Archer Review: A Warrior in Costume (Season 9 Episode 4)

On Archer season 9 Episode 4, “A Warrior in Costume,” Archer and his old adversary, Ziegler, don’t see eye-to-eye, so Archer challenges him to a fair fight in their fighter planes. While Archer’s busy comparing his propeller size to Ziegler’s propeller size, Fuchs moves forward with his plan to snatch the idol.

Although the animation on Archer has been exceptional since season 4, the fighter plane action scenes in this episode are absolutely to die for… literally.

Ziegler finally gets his eggs scrambled (phrasing!) while team Archer and Pam get another win — no thanks to Archer. It’s weird seeing him so inept. He has the same amount of vanity and confidence but none of the follow through.

Meanwhile, Pam is all follow through, level-headedness, and capability yet reaps none of the rewards. We’re in the Archer upside down world, and I’m still processing.

It’s not like this season doesn’t give me the time. It seems like these last two episodes are meant to establish the new dynamics a bit more before we dive into the core narrative of the idol. However, when a season only has 8 episodes, is that a smart move?

The driving, and most interesting, story to this season stems from the crazy, exciting scenes we’ll get to watch as Archer and Pam go up against Lana and Fuchs.

I’m dying to see the cannibals and the other thousands of death traps that fill the forest. As I note in my review of Archer Season 9 Episode 2, the little glimpse we get of the future jungle scenes that ended in dragon blood painting the leaves and an epic shootout made me so excited for this season.

We need more of that! That scene was so epic!

The Archer audience patiently waits full years plus a few months give or take for a season of Archer, and the last thing we want to do is feel like we’re being stalled.

Albeit stalling isn’t too bad when we get to see the OG crew up to their old antics. Turns out Lana is a nymphomaniac in this world too, Malory can’t help manipulating people for her own gain, and Cheryl… or Carol,… wait– Charlotte seems to be claiming back the power she’s used to wielding.

I’m proud of our little heiress-in-distress. It’s not easy to outsmart a mastermind like Malory. Many have tried. Charlotte turned the tables on Malory so smoothly you have no choice but to be proud of the new cynical puppet-master.

However, we’ve never seen Malory stumped for long. Now that she knows who she is dealing with in Charlotte, who knows what Malory’s counter move will be?

I hope it’s something wild and that she executes her plan whilst ripping everyone to shreds with her blunt sarcasm. I’ll never forget that one scene between Malory and Cheryl when Cheryl asks if Malory wanted to know what she did for the weekend:

Malory Archer: If I cared about what you do on the weekend, I’d stick a shotgun in my mouth and pull the trigger with my toes.

*nostalgic sigh* I miss those days. Speaking of nostalgia, the whole time Archer fights with Ziegler, all I could think was, “Barry did it better.”

There was something about Archer and Barry’s banter, their equally childish behaviors like kids on the playground that contrasted their deadly skills, that made for some of the best scenes Archer has ever seen.

Part of the reason why Ziegler and Archer’s conversations didn’t quite make the cut for me could be tied to the fact that it brings out the most miserable parts of Archer. I mean, Archer is a lick bag, naturally, but this Danger Island Archer is also a douche.

I kind of hoped that Pam would punch him again once they got out of the plane, but alas, sharks.

It’s not like the old Archer wasn’t just as miserable and just as mean, but usually, it’s to Lana who has an equally sharp tongue to combat his assaults.

Pam is just the caring best friend that lets Archer have his shine even if it eclipses hers. The difference turns the comical and sexually charged scenes between Lana and Archer into slightly humorous scenes with a slight cruel edge to it when it comes to him and Pam.

It softens the impact of the argument I create in my review of Archer season 9 Episode 3 that explains how Archer and Cyril are foils, especially in their capacity for being horrible.

But maybe that’s just me.

Tell me what you guys think.

Do you like Archer and Pam’s “banter”? What did you guys think of Archer Season 9 Episode 4? Are you excited about the upcoming jungle episodes?!

Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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Archer airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on FXX.

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