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r/ArcherFX•
[deleted]

Episode Discussion: S2E3 "Blood Test" - Preview included!

Posted Feb 10, 2011, 4:56 PM UTC

922
brianm1•

The museum or the opera?

4
InvaderDJ•

Loved this episode. Everyone got a few good lines, even Woodhouse.

Loved the part with Lana and Cheryl, weirdly hot...

And just to be sure who is the father of wee baby Seamus? If Archer switched out the blood, then it would be Cyril (which Archer thinks it may be, but didn't see how his flashback showed that) but Barry acts like he found out about Archer switching it and then added it back or something

4
[deleted]•

He switched the bottles, when Cyril gave the whore the footlong was how she got pregnant.

3
InvaderDJ•

I thought so. But the question remains, why did Barry act like he had some part in it?

2
[deleted]•

He acted as if he'd be getting revenge from the test.

3
ndyjonesCyril•

I figured Barry would have confirmed the results before even running through the video or the test in front of everyone in the boardroom. Long drive to the bank and all... So Barry knew Archer was trying to clear himself, but probably doesn't know who the father is-- just that Archer fucked himself, which he was fine with either way.

3
yamyamyamyam•

Awesome. Hope it's better than the second ep which to me was kind of a let down after the premiere

3
domirillo•

I've been seeing a lot of various reactions to the first two episodes, some of them saying that the second episode would have been a better choice for the premiere than "Swiss Miss" was.

I'm kind of interested in what it was that you liked/didn't like about each?

4
israelhands•

I actually really liked the second episode and I definitely agree that it should have been the premiere because it continues the storyline where last season's finale left off with the mind control chip. Swiss Miss just seems thrown in there with no mention of the chip or at least of Archer's headaches.

5
chwilliam•

Swiss Miss was probably better to pull people in, because it doesn't really reference other plotlines/in-jokes. I loved the second episode, but it was honestly pretty heavy into fan-service/back references.

2
[deleted]•

This is a long ass nerd fuck post. I apologise, but I believe I have an awesome opportunity to talk in depth about comedy for the first time ever.

  1. The second episode had a direct connection to the final episode from season 1. We see onscreen that archer did take the chip out of his brain, and when happens as a consequence of that; however, from a TV standpoint, it's better to capture the new audience with an explosive and exotic season opener, which I understand.

  2. The second episode was a lot more generic television, with a set locale, no new characters, and unfortunately, no awesome and memorable jokes. Pam being a rasta seemed random and pointless, and they/you guys could have milked it for some nice jokes :

Mallory : Why the hell have you got a mop glued to your head?

Kriegor : Are you done with that? Yoink!

Pam : Hey, that's medical!

Carol : Why, to cure your insatiable appetite?

  1. The scene where they brainwash Drexler was very nice. It just took ages to get to it.

  2. The relationship between Drexler and Mallory wasn't pushed to be sickening enough. Mallory should have degraded herself and felt sick about it "I'm already ____ for that bald (reference to obscure disgusting ruler), I have to do (something even worse and hilarious). Also, other people should have walked in on it.

  3. When Drexler was under hypnosis, his rabbit obsession was funny, but it could have been funnier if it was pushed further. Him shrieking and hiding behind Barry when he met Mallory after would have been good.

  4. Why didn't Barry understand that Drexler was fucked up and get angry?

I really liked the Swiss miss.

  1. Archer wanting to tap that ass then backing off, which set everyone against him was masterful.

  2. Making the little girl into a deceptive bitch sealed the deal.

  3. Making her the same as archer made the snowmobile chase completely awesome "As soon as you turn 18, give me call! Seriously!"

  4. Pam and Mallory threesome with the duke. Priceless. I was disgusted by her huge gut, which made it even better.

  5. The callback to "Stealing all the jobs and listening to the raps" was perfect.

  6. Absinthe.

  7. Ray and his skiing. It shows that the spies are very worldly and having him get stuck up there was hilarious.

  8. Breeds of cow. Excellent choice for bonding between Pam and the Swiss guy.

  9. Hairspray and candles. A winning combo.

One more thing to waste your time even further. Why did you guys decide to have the "camera" be bellow archer as he descended into the bank vault on the third episode? It was animated fine, but it felt really weird.

3
domirillo•

Most of these aren't questions really (I know they weren't meant to be, but because of that, I assume you aren't looking for point by point responses here.)

In regards to the order of the first two episodes, here's a little fun fact: Here are the production numbers (which denotes the chronoligical order they were written and produced ex 201) paired with the airing order (ex #1) of the first 7 episodes:

#1 = 202 #2 = 206 #3 = 201 #4 = 207 #5 = 204 #6 = 205 #7 = 203

Now, just because they were written and produced in that order, does not mean that they were intended to be released in that order. For instance, we were very aware while making 201, that 202 was actually going to be the premiere. So take that for what it is. Production is a strange, messy process.

Why that particular camera angle? I don't know. That's usually a decision made by the storyboard department and the art director, Neal Holman(check his blog here). I'd say, that sometimes we try to create very dynamic, action-genre type shots and angles, even if they're difficult to animate. Sometimes that is successful (ie When Archer shoots behind himself when riding on the snowmobiles in Swiss Miss) and sometimes it isn't. We're making a new style for a cartoon (especially in terms of production), so I think every now and then, we just give shit a try and hopefully it works. If it doesn't, hopefully people still find the show entertaining.

2
yamyamyamyam•

I suppose a continuation of storyline is a neat addition and it shows a devotion from the writers/producers to keeping some sort of consistency, but for me it just came down to which episode was funnier and out of the two it would be the premiere by a long way.

2
[deleted]•

Maybe it was me, but I didn't really like that episode. I mean the part with Cyriel drunk had me on the floor. But aside from that, I really didn't find it funny.

3
dont_forget_a_towel•

Ya, its not just you, I thought it was meh. Aside from Archer asked Woodhouse why he was barefoot, and Woodhouse on heroin.

You know what, Woodhouse was awesome.

2
[deleted]•

I liked this episode. Best line was Mallory in the car

"If I wanted to go nowhere, I'd be a teacher"

3
wordsauce•

I'm so glad Woodhouse finally popped up. His absence the last two weeks really got me down. It's not Archer without Woodhouse.

3
[deleted]•

I think the biggest question from this episode is why Woodhouse answered to the name "Igor" (I think it was Igor?) when Sterling and Mallory were outside Archer's apartment. I sense we'll learn about that soon, unless it was mentioned in season 1 (I'm rewatching it now and up to the Skytanic episode, so it may come up later and I just forgot)?

2
[deleted]•

I thought it was just because it's a generic name for servants, particularly the hunched and strange ones.

6
[deleted]•

By the fact that your post is more upvoted than mine, I shall assume that the consensus is that there's nothing to it. Shame, really, as I was hoping for a funny backstory, but I guess the joke is just as funny if calling him Igor is merely one of Archer's idiosyncrasies!

2
ZachPruckowski•

I can totally see drunk Archer calling Woodhouse "Igor" at some point.

3
brodiemanthe1st•

"im kinda drunk for this oh SHIT NUTS!"

2