Archer
Season 4, Episode 13 – “Sea Tunt: Part 2″
Directed by Bryan Fordney
Written by Adam Reed & Rick Cleveland
Starring: H. Jon Benjamin, Judy Greer, Amber Nash, Chris Parnell, Aisha Tyler, Jessica Walter, Eugene Mirman, Kristen Schaal, and Jon Hamm.
FX
Air date: April 11, 2013

What always works so well for me in a comedy like Archer is how well developed each and all of the characters are. Guest stars or series regulars, Adam Reed and company nail the interactions between all involved. “Sea Tunt: Part 2” fully capitalizes on some of the exact situations you’d expect to happen when Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) and the rest of the ISIS field agents go to an underwater base. But there are still just enough swerves and twists and turns to make the episode enjoyable and downright hilarious.

However, what works about this episode in particular as a season finale, is that it defuses so much of what came in last week’s episode, while still feeling satisfactory on it’s own. It works well as a single episode and as a close to this season by setting up what will come next year. I know that’s the basic job of a finale, but it’s a bit of a different concept when you’re dealing with a comedy. Archer handles that balance well; while there are definitely more stand-alone episodes of the show, there are bits of serialization that carry over from season to season. For some shows it could be a difficult balance, but it’s never lost here.

But more importantly, I think that “Sea Tunt: Part 2” succeeds again for placing these various characters in a hostile environment with each of them having an idea of how they expect the situation will play out. And once that situation moves sideways on them in a totally unexpected manner, we’re giving some great moments between the characters. It’s good to remind us that for as much of a comedy as Archer is, the show does really understand its characters and the relationship between those characters. And that’s what makes the show so smart to begin with.

Quick Thoughts:

– There are some good call backs for long time fans that are downright hilarious. Krieger high on cocaine playing air drums to Rush was one of them.

– I’m interested to see how that one major development plays into what’s to come next season.

– Jokes about the inefficiency of ISIS? Never not funny.

– Kudos to Jon Hamm, who gets to again remind the general public of how great of a comedic actor he is.

– Also, I’m just gonna give it up to coincidence that Adam Reed got Hamm to play a season finale villain after bringing in another AMC lead actor (Bryan Cranston) do the same thing last year.

– Archer‘s fourth season was pretty strong. I’m impressed with it on an overall level. However, unlike in years past, there’s not a particular standout episode this year that stands head and shoulders above everything else. It’s probably better this way, as I think Season 4 is easily Archer’s most consistent season thusfar.

What did you think of the finale? Sound off in our comments below!