Review: Archer “Into the Cold”

Overview:

The fate of the free world hangs in peril as Sterling, Lana, and the rest of the Agency team scramble to save the day without their typical resources now that independent spy agencies are outlawed. Sterling and company go back to the basics as they intercept apocalyptic weaponry, save one of their own, and contemplate what the future holds in a world that might be forced into its second Cold War.

Our Take:

”Let’s just be professional here,” is one of the first things that’s said in Archer: Into the Cold and it’s hard to not picture this being the mantra within the writers’ room during the feat of wrapping this series up. Curiously, “let’s do nothing and hope things work out,” is another plan that gets echoed in this finale, which fortunately comes across as more of an indictment of Archer’s past seasons that are occasionally guilty of going through the motions. There are many ways that an Archer series finale could play out, so it’s encouraging that “Into the Cold” cultivates a well-balanced cocktail of action, intrigue, and emotional development. Archer: Into the Cold is everything that audiences could want from an Archer series finale, as well as some fun twists and turns that you never knew you needed.

The greatest tool in Archer: Into the Cold’s arsenal is the sheer passion and nostalgic bliss that beams out of every single frame. The Agency is tasked with their biggest mission to date, yet “Into the Cold” truly feels like a throwback to Archer’s golden years. There are classic callbacks that go all the way back to Sterling’s oft-mentioned code-name, “Duchess.” It’s a really satisfying trip down memory lane that puts the series’ legacy on a pedestal, but never feels gratuitous or too lost in the past (give or take a “sploosh” and the ringing of tinnitus). “Into the Cold” achieves the perfect balance to make the show’s farewell both nostalgically gloomy, but also unpredictably fresh. The episode even includes a brief nod to Archer’s previous three-part super-sized event, “Heart of Archness,” in the form of an appearance from Patrick Warburton’s Rip Riley.

On the topic of Archer’s extended spy team, “Into the Cold” properly shares the wealth and gives everyone their flowers here. This finale is a true celebration of Sterling, but there’s also a lot to love with Lana’s arc. She really gets to freak out and vent a season’s worth of frustration that’s incredibly cathartic for both her and the audience at large. This spewing of vitriol is later offset by her giving a deeply inspirational speech that’s reminiscent of Malory’s most encouraging words of wisdom. The full breadth of her character gets to shine here and Archer allows Lana to go out as the proud, confident leader that she deserves to be. Pam also gets some fantastic, flashy moments that appreciate the character’s chaotic nature. There’s also some validation for the many fans who always thought that Sterling and Pam were designed to be endgame.

Archer is watched first and foremost for its character, action, and writing, but it’s an animated series that’s become progressively gorgeous over these 14 seasons. The rest of Archer’s 14th season looks grand and “Into the Cold” is fortunately no exception. This series finale really gets to show off, especially when it comes to the kaleidoscopic rainbow celebration that is Rio’s Carnival. There’s also a thrilling jet-pack fight sequence that’s incredibly gory and leaves Brazil with more ruin than if this were the climax of a Fast and the Furious sequel. Somehow this international spectacle isn’t the height of the episode and there’s an equally exciting snowboard chase through Sochi, Russia as well as the all hands on deck brawl against cyborg Katya.

Beyond the visuals, “Into the Cold” never experiences pacing issues, despite its super-sized nature. There’s a kinetic energy that just pushes this episode forward. It never drags or feels like a padded episode that’s less mindful with its edits. “Into the Cold” develops a successful rhythm early on, but it also manages to continually increase the stakes. Each act is more tense and perilous than the last. “Into the Cold” also makes a strong return to Archer’s signature cross-cutting conversational overlap editing that was especially prominent in the series’ first few seasons. It’s a great way to conjure nostalgic feelings.

Archer: Into the Cold somehow surpasses the lofty expectations that surround a finale of this magnitude. It perpetually proves itself as the perfect conclusion that gets great mileage out of Archer’s present, but also the show’s past and future. Outside of sublime plotting, character work, and dialogue, “Into the Cold” also delivers the perfect variety of wish-fulfillment. This series finale actually returns to the show’s central looming mystery of the secret identity of Sterling’s father, a question that most fans likely abandoned over a decade ago. It’s really brilliant how “Into the Cold” tees up Archer’s longest-running  question, only to piss all over it and properly illustrate that Sterling has truly moved on and that the audience needs to as well (although learning that Xander Crews was Sterling’s dad would be the one answer that might actually be satisfying here…).

Archer’s finale is full of smart, cathartic moments of this magnitude that really make it feel like this is an Adam Reed-penned farewell even though “Into the Cold” is entirely scripted by Mark Ganek. Ganek has been a positive creative beacon during Archer’s coma seasons and beyond, but “Into the Cold” is easily some of his best work on the show and proof of how well he understands these characters and their world. Fan service comes fast and loose in “Into the Cold,” but it’s not without its thoughtful themes and message. “Into the Cold” reinforces how important it is to head into the wild unknown and how there’s great likelihood that the best has yet to come. You’ll never know if you don’t allow yourself to take the leap. Archer is finally able to leap and the splash that it leaves behind is truly beautiful.

So long, Archer, after 14 seasons and countless splooshes.

It was quite the thing, wasn’t it?