Archer (TV Series) Archer Dreamland: Auflösung (2017) User Reviews

"I guess that's pretty much that, vengeance-wise"

[Mr-Fusion · 8/10 · 22 June 2018]

'Auflösung' has its surprises, but above all, it brings the overarching mystery to a close - even as it's leaving Archer's future wide-open. A great ending that leaves on a somber sax note and just the right vibe.

"Dreamland" is a success; both as the best series-reinvention to date and as an experiment in serialized "Archer". It manages to recall some of the better early seasons' characters in new roles, as well as addresses the loss of George Coe (R.I.P.) Stylish, gorgeously animated and a fun right throughout.

Great TV.

Season 8: A darker reinvention, very well-made

[jbencker · 9/10 · 12 April 2019]

Season 8 reinvents Archer again - but this time on a more fundamental level as it takes place in Archer's coma dream, featuring a new setting as well as all characters in new roles. The 1940s noir setting fits very well and it is refreshing to see the characters in new roles. All character reinventions are great, though for me Krieger stood out as his role has an interesting twist.

The new season is much darker, with both Archer and Krieger getting WWII flashbacks and Woodhouse's murder running throughout the whole season - even if Archer keeps getting distracted. This also makes for a surprisingly emotional season. Still, season 8 keeps the typical Archer elements we all know and love, like Krieger's crazy experiments - I'm not sure if it was just me but I found the robot cat just hilarious - Cheryl being insane, Archer's alcohol and drug abuse, rampant violence and so on. The darker tone fits Archer really well and the serialized form worked perfectly, making this season the best in years.

As a German I also have to pay my compliments to Lucky Yates. For someone who doesn't speak German at all he did really, really well with his German lines - which were a lot this season. I know native English speakers who have learned German for years and have a much stronger accent.

S8: Dreamland: Solid enough for fans but the shift to noir didn't add as much as it seemed to lose along the way

[bob the moo · 13 August 2017]

With Archer ending (and starting) last season floating face-down in a swimming pool, no surprise we start this in a hospital and immediately jump into a noir fantasy world with all the characters we know, but playing different roles than normal. Essentially the narrative takes us through a messy arc of Archer getting caught up in kidnapping, Nazi scientists, femme fatales, and part-robot killers (as much as I dislike him, Barry always seems to have a space). Although it wears the style and tone of noir, it doesn't do a great deal with it beyond just that, although by virtue of its setting, there is a feeling of it moving slower than normal.

There are still funny lines, snappy wordplay and the usual character traits, but they flow less naturally than they normally do, and it does affect the season. There is still plenty I enjoyed across this season, but too much of it was just 'okay', and didn't hits its marks consistently enough. It is a nice attempt to keep the show fresh and to change things up, but it loses more than it can bear in the process. You'll still find the Archer you love in this season, just not as much of it.