Archers greatest foe returns with a special favor to ask.
Would season seven continue to have that feeling of escalating insanity despite essentially starting from scratch?
Motherless Child proves definitively that the answer is yes and its thanks to a blast from Archers past.
Barry is exactly that for Archer but he also represents something more.
In this episode, Barry has abandoned all pretense of being a human being.
He picks up Archer at a bar in a taxi and he is wrapped in various shawls and scarves.
The fact thatArcheris treating Barry like Rickety Cricket in addition to Frank Grimes now is just a delight.
In Motherless Child Barry is much better served as is the show around him.
Everything about Barrys latest appearance is not only hilarious but somehow perfectly fits into the California P.I.
Theres also that bit about Mallory trapped in the bunker.
Barry in Motherless Child brings out the best inArcherthe show and Archer the character.
He also brings out the best in several other characters too.
Mallory rarely gets a chance to show off her old spy and survival skills anymore.
Its never been clearer where Archer gets it now.
But if she gets to use the bathroom… Cheryl whines.
EVERYONE GO TO THE BATHROOM!
The poor woman doesnt know what hell will soon be visited upon her.
Krieger keeps lifelike masks of all of his coworkers, btw.
Since his very first appearance, Barry has served as a barometer for how wellArcheris operating as a show.
A good Barry episode can only result from a strong season firing on all cylinders.
If thats indeed the case, Motherless Child shows that the State of theArcherUnion is strong.
Rating:
4.5 out of 5
