There is some stuff I really like in ‘Un Chien Tangerine’… problem is, I’m more interested in what’s to come then what actually happens in tonight’s episode. At times, tonight’s Archer felt like a different, less thoughtful animated show, full of too many fart jokes and scenes of Archer talking to a dog.
I do like Kasak, though – I’m hoping he’ll stick around, and form a Jowl Squad with Pam, who applies to be an agent because she’s broke (something that’s been hinted to in earlier episodes, and explained in bloody detail here). But Kasak’s presence in this particular episode is counterproductive to the interesting parts: Kasak wedges himself in between the great Archer/Lana scenes, which in turn, take away from the office scenes, where Pam reveals more of her painful past, and Cheryl freaks out about Malory being a ghost.
The nuggets inserted here for the future great – in particular the little tease of Archer proposing to Lana, which I’m sure will return later on this season. That being said, the adventure to Morocco is lacking in material, with a few easy cultural jokes, a lot of farting, and way too much of Archer talking to a character that can’t really respond to him. When it’s an ocelot and Archer only has to share a line or two with it, it works… here, it just feels like the show’s biding time, setting things up for the final three episodes of the season.
Plot wise, ‘Un Chien Tangerine’ is very, very light – there isn’t even a bad guy to speak of, just a couple random people in the desert who hold up a frustrated, dehydrated Lana. And that also works against the episode, holes that a bland landscape and a farting dog can’t really fill up. Without the usual collection of great jokes (taken up by farts in this episode), ‘Un Chien Tangerine’ is ultimately a forgettable episode of Archer.
Grade: B-
Other thoughts/observations:
– Cheryl’s old prediction for Lana’s death almost comes true – although it’s hardly a reveal that justifies the lame time spent in the desert.
– Archer is a big Nightcrawler fan – although he doesn’t quite understand the point of the tail.
– Cheryl’s still obsessed with chocolate mousse.
– I was really hoping Barry would’ve been one of the people Pam beat the crap out of. Cyril crying almost makes up for it, though.
Processed Media 