Last week, FX aired the first part of a three part Archer movie, "Heart of Archness."  This week, our round table gathers to discuss the return of one of the funniest shows on television.

So come gather around with the Doctor, Mark, and myself as we discuss ruses, tending bar, and banging newlyweds.  You know, standard Archer stuff.

What was your favorite Archer joke from last night?  

Dr. Toboggan: "Wondering why this is called a ration, they should call it a de-ration as in this tastes like cat shit." If it makes Rip feel any better he threw most of it up overboard.

Mark F: "Hi. It's the 1930s. Can we have our words, clothes, and s----- airplane back?"

Eric H: The sploosh exchange between Gilette and the girls.  I can't believe the stuff FX lets them get away with!

Favorite ruse?

Dr. Toboggan: Archer's bathroom ruse to take over the plane.  Not only did he subdue Rip but he also clogged the sink for good measure, vintage Archer.

Mark F: Clearly the elaborate ruse where Rip fell for the bathroom ruse to get handcuffed and make the auto-pilot miss the refueling stop and blow out both engines and crash in the water... It really was quite elaborate. Unfortunately it totally backfired on Rip and he still couldn't get the upper-hand on Archer.

Eric H: Clearly the 'acemaster and vintage racist humor.  Rip's elaborate ruse to fake fall for Archer's ruse did come close...

More bad ass spy: Rip Riley or Archer?  Would you want him as a regular? 

Dr. Toboggan: Archer no doubt.  And eh, Rip was ok and I like him a lot for the three part series but there are too many other great characters who need their lines each week to let him be a regular.

Mark F: Archer. 1) Awesome grieving process. 2) Ability to maintain full sarcasm and wit while single handily getting himself out of any precarious situation. 3) Mango and liquor for 3 months on a private island with newlywed females with husbands playing 36 holes of golf sounds like my next vacation.

As for series regular? No. He already dominates as Brock Sampson. Can't top that. Would only ruin it. Plus, I agree with the Doc, the other characters can hold their own with the one-liners and extra sarcasm when they are in the scenes. 

Eric H: Maybe it's the voice of Brock doing it to me, that I have to give it to Rip.  The guy managed to track down take down AND take down Sterling after a cracked bottle to the face?  Who cares if he's a little slow on picking up on Archer's code words? And I at least want him to occasionally pop back up.  ISIS could use a few more competent spies for Archer to mess things up on...

Tending bar and banging newlyweds.  Standard grieving process for loss of a fiancee?

Dr. Toboggan: I think that was pretty fair.  If not standard practice for everyone, definitely standard for Archer, although I would have expected more money getting thrown around and more call girls.

Mark F: Standard grieving process? No idea. Standard Archer? Most definitely My weekend? Hopefully. I mean, falling onto a bed is always better with guilt for her.... isn't it?

Eric H: Weak sauce.  I personally was hoping he would have visited the Always Sunny gang like the season 3 promo teased.  Have you seen the Intervention episode of Sunny?  No one knows how to grieve and console like Frank, Mac and the gang with a can of wine in hand. 

So do you like what FX did with this three part Special Assignment, or is it just a tease?

Dr. Toboggan: Yeah, I really like it a lot.  Usually Thursday means Sunny and The League (which isn't back until October), so its pretty nice having Archer bridge that gap and hold us over until it returns in Jan.

Mark F: Big fan. No way I would have made it to next season just on re-runs. Although I have been trying to find the right girl for a group Halloween costume revolving around Archer. However, it can be difficult to find the proper girl that is A) built like Lana and B) willing to allow Discount Stripper Warehouse to showcase her intellect.

Eric H: As I said in my review, I think they handled it perfectly as an almost standalone movie and not taking away from the real season's episode count.  Made it feel far less than the scheduling gimmick it is.  That said, in the end, it's only a tease to me and making my Archer withdrawal symptoms even worse.  Those include no longer laughing.  Why are you so cruel?

Eric Hochberger is the programmer of TV Fanatic, so please forgive his mediocre writing. His programming is far better. Follow him on Twitter and/or email him. Just don't request threaded comments. They're coming.