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It may be tempting to write Archer (2010 – ) off as sexist, but the truth is not that simple. While some women on the show may not be positive role models and some men are depicted as misogynistic, too many main characters are powerful, successful females for the show overall to be considered sexist. Moreover, the sexist attitude of the show’s protagonist encourages us not to sympathize with his opinions but to view his arrogant, dismissive behavior as the object of our ridicule.

In Seasons One through Four, the International Secret Intelligence Service is filled with strong, capable women. Malory Archer is the owner and head of I.S.I.S., and before starting I.S.I.S. she was a successful black-ops spy herself. The agency’s most capable agent is Lana Kane, who is a strong, independent, fearless woman who is a good shot and a great agent, even being scouted by a rival agency in “Job Offer” (S1:E9).

Malory Archer, head of I.S.I.S.

Agent Lana Kane

Pam Poovey is the H.R. director at I.S.I.S. by day, and a boxer and drag racer by night. In “Un Chien Tangerine” (S4:E10) she aces all of the exams for I.S.I.S. agents, becoming a field agent herself.

Pam Poovey

Even the K.G.B., I.S.I.S.’s nemesis, has capable women. Katya Kazanova was a Russian spy who saved Sterling Archer’s life when he is cornered by Russian soldiers in “White Nights” (S2:E12) and again when he was attacked by Barry in “Double Trouble” (S2:E13). She defected from Russia yet still ends up taking over the K.G.B in “Viscous Coupling” (S4:E5).

Katya Kazanova, head of the K.G.B.

In “Movie Star” (S2:E7), Rona Thorne is a Russian sleeper agent who hides out as an Academy Award winning American actress until she infiltrates I.S.I.S. pretending to be researching a movie, incapacitates Lana and Sterling on a rooftop near the U.N., and assassinates the Soviet Premier, only to disappear.

Rona Thorne, Russian sleeper

Maria Moreno, a.k.a. the Coyote, smuggles people across the U.S.-Mexico border. She enlists the help of her beautiful daughter, Mercedes Moreno, to distract the womanizing Sterling Archer in “Coyote Lovely” (S4:E8) so that she can complete the job.

Mercedes Moreno & Sterling Archer

Because Sterling is a womanizer, it is also tempting to think that the show isn’t sexist; just the titular character is. He treats women despicably, and although it has been proven time and time again that Lana is the better agent, he still considers himself to be superior. However, he does have respect for some women in certain situations.

“Yeah, you were always there for me, which I never really thank you for.” (“Dial M for Mother” S1:E10)

What’s more, Sterling doesn’t think himself superior to women; he thinks he’s superior to everyone. His behavior towards women, the Irish, African Americans, homosexuals, the handicapped, his servant, Russians, prostitutes, Southerners, his mother, children and more is all equally appalling.

Here are a few choice examples of the terrible things Archer says:

• “You’re black…ish. […] Well, what’s the word for it, Lana? You freaked out when I said quadroon.” (S1:E3)
• “Sorry I can’t stay for dinner. I assume that smell is cabbage and not just you two.” (S2:E12)
• “Hey, relax Hannity, it wasn’t all that long ago that everybody hated the Irish for swarming over here in their potato boats and taking all the jobs.” (S2:E9)
• “Woodhouse! [laughs] He’s all tied up somewhere! [laughs] Scared and alone! [laughs] Probably dehydrated!” (S1:E5)
• “Out macho a gay guy? [sarcastically] Oh my stars!” (S1:E5)
• “You know, when I was little I used to pretend you weren’t my mother.” (S1:E5)
• “Barry, wait! Slow down […] so I can go past you!” (S2:E12)
• “Jesus, Spanish, our jobs aren’t enough, now you have to take our words?” (S1:E5)
• “Who gives a shit about a baby?” (S1:E10)

While he says horrible things to everyone, his deeds are no better and are also directed at people of all types. In fact, Archer is shown in “Honeypot” (S1:E5) punishing both Woodhouse and Cheryl in the same way for being unable to make his breakfast: he throws their clothes from his patio balcony.

“And your shoes! Because how hard is it to poach a God-damn egg properly?” (S1:E5)

“Because how hard is it to poach a God-damn egg properly?” (S1:E5)

Sterling thinks highly only of himself, if he occasionally recognizes the merits of someone he feels close to—usually someone who directly helps him. Sterling is egotistical and narcissistic, but he is not simply sexist, and neither is the show. By making Sterling outrageously conceited and insulting, the audience is able to laugh at the terrible things he says, rather than be offended by them. If Sterling were only sexist or racist or homophobic, his abhorrent comments would take on a different meaning. But the fact that he is arrogant and ill-informed ultimately makes him and others like him, rather than the cultures and people he’s insulting, the butt of the joke.

And while some may argue that the physical representation of a number of attractive female characters invites us to objectify them, the women characters are actually a fairly diverse group, just like the men. Malory is an older woman, with the grey hair and wrinkles to prove it. Pam is overweight. Even Lana, who appears stereotypically perfect in every conceivable way, is mocked by the other characters on the show for having large (“truckasaurus”) hands. And all the characters, both male and female, were in fact modeled after real live people.

The women in Archer are too successful, powerful, intelligent and physically diverse to support the argument that the show is sexist towards women.