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| “ | All I've had today was like six gummy bears and some scotch. | „ |
| ~ Sterling Archer telling all he just ate. |
Sterling Archer is the titular main protagonist of the TV show Archer. He is known as the world's most dangerous spy, but is also a complete womanizer, idiot, and mamma's boy (his mother also happens to be his boss).
Biography[]
Sterling Archer is a secret agent who works for ISIS. He frequently uses his occupation to seduce beautiful women, engaging in some depraved sex acts off screen that the audience can only guess at (the morning after scenes always show an abundance of toys, stains, slap marks and occasionally animals). Archer is a bully to accountant Cyril Figgis, fellow agent Ray Gillette and HR rep Pam Poovey, belittling them for various reasons. He once dated fellow agent Lana Kane, but the relationship has since ended. It's implied they still have unresolved feelings for each other and they occasionally sleep together. Archer also treats his butler Woodhouse like dirt due to his status.
Although Archer resuses to settle down with one woman, he instantly falls in love with Russian agent Katya Kazanova. He even tried getting off alcohol in an attempt to make his relationship with her work. When Katya was killed, he ran off to a secluded island to grieve.
Despite his nasty attitude, Archer does have his sympathetic moments. He tried to save Woodhouse's life one time, despite Woodhouse not being in any danger. He also shows a soft spot for most animals, with the exception of alligators. When Archer as diagnosed with cancer, he genuinely tried to make amends with the people he mistreated, though this was all forgotten as soon as his cancer went into remission. He also bonds with a closet homosexual that he was sent to honey-trap, despite his intolerant attitude towards gays. Archer's most recurring enemy is rival agent Barry Dylan. Archer left Barry crippled and had sex with his girlfriend, sparking a vendetta between them. This started out as petty inconveniences, such as sticking Archer with child support, but after Barry was further crippled and rebuilt as a cyborg, the antagonism became even more pronounced.
Archer's relationship with his mother is by far his most complex. Malory Archer conceived him out of wedlock to an unknown man and had been absent for most of his childhood. Despite having a strained relationship, Archer seems heavily dependent on Malory, apparently only getting through school and college by having his mother bribe or threaten anyone who might fail him. It's also implied that there's some unresolved Oedipal issues among them, since both Archers show contempt for anybody who shows any romantic interest in the other. The two do care for each other though, just not in an outward or conventional sense.
Personality[]
The comic efficacy of Archer's personality lies in his narcissism and relentless snark. The character is described as "rude, sexist, and a terrible boss" without a moment's regret. He frequently harasses his peers with caustic jokes, one-liners and over-the-top, elaborate voicemail pranks. Archer is a full-blown alcoholic who uses his position to entice women into sex. Reed envisioned Archer as such as jerk, albeit a somewhat sympathetic character à la James Bond, with whom Archer shares his model of gun, the Walther PPK. Archer becomes an even more sympathetic personality as the series evolves in later seasons, when revelations about his troubled past, fears, affection for animals, and a deep admiration of Burt Reynolds, among others, come to light. During the 6th and 7th season severe trauma and important events, in the form of cancer, the death of his ex-fiancée Katya Kazanova (later revived as a cyborg), the death of his possible father Nikolai Jakov, the birth of his daughter, and his relationship with his mother, heavily influence his moral compass and his sense of personal responsibility.
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Trivia[]
- Archer's idol is Burt Reynolds. This was a major source of conflict for him as Burt briefly dated his mother.
- Archer refuses to work without his black turtle-neck sweaters.
- His favourite snack is gummy bears. He sometimes goes a whole day eating nothing but gummy bears.
- Archer drinks during the day. His reasoning being that he's trying to ward off what must by now be a death-inducing hangover.
- Due to his daily heavy-drinking routine and continuous exposure to radiation as a spy he once had the rare male breast cancer.
- Despite being portrayed as an imbecile who only suvives on dumb luck, Archer is well-read as a result of going to a private school.
- Archer loves lacrosse.
- Archer is voiced by H. Jon Benjamin, who also voiced Bob Belcher from Bob's Burgers. Archer actually assumed the identity of Bob in one episode.