While the cast has gone through quite the transformative journey over the series' run, Archer has circled back to its roots within its latest season, allowing fans to relive the office comedy between spies.
Though it was fun to see the gang purely riff off of each other based on their mutual hate of one another, it's comforting to see them interact in a contained ecosystem, working in and against the food chain. Every person has their role and does their job; and before Archer came back from his coma, they actually did it pretty well. Fans may want to reflect on the status quo the series' shakily tries to maintain.
Cheryl Tunt - Admin Assistant
While Cheryl Tunt seemingly appears at the bottom of the spy agency's hierarchy, it should be noted she is part of the illustrious Tunt Family whose mass fortune tantalizes and haunts Malory Archer everyday.
With the added benefit of her deteriorating morality, Cheryl is far from defined by her position at work, and she hardly acts subservient to anyone which, in hindsight, kind of makes her a bad assistant. Despite that, she has loyally and begrudgingly remained by Malory's side to take notes, phone calls, and verbal abuse that any other assistant would break down under.
Pam Poovey - Human Resources/Field Agent
Pam Poovey in recent seasons has become the group's resident top agent. A field agent who requires no gun in her holster, Pam is one of the group's most talented fighters and most natural spies. While Archer and Lana bicker at the side, Pam can typically be trusted to get work done.
With her stance at the far top of the macho food chain, it's hard to imagine the potty-mouthed, cocaine-obsessed Pam was ever a Human Resource representative. If anything, it takes someone like Pam to be the human moderator for an office that houses HR nightmares like Sterling and Malory.
Dr. Algernop Krieger - Head Of Research
Dr. Krieger is the resident mad scientist of Archer. He's there to fulfill any of the pseudo-science needs that the group (or, after seeing his experiments, a horror movie fan) can come up with. If anything, "Head of Research" is a bit too broad of an umbrella term, since Krieger doesn't really do a lot of research for the group.
Depending on the mood, he's more of the engineer crafting gadgets and weapons for Archer's rampages, the chemist creating whatever vague chemical the group needs, or the surgeon who will sew anything in any way.
Ray Gillette - Analyst/Field Agent
Ray is the agency's analyst who was forced into field work due to circumstance, i.e. everyone else got killed off. As an analyst, Ray was the specialist entrusted with providing info and relaying back to the agents while they were in the mission. He was the man in their ear whose diverse and versatile knowledge has helped translate him into being a high tier field agent, bomb specialist, and weapon specialist.
Even though he's far from the actual guy calling the shots (as if he could really help it with Archer around), Ray is always reliable for support on any mission... whenever he's not crying about his cruel, robot existence.
Sterling Archer - Field Agent
This series has often positioned Sterling Archer as this world-renowned super-agent, and it's hard to argue against his results. As destructive as his "rampages" can tend to be, Archer is a versatile and talented field agent who can fight, investigate, and stealth his way out of a paper bag. However, his world-renowned may not necessarily be for consistency.
It's easy to see from any episode in the series, Archer doesn't bat a thousand in field work. His recognition comes from a life of fame that should be detrimental to spy work, such as his well-documented, celebrity debauchery, his constant, company spending, and, of course, his rampages. While the spy agency does have him as a field agent, they certainly put in some work to not rely on him.
Lana Kane - Field Agent
Lana Kane has a pretty comfortable position at work. She's just one of those people who just doesn't seem fire-able from a structural standpoint. A lot of people, when they interior decorate in their minds, like to imagine which walls they can tear down. And, in Archer, it's very easy to pick out those walls. Lana, however, is a load bearing support beam.
Malory needs her to complete the missions. Archer needs her to save his life. Everyone else needs her so that they just won't stand around getting killed. This series has a pretty competitive line of people gunning for the James Bond award of being the top agent. And while Lana is far from having a firm hand on that, she has filled out quite the résumé to justify it.
Cyril Figgis - Comptroller/Field Agent/CEO Of The Figgis Agency
For a while, it was hard to think of Cyril being anywhere near the top of the pecking order. He started out as a simple comptroller just trying to monitor the agency's finances. However, he's become increasingly involved with the group's missions and has even, officially jumped to being Malory's #1 agent.
He's also impressively the ex-president of San Marcos, and as the only person licensed to do so, he was also the CEO of the Figgis Agency when the group tried to be private detectives. As much as Archer tries to belittle him, the fidgety guy with glasses is far from the bottom of the pecking order.
Malory Archer - Chief Executive Officer
Malory Archer is an ex-spy who went on to start her own espionage agency, establishing and orchestrating the order that the fans know now. While the main group may argue and mock one another, there's very little doubt who has the final say in any episode.
Malory doesn't just have power; she wears and commands it as a part of her, utilizing her years of expertise to strategize and her cold, hardened exterior to delegate. She was a force that could push the agency through anything, and it will be hard to imagine the series without her.