Sometimes it all comes together for Archer and they put out an episode that in nonstop laughs from start to finish. "Placebo Effect" was one of those times and one of the funniest episodes to date. Continuing the storyline established in the previous episode, Archer once again managed to do what many comedies wouldn't even attempt; make cancer funny. Particularly breast cancer, in Archer's case. It's certainly seen as an at least somewhat taboo subject for comedies. No matter what, you're going to offend, so if you can't make it hilarious for the people that actually have a sense of humor, a bad episode can become a famously bad episode. Luckily in the case Archer, that was never a problem. We learn in the cold open that the cancer meds Archer has been taking to treat his tumor are actually sugar pills and Zima("Which is probably why I've been in such a great mood"). This sets up the plot for the rest of the episode, as Archer seeks revenge on those responsible. As he, "Cries havoc and let's slip the hogs of war," we are introduced to Ruth, a geriatric who shares Archer's same affliction and whom he inexplicably forms a connection with. A storyline that by itself garnered some great laughs. Archer ascertains the whereabouts of the men behind the scam from a pharmacist terrified of having a knife shoved up his urethra("Which again, ick!"), as Lana captures it all on film for Archer's movie, "Terms of Enrampagement".
Which truly kicks off with Archer interrogating a few Irish mob underlings, in what I felt, was the highpoint of an already brilliant episode. I mean let's face it; who hasn't wanted to host their own game of "Family Feud" where strikes bought contestants a kneecap full of buckshot? And living out that fantasy vicariously through Archer made for an uproariously funny scene. "Hmm...Vincent Van Go-F***-Myself? Survey says!" BLAM!!
Back at ISIS headquarters, Krieger was finding himself in trouble over his past as Cyril starts suspecting him of being a Nazi(and here I was thinking cancer was going to be their hot button issue). As it turns out Krieger is actually one of "The Boys From Brazil." A reference to the 1978 film of the same name, as is Krieger's line(and flashback) about his pet doberman's accidentally eating his father. I know there might of been some people that didn't get the reference(I could not recall it until Pam mentioned the name), but one of the things I admire about this show are the not-so-pop-culture references(Where the Red Fern Grows, Three-on-a-match, and Checkov's Gun, to name a few). I love that they are willing to risk a few blank expressions from viewers if it means even bigger grins from the ones who do get it. I also loved Pam and Cheryl's scenes; their back-&-forth is something I look forward to more and more.
The laughs were still coming steady as Archer continued his now chemo-filled rampage("Not a smart mid-rampage move"), by taking out some mid-level thugs and "chain smoking joints the size of tampons"(that's why he's in such a great mood). He also managed to score some revenge on Lana, of the eardrum shattering variety, for her doing the same to him back in "Movie Star", gotta love the self-referential humor. The episode's climax(and his movie's) saw Archer finally confronting the man at the top, who foolishly gave Archer even more reason to kill him by revealing he "had" Mallory for three days in Phuket("Zinnnnggg!") In addition to the great written material, H. Jon Benjamin's delivery was turning seemingly innocuous lines into side splitters("Freddy Delaney, stand your ass up!!!"), which he's always had a knack for. The only real complaint I have about this one was Cheryl's alternate movie titles, they just weren't that funny, and being they were the last lines of the episode, it soured it just a bit. They couldn't take too much away from this one though, as "Placebo Effect" was a classic example of everything that is great about Archer.moreless
Episode Summary
EDIT
Archer finds out that the drugs he's been taking for his breast cancer are counterfeit. Swearing retribution, he goes on a rampage, enlisting Lana to document everything on camera. Cyril discovers a dark secret about Dr. Krieger's family line, and decides to report it to Malory.moreless
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GUEST STAR
Darren CrissMikey / Tommy
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GUEST STAR
Joan Van ArkRuth
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GUEST STAR
Lloyd SherrPaddy
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H. Jon Benjamin
Sterling Archer
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Judy Greer
Cheryl/Carol
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Amber Nash
Pam Poovey
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Chris Parnell
Cyril Figgis
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Aisha Tyler
Lana Kane
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Jessica Walter
Malory Archer
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (3)
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When Krieger is burning documents in the toilet, the cover page says "Streng Geheim". This is German for "Top Secret".
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The translation from Archer and Krieger's Portuguese exchange: Archer: Sim. (Yeah.) Krieger: And you're taking tetraphenol orally, right? Archer: E também portuguese, em cdrom. (And also portuguese, on cdrom.) Krieger: Ah, boa sorte! (Ah, good luck!) Archer: Obrigado. (Thanks.) I dunno Krieger, maybe it's just because I'm a badass, but chemotherapy? It's kind of a breeze. Krieger: Yeah, that's my point. Two weeks of chemo with no hair loss and you're not experiencing any nausea? Archer: Nao, gracas a "doobie" medicinal. (No, thanks to the medicinal "doobie".)
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The translation from Cyril and Krieger's German exchange: Cyril: Warum hast du umzug nach Brasilien? (Why did you move to Brazil?) Krieger: Weiter den kampf der mein Fuhrer... schiesse. (To continue the fight of my Fuhrer... ****)
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QUOTES (11)
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Archer: For starters, you can apologize to my friend for your homophobic remarks. Irish Mobster: I'm sorry darlin', I had no idea you were a gay. Archer: She's not gay. (whispering) She just has big hands.
