Archer Review: Disheartening Situation (Season 9 Episode 2)

On Archer Season 9 Episode 2, Archer lands back home with Loose Goose in pieces, while Pam, Princess Lana, and Fuchs fend for their lives in the jungle of Danger Island.

This episode of Archer brings us an action-packed episode with situational irony just as hilarious as the sarcasm and sex jokes.

Yes, Archer is back guys. Like back, back. Not like season 8 where Archer was an errand boy and we just watched a bunch of people talk for most of the season.

Archer, the action, sometimes thriller, satirical comedy that has yet to top their season 3 (although season 4 was incredibly close), has come back with a new season that could easily be its best thus far.

*fangirl squealing commences*

Although we didn’t see Archer do much this episode other than talking to himself and going through his usual sexually charged banter with the inanimate plane instead of Lana, Pam takes the lead and all I can say is its what she deserves.

We get a bit more of how the dynamics between the characters have shifted now that they are different people with slightly different personalities. From the character breakdown from my review of Archer Season 9 episode 1, it’s clear Pam’s character changes from the Pam we knew before.

However, in this episode, Pam takes the role of tactical leader with dry humor that single-handedly saves everyone countless times. That’s a huge jump from her usual role in Archer.

And did you all catch that moment between Lana and Pam when Pam catches her? Lana is clearly feeling the new hulk Pam but Pam honestly isn’t having it. Never thought we’d see the day Lana lusts after Pam and not the other way around but here we are.

I wonder if Pam will take Archer’s previous role in the show for the entire season with Archer being closer to Pam’s previous role as the loyal and clutch best friend that gets undermined and mocked for being clumsy and naive.

If someone told me this would be the dynamics for the season, I would’ve been skeptical, but this episode of Archer has convinced me that it could definitely work.

I couldn’t help but get nostalgic about the old spy days when we would see Ray, Archer, Lana, Pam, and Cyril take turns going on missions. It’s been 2 seasons since we’ve had this dynamic, so watching Ray jump into the car with Archer to save the crew in the jungle brings back a lot of memories.

That gun scene where they’re chopping down the komodo dragons with Pam in front on the car screaming, “Get sooomeeee,” while Archer and Ray are at her flanks taking down peripheral dragons was epic!

More, please! When was the last time we had a shootout? This scene makes up for lost time.

I’m also hoping that scene previews what we’ll see for the rest of the season. Since Archer has always balanced their action, espionage, and dialogue-centered scenes pretty well (except in season 8), it shouldn’t be a problem to maintain the tone set on this episode.

While Lana is still the overly proper princess, she has no issues going commando on the komodo dragons with her DIY wooden spear. Cyril is supposed to be an undercover spy, so it should be safe to guess he has at least some espionage, fighting skills (?).

Moreover, Pam, Archer, and Rey have already shown their talents. So here’s to hoping Reed gives everyone this much potential so season 9 can redeem season 8’s narrative performance.

Okay, okay. I’ll stop throwing shots at Archer‘s season 8. Not one more word about Archer‘s tragic last season. I can concede that even Michael Jordan had bad games. So, for now on, we’ll just look to the bright future Archer‘s Season 9 Episode 2 foreshadows for us.

Now that they are all back at the hotel, what’s next for the Archer OG crew?

We know they’ll end up back in the jungle, most likely due to Princess Lana’s firm insistence. We also know that Archer will go because he wants Lana in his bed, Pam will go to save everyone from themselves, and Cyril will go because Lana will force him.

That leaves Malory to settle Charlotte into the heinous “job” she just manipulated her into, and I’m guessing Malory will also be in charge of employee training?

Even though Danger Island Malory has been confirmed to be as… seasoned as Archer’s previous Malory Archer, the fact that one of the waiters calls her mama and she finds pleasure in it (and of course uses it to tease Archer) leads me to believe she has just as much… experience.

Now that I’ve thought of the scenario of Malory teaching Charlotte the wonderful bed tricks of a courtesan, I have to see what that would look like.

Will they use fruits or other inanimate objects as practice? Or will they enlist Ray for practice? Ha! Imagine Ray wanting anything to do with a vagine.

I can’t picture it, but Reed has a way of making the unimaginable imaginable. So, I’ll just leave all of that up to Archer‘s genius creator and writer. I hope the coming-to-Jesus trek Reed took before this season was just that and more.

This episode, “Disheartening Situation,” has exponentially increased my expectations for Archer Season 9.

What did you think of this episode of Archer? What do you hope to see for the rest of the season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Archer airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on FXX.

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