Quick Take: Archer, “Drift Problem”
"My ass is everywhere." - Mr. Ford
Review: Archer, “Drift Problem”
(S0304) If the running gags, stellar voice-work, and unbridled vulgarity weren’t enough to launch Archer into immediate competition for one of my favourite animated series (they were), then last night’s episode certainly would have done the trick. As of “Drift Problem,” it’s now official that Archer exists inside its own television “metaverse” alongside creator Adam Reed’s other cult-hit, Frisky Dingo, introducing the marble-mouthed, fan-favourite, Mr. Ford (his ass is everywhere).
Despite the strict copyright barriers that prevent lifting major characters from television shows on other networks, there remains a great deal of elasticity when it comes to storytelling. One of my favourite moments last year was when Community and Cougar Town established that they both exist inside the same universe – Abed’s fandom earns his character a guest-spot in the background of Cougar Town, a story which he tells Jeff in their own show. This TV metaverse also happens to include Scrubs, as luckless lawyer Ted Buckland appears in Cougar Town following the permanent closing of Scrubs’ Sacred Heart.
Though it takes some getting to, the best gift on Sterling Archer’s birthday is Mr Ford’s fantastic reveal. When Mallory surprises her son with a brand new, Dodge Challenger spy car – taking product placement and advertising to a whole new level of obvious absurdity – Archer immediately loses it in his parking garage, despite his mother’s explicit warnings and the traumatic memory of a lost five-speed bike.
Archer can only come to the conclusion that a high-profile gang must have stolen his car for street-racing, for which he uses Pam’s racing connection to the Chinese Yakuza gang to stake out his planned rampage. Adding to the list of perfectly-chosen guest-star roles – this season already includes Patrick Warburton, David Cross, Burt Reynolds, and Mike Smith, Robb Wells and John Paul Tremblay of Trailer Park Boys fame – George Takei joins the ranks as Mr. Moto, the Asian gang’s ringleader.
A little drunk, a little scared, and ready to rampage, Archer causes Pam’s car to get shot up beyond recognition, as it joins two of Krieger’s vans in Archer’s list of car casualties. After they take care of the Yakuza, Mallory arrives with Carol (or is it Cheryl again, I can never tell), hinting that she was the one who stole Archer’s car to prove a point. Instead of giving the car back in order to teach her son to value it more, Mallory just lets the trauma relive itself in Archer’s head after selling the car to the corner-cruising Mr Ford.
So now we speculate: is Mr. Ford related to anybody on the show? The chump’s bet would be either Lana, or else Popeye, Archer’s dry-cleaning pimp nemesis. But that still doesn’t quite answer how Mallory knew Mr Ford to sell him Archer’s car. The only other connection I can make – and it is intensely frail – is that the creator of both shows, Adam Reed, voices the character of Ray Gillette, and is so obviously unrelated to Mr Ford that it’s the perfect opportunity to turn the tables on us.
Minor correction: Yakuza are Japanese, not Chinese.
Bah, my bad. I thought the writers were being ironic / it explains the lack of response to Mallory's "That's for Pearl Harbor" comment, which I thought was meant to be racist (moreso than it was?)
I honestly could not tell if it was Mr. Ford or not. I was gobsmacked when it finally dawned on me. Do you guys think he will actually be a recurring character or it was nothing more than a cameo? I really am praying he comes back. I miss Frisky Dingo and The X-tacles (or the 3 episodes of it at least).
To Paul, it was 100% without a doubt Mr. Ford, not just because of the voice, but because of him saying "my ass is everywhere," not just because it's a frisky quote, but because the fact that he's saying this on another show, is showing that his ass really is fuckin everywhere!
The way he was introduced I think definitely means he'll be coming back in more episodes. What i'm HOPING this also means however is that more Frisky characters will just start appearing, though this would be tough for legal reasons.
I think it's possible that Mr. Ford will be the only one that they can almost completely copy, due to the fact that Mr. Ford was creditted on Frisky as being played by "Mr. Ford" so in a way, the character is acting as himself, so it's possible that because of that, Adult Swim does not necessarily own the rights to his character, therefore making him reusable in Archer, which I think would be fucking amazing. That's all just a theory though, I really am just hoping that they start bringing around more Frisky characters, at the very least just using the most basic legal restrictions to "disguise" them as other characters, but make them blatant copies.
This all being said, I actually freaked the hell out when I saw it. It was just amazing.
Yeah, 100% Mr. Ford. Adam Reed is meticulous when it comes to the little details and continuity in his shows, there's definitely a method to his madness and I'm pumped to watch it unfold. I remember reading an interview with him where he laid out the restrictions on the characters he'd be allowed to use, and that he doubts he'll be able to introduce any of Frisky's main cast. I'll try and dig it up.
The problem with masquerading old characters under new names, however, is that the writers would have to argue that the similarities were "coincidental," and not blatant copies. If they were blatant copies, Adult Swim would retain its right over the characters and their likenesses.
Community and Cougar Town don't exist within the same universe. Cougar Town is a TV show in the Community universe. If you really want to mess with your head in terms of TV shows taking place in the same universe, try to keep track of all the shows in which Detective Munch has made an appearance. Apparently, The Wire, Arrested Development, and The X-Files are all part of the same world, just to name a few.
"Community and Cougar Town don't exist within the same universe." Technically, yes they do.
Yes, Cougar Town is a TV show in the Community universe, but it's pretty obvious that Community isn't much of a normal universe. Abed fully appeared on the "set" of Cougar Town, while characters from Scrubs appear in the "city" of Cougar Town. Not to mention the Community finale last season with Ellie and Travis (not their actors) cheering for Greendale from the sidelines.
I'm well aweare of the "Munch" factor - he ties together 30 Rock and countless Law and Order spinoffs, too, But that's the most interesting thing about him.
Right, but Abed appearing on the set of Cougar Town doesn't establish that the two shows take place in the same universe. They were just playing off the story he told in the "My Dinner with Andre" episode where he visited the set and served as an extra on the show. If anything, it reinforces the division between the shows' worlds. As to Ellie and Travis appearing in last season's finale, I must have missed that. Was it firmly established that they were meant to be playing their characters? Actually, I don't know why I'm giving so much thought to this stuff. Have a nice day.
that's the most interesting thing about him.
So you didn't watch Homicide is what you are saying.
I've only seen the movie-finale. Police procedurals are a dry bumpy road for me.