Very few fandoms are as patient and unquestioning as the fandom of the animated spy comedy, Archer. Fans have never really made a big deal about all the genre-hopping and sudden and recurring timeline shifts. But now that things are going back to "normal" in its upcoming season 11, there are so many things the fans need to know first.
Archer had been in a coma for three years and finally woke up at the end of season 10. The agency will reportedly go back to its New York headquarters and stop all the ridiculous time and space shifting. But how normal will things really be? Here are 10 burning questions that need to be answered in season 11.
How Temporary Is Archer’s Disability?
It has been revealed by the makers of the show that owing to his long coma, Archer’s muscles have now atrophied. The trailer for Season 11 also shows the super-spy struggling to cope with normal life. He is not doing great physically and needs a cane to get around, which begs the question, is this a permanent issue?
This could mean he’d have to give up his career as a field agent, much like Ray Gillet had to when he lost his legs. But the fandom wants to know if this really means that Archer will never get back to his super-agent self again.
What Was The Point Of The Montage?
Right before Archer woke up from his coma, a montage of his life’s most significant and hilarious moments played out in his mind. What exactly was the meaning of this movie-like montage, and what was it trying to say? It was essentially a recap of the entire show and featured the important characters more prominently, like Mallory and Lana, and also his daughter.
But the fandom has been trying to decipher the significance of the montage in Archer’s life. Was it aimed as a reality check - a look into his own behavior? Was it for the benefit of the audience? Or was it meant to jolt Archer back to consciousness? Season 11 needs to show Archer addressing the montage, at least once.
Who Is Lana Married To?
Executive producers Matt Thompson and Casey Willis revealed that Lana is now married, which could complicate things, especially because she has a daughter with Archer. The trailer does not address Lana’s relationship status, although the dynamic between Archer and Lana seems pretty consistent.
But is Lana married to Cyril? It’s not the craziest thing to imagine because the two did have a pretty serious relationship. But somehow that wouldn't be a twist, and it wouldn’t make sense for the producers of the show to build up momentum surrounding her marriage. So, who did she marry?
How Changed Is The Agency Exactly?
Executive producers Matt Thompson and Casey Willis have revealed that the show will finally stop the genre-hopping and go back to its earlier spy comedy roots, set against the background of its New York headquarters, but there will be some significant changes.
It was revealed that the personalities, roles, and power dynamics will also change within the agency, which sounds pretty confusing. Does this mean a complete overhaul? The trailer fails to shed any light on where exactly things stand vis-a-vis the agency.
Will It Finally Reveal Its Time Period?
One of the most baffling things about the show has been its indeterminable time period. The characters dress like they are from mid 70s, they talk like they are well into the 90s, there is no chatter about social media, and yet high-speed internet exists.
The transportation and city planning hasn’t really helped, so fans are actually quite fed up with having to guess the show’s timeline. Now that the show is sort of rebooting, will it finally address when it is set, or at least acknowledge that it has been cruelly shifty about its time period?
How Big Of A Role Does Barry Play?
The first thing Archer says when he wakes up from his coma is, "goddamn Barry." The last thing that happened in Archer’s subconscious while he was in a coma was an altercation with Barry in space, in which their spaceship explodes.
Unless Barry was set to play a really crucial role in the new season, this set-up does not make any sense. Barry has been Archer’s longtime nemesis, but hasn’t exactly been a series regular. Why was Barry such a crucial part of Archer’s subconscious, and will he finally get more screen time like the fandom has always wanted?
Will The Show Finally Make Room for Discussions About Mental Health?
The show has normalized many issues over the years and has neglected to acknowledge the narrative around mental health, which was important considering how toxic bullying and slut-shaming is something the show has heavily featured without looking back at the consequences.
Now that Archer is in for a reality check and feels like the world has moved on without him, will he and the other characters finally make room to discuss mental health issues? Archer is also going through a crisis himself, so he should be sensitive to the pain of others.
What’s Cheryl’s Deal?
The trailer for season 11 shows Cheryl making some much-needed changes in her life. The heiress/office assistant has been one of the most interesting characters on the show, owing to her disturbing psychological aberrations and fetishes.
But in season 11, she seems to have cleaned up her act, refuses to drink on the job, and Archer even calls her boring. But why did Cheryl have to ditch her lifestyle and go for a complete personality makeover? And more importantly, will old Cheryl be back?
Where Is Archer’s Kid?
Does Archer really not remember his own daughter as he wakes up from the coma? Granted, he could have memory loss, but it seems unlikely that Archer would remember every other thing and wouldn’t immediately ask Mallory of Abbie’s well-being.
Abbie was already two when Archer went into a coma, and Lana and Archer had even started worrying about her prep schooling in season 7. But the only thing Archer asks Mallory as he wakes up is, “Do I have a kid?”
What Is The Tacti-Cane?
It’s obvious that Krieger would try his best to empower Archer with some type of gadget or equipment, now that he has atrophied muscles and doesn’t have his earlier physical prowess, so he gives Archer the "Tacti-cane." The makers of the show are also pretty excited about the new device and it also shows up in the trailer for season 11.
But what is the Tacti-cane, exactly? It has several uses, sure, but if the Tacti-cane is a trusted accessory for Archer from now on, does that mean Archer’s mobility issues are here to stay?