Parents' Guide to

Archer

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Animated mature spy spoof has sex, language, drinking.

TV FX Comedy 2010
Archer Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 15+

Based on 15 parent reviews

Ninja883
Ninja883 Adult
March 15, 2019
age 11+

11+

I noticed some people saying archer should be 17+ which I think is absurd, I know a 10 year old who has seen archer. Although this 10 year old is mature I think archer should be rated more like 12+
burkeman
burkeman Parent of 13-year-old
September 19, 2023
age 17+

Good Adult Fun

The show is not for children. If you like sarcasm, which I do, then you will love this show. It makes light of the typical spy movies.
See all 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Sterling ARCHER (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) is the most daring agent at the supersecret spy agency ISIS -- the International Secret Intelligence Service -- but he seems much more interested in enjoying life than in defending freedom and democracy. In this animated spy-spoof series, he prefers to spend his evenings pursuing women ... and consequently often spends the morning recovering from the excesses of the previous night. The ISIS team as a whole ends up getting caught up in petty office politics, and Archer gives his coworkers plenty of material for gossip -- especially via his tempestuous interactions with fellow agent/ex-girlfriend Lana (Aisha Tyler) and his chilly relationship with his domineering mother (Jessica Walter), the head of ISIS.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (15 ):
Kids say (42 ):

Superspies take themselves so seriously that the genre is ready-made for parody, and Archer hits the bullseye. The spy and his colleagues put as much effort hacking into the company's health insurance records or trying to overwrite expense account records as agents in other espionage franchises might devote to tracking down a missing nuke or bringing down an international drug cartel.

This witty series flips the conventions of the espionage thriller, creating an entertaining and original show. It's fun, but it's also best for adults and older teens who can appreciate the source material and handle the language and sexuality.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about who this show is designed to appeal to. Do you think the fact that it's animated gives it more "kid appeal" than a live-action version? Do you think people often assume that anything animated is OK for younger viewers?

  • What makes this show a spoof? How do Archer's assignments differ from those of James Bond or the Mission: Impossible team? Does his after-hours social life seem Bond-like?

  • What about the superspy genre makes it so ripe for parody?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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