'Archer' Recap: 'The Honeymooners'

This week's episode of Archer, "The Honeymooners," marked a new direction for the series. The episode incorporated its trademark comedy, but also provided more dimensions to the show. The episode seemed to have a stronger focus on action scenes, and richer dialogue. Even the animation seemed more impressive and richer.

The plot of "The Honeymooners" was that Archer and Lana went undercover as newlyweds to stop some North Koreans. And back at ISIS head quarters Pam and Cheryl convinced Cyril that Lana and Archer were going to make love. Cyril began to doubt whether Lana would stay faithful to him, and decided to go spy on them, with Pam and Cheryl of course.

Archer and Lana went to the Tuntmore Towers. Cheryl owns the hotels (she is a wealthy heiress, her last name is Tuntmore). Because Cheryl owned the hotel her, Pam and Cyril rented a room for free and where able to spy on Archer and Lana.

Archer was very excited about being under the guise of husband and wife. He was constantly during check in bombarding Lana with sexual comments. Even further in the lavish room (which Archer paid for using his Mother's credit card that he stole) he made remarks that she wasn't fulfilling her role of as wife. He propositioned her to give him fellatio as he was in the hot tub drinking three bottle of liquor. She declined of course, and the scene was trademark Lana/Archer banter. Archer then explained that he was drinking all the bottles as to have a power blackout.

Lana reminded Archer that they were there for a mission.

Archer agreed and decided he would glad assist Lana after he manicure and pedicure. Frustrated lana decided to take matters in to her own hands and exercise the parameters of the mission herself. Archer while still in the room getting his clear coat he check his accounts on his phone. He saw that he did not receive his annual bonus. He stumbling on the ground putting on tactical gear was calling Lana. Lana was scaling the glass exterior of the hotel to reach the North Koreans. Archer once clothed scurried up the glass to Lana and told her to check her account using her phone. She received her bonus but Archer still did not. Archer infuriated smacked Lana's phone from her hand causing her to begin to fall. Archer in an amazing animation action sequence acrobatically leapt downward after her. Archer saved Lana’s life. Cyril seeing this unfold was relieved Lana was safe,however Pam informed him that they were "so gonna do it" because nothing get the sex drive up like near death experiences. Cyril was even more stressed and worried after that remark.

Archer back in the room with Lana called his mother. She informed Archer that because she stole her credit card and she was embarrassed at a restaurant he would not receive his bonus. Also that Lana was the commanding agent on the mission. And outraged Archer sarcastically quipped at every moment subsequent during the mission at Lana's expense.

Archer was so frustrated that he left the room to confront Korean agents. The mission was only suppose to be surveillance. Lana followed, trying to control him. The two arguing in front of an elevator encounter a korean who attacked. Lana was "Tom Dempsey'd" in the chest, and sent flying. Archer dispatched the Korean, and began to check on Lana. As he was making fun of her more Koreans came, with guns. The two were captured and take to the Korean's room. While there Archer continued to mock them and their country. He made some remark about Japanese which made the Korean's very mad, they approached a handcuffed Archer to hurt him. However, Archer escaped the handcuffs and attacked all the Koreans with Lana. However, he ran into the bath room with Lana trying to escape thinking it was the hallway. Locked inside the bathroom Lana and Archer banter more, until Cyril who had been watching the whole time comes to aid the two. He grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed it in the room screaming “suppressing fire…extinguisher.” The extinguisher created cloud that offered the three a chance to fight the enemy and escape.

The episode ended with Lana and Archer in Mallory's office being chided. Lana was relinquished of her commanding status and Archer was in charge. The three wondered who was going to meet the Korean's to exchange some nuclear material. The scene cut to Krieger walking into the Korean's room, only to fins them dead. He was disappointed, but allowed his radioactive pig who accompanied him to eat the corpses.

This episode was stronger as it focused more on the relationship of Lana and Archer. Their dynamic in this episode really provided much more substance. It was one of the better episodes and seemed to indicate that the show on a whole is evolving into something more complex. The episode was stand alone like most, however, it seems to being creating the foundation for some over-arching themes that could create a distinct plot, maybe. The next episode is “Un Chien Tangerine.”