'Archer' Season 11 Episode 8 Review: Arctic murder mystery reveals why the world truly needs Archer awake
Spoilers for 'Archer' Season 11 Episode 8 - 'Cold Fusion'
Sterling Archer (H Jon Benjamin) very nearly slipped back into a coma in the Season 11 Finale, just as his team had gotten used to having him around. Fortunately, thanks to a well-placed penguin with a rope, Archer's life was saved, just in time for him to point out that he'd not only just saved the world, but that there's a reason why his team really needs him around despite all their complaints about his return.
While Archer was in his coma, everyone's lives seemed to have changed for the better. Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler) got married, Cyril Figgis (Chris Parnell) worked out and became the agency's top field agent, and Malory Archer (Jessica Walter) managed to whip the agency up into one of the most competent spy agencies on the planet, all of which went sharply downhill in the few short weeks since Archer's return.
As soon as he woke up from his coma, Archer immediately began undermining confidences, mocking the new way things were done, bumbling from one mistake to another and bringing his friends, family, and agency down with him until everything was, more or less, just the way he left it. His colleagues took notice, and discuss it plainly during this episode. Everyone who improved during Archer's coma years immediately backslid on his return. Archer's selfish, self-centered ways are toxic enough to ruin the lives of everyone around him, and as they've repeatedly implied throughout the season, maybe things would be better off with Archer gone.
However, once Archer risked his life to save the world from an explosion of the polar ice caps after helping to solve a murder mystery, he confronted his team about this. He notes that none of them ever saved the world while he was gone, but that's not the real reason they need him right where he is, alive, functioning, and life-ruining. His team needs him so that they can, without guilt, become the worse versions of themselves while blaming Archer for it all.
In classic Archer fashion, it's a point of view that completely deflects blame from himself, but it's a theory that nevertheless still holds some weight -- something Lana is all too quick to recognize. It's not easy being the best version of yourself, day after day. Archer's devil-may-care attitude gives everyone a reason to ease off that pressure, and just give in to weak, selfish impulses. More importantly, being able to blame Archer keeps his team from feeling guilt about backsliding, allowing them to have their cake (or tubs of chocolate ice cream) and eat it one guilt-free spoon after another.
It's a small moment, but a perfect way to cap the season off. Now that we've had a glimpse of what the people in Archer's life could be like without him, we also see how much they need him around just so that they can ease the pressure of competence off. It's why fans love the show -- once in a while, people need a good excuse to let go, and be the worst possible versions of themselves can be. Whether you're a spy in his organization, one of his worst enemies, or just a fan of the show, that's one thing that everyone in Archer's sphere of influence has in common.
This was the final episode of 'Archer' Season 11.