheryl is long overdue for this sort of showcase and it’s a choice that plays even better after the character’s temporary absence. The fact that she’s too out of touch to even realize that her actual identity is enough of a “disguise” to gain entry to the bank is the icing on the cake.
The character beats in “Bank Run at Mr. Bank’s Bank” deliver, but there are still some sloppy concessions that are made in order to move the episode along. Susan, the narc-hating security guard, becomes a living deus ex machina after she literally gives The Agency everything they need and helps them cover up their tracks. It’s a very easy, convenient solution to all of this, which goes unearned and largely coasts off of the assumed good will that this one-off character garners. It doesn’t come together, but the actual robbing of the bank pales in importance to the aftermath of this bold heist. A risky success suddenly looks a lot more like Presidential blackmail and “Bank Run at Mr. Bank’s Bank” ends just in time to incite a juicy international incident for the season’s final two episodes. Sterling definitely picked the right time to fall off the wagon with his sobriety.
“Bank Run at Mr. Bank’s Bank” is a satisfying way for Archer to pull together the ideas that it’s orbited around all season. Allison Zeidman, who previously penned season 12’s “Colt Express’ and its scavenger hunt-fueled antics, understands how to bring out the humanity and hopelessness of these characters that makes them work. In an episode that has an almost intentionally-telegraphed ending, “Bank Run at Mr. Bank’s Bank” doesn’t feel like it panders or wastes the audience’s time. It’s the dysfunctional calm before the storm as Sterling and the rest of The Agency either end this season as treasonous fugitives or international heroes.
