Archer (TV Series) Mole Hunt (2009) User Reviews

A legend in his own mind

[Mr-Fusion · 7/10 · 16 January 2018]

How do you make fun of James Bond for an adult audience? Make him spoiled, self-centered, completely immature and lousy with mommy issues. That's Sterling Archer, a man with inexplicable field skills despite his abusive workplace behavior. And his snark is hysterical. Throw in a raging case of nepotism and a spy agency with shoddy security measures, and off you go . . . top-rate office spy sitcom.

'Mole Hunt' is your typical TV pilot, bearing the show's hallmarks (albeit in their nascent stages) but with experimental animation. The series rightly becomes known for its ensemble cast - which isn't highlighted here - but what is evident from the very beginning is the show's whiplash dialogue and ideal candidacy for bingeing.

It's absolutely my brand of humor.

7/10

"Sterling Archer. Code name Duchess. Known from Berlin to Bangkok as the world's most dangerous spy."

[bensonmum2 · 8/10 · 30 March 2017]

Ah, Archer – why has it taken me so long to get on-board? The show is fantastic. It's funny, irreverent, and un-PC. The first episode, Mole Hunt, does an excellent job of setting-up the series and things to come.

Sterling Archer is a spy working for an agency (unfortunately) named ISIS - International Secret Intelligence Service. Archer is a sexist, misogynistic, egotistical, self-absorbed, hard-drinking, dim-witted guy with mommy and relationship issues who just happens to be hysterically funny. In Mole Hunt, Archer has withdrawn thousands of dollars in bogus expense money he can't re-pay. He blames it all on a mole working inside ISIS. As luck would have it, there is a mole. There are plenty of funny scenes, terrific dialogue, and interesting artwork throughout. The music fits nicely with the spy theme. The voice work is top notch. I was especially happy to hear the very funny Jessica Walter as Archer's mother. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series.

Favorite moment: The Mexican Standoff – what a funny scene!

The ultimate James Bond animated parody for adults

[igoatabase · 9/10 · 15 April 2011]

Who's sexier, better and stronger than Sean Connery as James Bond ? Jean-Paul Belmondo as Bob Saint-Clar in Le Magnifique ? Too Jackie Chan ! Jean Dujardin as Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath in OSS 117 ? Too frenchie ! Sterling Malory Archer of course ! The spy of spies has it all, from black (or slightly black) suits to gadgets that can even be used as sextoys ! As in the famous spy franchise the episode began with the protagonist in distress. In less than thirty seconds you know that Archer is no Bond ! He looked more like a kid trapped in an adult body with crazy ants commanding his every moves. Then came the inevitable opening credits with the dancing silhouettes and funky colors. Considering it's a cartoon I couldn't help comparing it to Cat's Eyes but James Bond is undoubtedly the reference in the genre. Even if the visuals are minimal the rest was an endless series of irresistible gags, hilarious jokes and cult dialogs. The first viewing should have a delirious impact on your mind but be aware that the second could alter your brainwaves and turn you into an unstoppable laughing barrel of monkeys. A whippong of mass humor ? Even stereotyped characters, from the charismatic mother to the innocent secretary, were turned into funny controversial personas. Archer and his mother ? A job for Sigmund Freud ! Archer and his mistresses ? How not to treat women. Warning : Plush animals were harmed. Dolphin ? Checked. Duck ? Checked. So wrong that it's good, specially because it's only animated. The guilty pleasure you always wished for but was too afraid to ask. Most retorts are comedic homeruns that should send you rolling on the floor. Impossible ? Not for Archer ! He's so mean and the characters revolving around him like bugs so disturbed, kinky and wicked that you should instantly fall in luv with them. Happy Tree Friends + James Bond + Sexymmorality ? I don't know its magick formula but Mole Hunt was animated comedy for adults at its best !

A sign of great things to come

[ronaldjogioja · 8/10 · 14 November 2022]

A perfect example of what an ideal pilot for an animated series should look like, Archer's pilot does a fantastic job of introducing it's many colorful characters, without sacrificing humor in favor of exposition. With the first scene being, in my personal opinion, the weakest (save for the opening performance of Jessica Walter), what follows, perfectly captures the best aspects of what makes Archer great. H. Jon Benjamin voices the titular character of Archer, capturing his persona and his motives in a way that very much defines the show. But, rest assured; Pam, Cheryl and Mother won't be going anywhere.

8

[Edvis-1997 · 8/10 · 16 October 2019]

Very nice episode. Really liked that TV show. Sadly I found it only now.

Over the Top

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 14 October 2015]

My son talked me into watching this. In the Pilot we are introduced to this guy who is sexist, undependable, cheap, conniving, dishonest, etc., etc., etc. He is also the hero. He is dependent on his mother who runs the agency he works for. He has sexual relationships with everyone. The dialogue is filled with sexual references. The women are large breasted and either submissive or formidable. I guess Archer has overextended his expenses and is looking for ways to cover it up. Of course, in most cases, he would have been victimized, but we are shown that he indeed is a profligate, trying to blame other people and hack into the computer's mainframe in order to put the blame on the villain (who isn't all that much worse than he is). We know he is a villain because he is old and ugly. Anyway, this is so outrageous that I will watch a handful of episodes just to see where it goes.

Comrade Question

[throwaway-88285 · 8/10 · 4 March 2020]

Not too bad but not too great. That tends to be how it goes for pilots. Funny jokes, the start of a lot of running gags, and even some overarching plot. A solid first episode

Wow.. Archer's relationship with his mom..

[celiawatsonanime · 7/10 · 3 February 2022]

It just feels kind of strange, interesting and entertaining.

I like the whole anxiety about attracting ants with the donuts that's mentioned several times.

It would've been more fun if Archer ran off with the mole and drained his bank account for travel expenses after he broke into the ISIS headquarters.

People inside of the show's universe don't really seem to like Archer.

They really seem to make stand offs with guns kind of entertaining.