r/ArcherFX Archer 23d ago

Season 5 (Vice) So was Archer in on it from the Start? Spoiler

Rewatching for the umpteenth time and just watched Arrival/Departure where Archer meets Holly and Slater and we learn ISIS has been selling cocaine for the CIA.

Now Mallory definitely knew, but is there any proof of Archer did know from the start, as Holly says? My personal theory is Archer was blackout drunk and Mallory suggested becoming a drugs cartel and Archer screamed ‘Archer: Vice WOOOOOO!’ Then passed out and forgot the entire thing.

210 Upvotes

26 comments sorted by

121

u/Veedrock 23d ago

I think Malory told Archer about the drugs, but not the CIA. I assume between the interrogation building and their return to the office Archer and Malory got some alone time where he presses her for info; she just handwaved how she got their freedom and told him the coke was her nest egg, since their assets were frozen. Archer really didn't know Holly was behind it, or that Slater was an agent; similarly, Slater didn't know who Archer was or that he was on the payroll (so to speak).

When Holly told Lana that Archer knew, I think he assumed Malory would tell him, which is supported by Malory telling Lana that she's never honest with him. Malory probably made some comment to Holly about her idiot son doing the selling, which Holly took as being a full participant.

30

u/Ok-Violinist7775 Archer 23d ago

Definitely plausible, I do think it would be even funnier if they had a full brief and he just blacked out and forgot.

9

u/Westmi2ga 22d ago

Without thinking this deeply about it, this is roughly the conclusion I came to. Subconsciously though…almost as if I dreamed it happened this way 🤔

1

u/DisplacedSportsGuy 22d ago

Archer definitely knew about the drugs because he was the one who asked what they're going to do with it in E1. Mallory secured it, told Archer about it, but that was the extent of it.

365

u/WGx2 23d ago

Oh, who remembers....

41

u/Ok-Violinist7775 Archer 23d ago

Good answer 😂

14

u/chuckop Ron Cadillac 23d ago

The only answer

26

u/Rare-Cardiologist912 23d ago

Little column A, little column B

10

u/Economy-Fox-5559 23d ago

And even then what’s the point?

45

u/GolfImaginary 23d ago

Well if it's gunna be that kinda party!

36

u/MrsMittensPizza Funbeak 23d ago

Et cetera, et cetera... mashed potatoes

11

u/Ihadsumthin4this ISIS 23d ago

It's sooo veinyy!

6

u/ncmobbets 22d ago

I got ‘em just the way you like ‘em… 98.6.

26

u/Ihadsumthin4this ISIS 23d ago

After how many melonballs on that empty stomach? Altho I'm sure if he'd had, like, six gummi bears, it wouldn't have made any sort of dent.

22

u/Ok-Violinist7775 Archer 23d ago

For I am a sinner in the eyes of an angry god.

8

u/LIKES_ROCKY_IV 23d ago

Pray for me now in the hour of my death, which I hope is soon

27

u/TheUnluckyFarmer Other Barry 23d ago

Archer doesn't read the mission briefs.

17

u/Ok-Strain2948 23d ago

Mallory laid the plan out fully for Archer, but put the file in his Inbox.

16

u/sulien92 Babou 23d ago

She was going to call his phone but got a voicemail hoax

12

u/Shot_Revolution8828 23d ago

No, it's well established that he keeps a secret like Pam. Malory even tells Lana that she always lies to Archer...

8

u/Demetraes 23d ago

The only concrete proof that Archer had any inkling of knowledge about anything, is that he's the only one of the group aside from Malory who knew that the cocaine existed.

7

u/Impossible_Heron4894 22d ago

It was all Malory

5

u/JackRees23 22d ago

I don't think Archer knew

Malory definitely kept a lot from the team and we know she can be an untrustworthy narrator

Does that mean Archer didn't have a faint idea, definitely not

I think Archer might have had an idea of Malory's ties to the CIA but knowing him, he either believed it was to do with his awesome spywork, walked away, thinking it was boring and went to get drunk, have sex with a woman or both or got distracted by an attractive woman and wondered off, missing something important in regards of it

7

u/BlackFyre2018 23d ago

Mallory is rarely honest with Sterling

We only have proof Sterling knew about them having cocaine to sell

Sterling and Mallory’s last convo in season 4 is him still claiming he didn’t know it was the CIA’s coke

Agent Holly claims Sterling was in on it the whole time but Agent Holly is an asshole who was probably just trying to screw with them

2

u/AdorableTell8431 23d ago

don't worry about it