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Krieger: Leave me alone! I am not a Nazi! Cyril: Yeah? Well what about your father? Krieger: No! He was a... scientist! Cyril: Pretty sure the Nazis had scientists. Krieger: No, they didn't! That's why we... er... THEY lost the war! Lack of science!
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Cheryl: Seriously, what is cancer?
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Cyril: Krieger's father was a Nazi scientist! Malory: (sighs) And JFK's father was a bootlegger. Cyril: What? That's like comparing apples to... Nazi oranges! Malory: Oranges? Exactly. Do you like powdered orange breakfast drink? Cyril: No, not really. Malory: How about microwave ovens, Neil Armstrong, hook-and-loop fasteners? Cyril: (pause) Ok, you lost me. Malory: None of those things would have been possible without the Nazi scientists we brought back after World War Two. Cyril: The Nazis... invented Neil Armstrong? Malory: Rockets! Which put him on the moon. After the war ended, we were snatching up Kraut scientists like hotcakes. You don't believe me? Walk into NASA sometime and yell 'Heil Hitler!' Whoop! They all jump straight up.
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Archer: Shut up and kick in the door for me. And do it badass like I would if I still had toe nails.
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Cheryl: How come you know Portuguese? Krieger: Because I grew up in Braz...istol... County... Rhode Island... Lot of Portuguese in Rhode Island. Cyril: (dubiously) Where you're from. Krieger: Born and raised. Cyril: Uh huh. What's the state capital? Krieger: Of? Cyril: Rhode Island! Krieger: ...Dallas?
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Pam: What the heck was that all about? Cheryl: Duh! (pause) I actually have no idea. Pam: No ****. Cheryl: Yeah, I don't know why I do that...
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Archer: 100 people surveyed, number one answer's on the board... (cocks gun and points it at mobster's kneecap) Name the douchebag who's in charge. Irish mobster 1: Vincent. Van-go-****-yourself. Archer: Hmm. Vincent Van-go-****-myself. (gestures at imaginary board) Survey says! (shoots mobster's kneecap) Lana: Jesus, Archer!! Archer: What, Lana?! I said it was a rampage. Lana: Still though. Irish mobster 1: You son of a whore! Archer: Save it for the fast money round, Patty. (turns to Irish mobster 2) 100 people surveyed, number one answer still on the board: name the douchebag who's in charge! (mobster 2 glares at him) ENHHH! Need an answer! (mobster 2 spits in his face) Hmm... cock-flavored spit. Well, you never know what's gonna be on the board. (gestures at imaginary board) Let me see cock-flavored spit! (shoots mobster 2 in kneecap) Oh, that's two strikes. One more, and the innocent Honduran janitors get a chance to steal the bank!
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Ruth: Does someone you love have breast cancer? Archer: Yeah, me.
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Archer: So I've been treating my breast cancer with sugar pills?! Krieger: Yeah, you didn't think it was weird your chemo drugs were chewable? Archer: No! Little kids get cancer!
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Ray: My momma told me how much she loved me all the time. Malory: Exactly, look how you turned out. Ray: Uh, with high self esteem?
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NOTES (1)
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Original International Air Dates: United Kingdom: June 28, 2011 on 5*
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ALLUSIONS (7)
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There are a bunch of movie/TV references in Archer's Terms of Enrampagement (itself a reference to Terms of Endearment, which contains themes of cancer and loss). Archer plays Family Feud with the Irish mobsters, complete with shouting "Survey says..." and telling Lana she's in the isolation booth. When he inserts the grenade into a gangster it is a reference to the film Man on Fire. The ending of his film is a parody of a famous Magnum P.I. scene in which Tom Selleck kills an unarmed villain after asking him "Did you see the sunrise this morning?" Alternate names suggested for the film include "Magnum P.U.", "Citizen Dickbag" (Citizen Kane), and "Casa Blumpkin" (Casa Blanca).
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Archer: Cry havoc and let slip the hogs of war. Lana: Dogs of war. Archer: Whatever farm animal of war, Lana. Shut up. This is a reference to the line from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.
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Krieger is apparently one of The Boys from Brazil, which is a 1978 film about a scientist who creates 94 clones of Hitler and has them adopted by parents who match the profile of Hitler's parents. The episode also makes reference to the Doberman attack which occurs in the movie.
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Irish Mobster: Oh, you just missed him. Shame, too, cause he just loves the E Street Band. Archer: Did he just rag on my scarf? The E Street Band are famous for performing and recording with musician Bruce Springsteen, though they have recorded with many other artists as well. Guitarist Steven Van Zandt, a.k.a Little Steven or Miami Steve, has a signature look that includes a bandana/head scarf. He was in a car accident when he was young, and his hair never grew back in correctly, so he always wears some sort of head covering.
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Pam calls Krieger "Clone Wars", because they think he might be a clone of Hitler The Clone Wars is an event in the Star Wars film series, plus there is an animated TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
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Archer: Thanks, Woodsy. (pause) The drug owl?
Woodsy Owl is an environmental conservation mascot for the US Forest Service. His motto used to be "Give a hoot, don't pollute!" and has evolved to "Lend a hand, care for the land!" Archer seems to have him confused with someone else.
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Archer calls the racist Irish guy "Hannity", referring to the conservative talk show host Sean Hannity.
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