Archer

“Archer” got bored.

After a while, every television show begins to feel repetitive. There are only a finite amount of plots for every series, and once in a while writers may have to take subplots of past episodes and build off of them.

“Archer” would not allow this to happen.

The show has now become “Archer Vice,” referencing “Miami Vice,” the 1980s television show about detectives working in Miami.

The past four seasons of the FX animated comedy have all been comprised of exploits at the spy agency ISIS.

However, as the fifth season begins, ISIS is found to be corrupt, leaving all of the top spies out of a job.

Instead of retreading past adventures of Archer, Lana, Cyril and the rest of the ISIS gang, creator Adam Reed has made it so that these ex-spies will have to find a new way to make money.

Of course, the former agents still have the skills that got them to the top, but they are now using these talents to sell cocaine the squad has taken from ISIS.

This results in hijinks, as the crew quickly understands just how difficult their new profession is.

It’s interesting to see how the crew develops and grows together in such a turbulent time. Like past seasons, many of the jokes on “Archer” utilize callbacks or references
to other shows.

The voice-work on this show is also some of the best on television. H. Jon Benjamin, Aisha Taylor and Chris Parnell all have perfect grasps on their characters. The show also brings in a plethora of guest-stars such as Jon Hamm, Bryan Cranston, David Cross, Jeffrey Tambor and even Burt Reynolds.

One of the main differences in the new “Archer” is how story-driven the show has become. There were arcs throughout each season, but it was easier to watch episodes out of order without missing something.

The fifth season has a more linear structure and allows “Archer” and the rest of his drug-dealers to develop. It also allows for strengthened bonds between the characters.

The show has become a weekly must-watch, as missing an episode will hurt the overall viewing pleasure of the show. Better than ever, “Archer” at 10 p.m. on FX should be on everyone’s radar.