The animated spy comedy *Archer*, which ran for 145 episodes before ending three years ago, is being highlighted as one of television's sharpest adult comedies and a series already regarded as a classic despite its relatively short time off the air. Premiering in 2009, the show carved out a distinctive niche between long-running animated staples like *The Simpsons* and *South Park* through its stylish visuals and irreverent tone, following the exploits of the dysfunctional fictional spy agency ISIS.

Unlike a suave James Bond figure, protagonist Sterling Archer (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) is a childish, narcissistic operative with a fraught relationship with his emotionally distant mother and ISIS boss, Malory Archer (Jessica Walter). He works alongside his on-again, off-again partner Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler) and a cast of eccentric colleagues, including Cyril Figgis (Chris Parnell), Cheryl Tunt (Judy Greer), Pam Poovey (Amber Nash), Dr Krieger (Lucky Yates) and Ray Gillette (Adam Reed), as the show blends espionage tropes with crude, politically incorrect humour reminiscent of *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia*.