Summary
The mystery surrounding Sterling Archer’s father inArcherwas a major question mark for much of the series. WhileArcherwas largely focused on the adventures of Archer and the rest of his co-workers at an independent spy agency, his origins factored into several episodes across the course of the long-running series. This included the truth of his parentage, something his mother Mallory repeatedly refused to divulge despite Sterling’s repeated attempts to discover the truth.
While this source of drama was frequently used as a source of comedy bythe characters inArcher,it also played into Archer’s overarching growth as a character,. Whereas the Archer of the early seasons was driven to lethal stupidity over finding out the truth, he eventually came to accept the mystery for what it was and move beyond it bythe time ofArcher’s ending. Here’s howArcherset up the mystery of his father, and why it matters that the show never revealed the truth.
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Why Sterling Archer Never Knew His Father
Archer’s Mother Refused To Tell Him The Truth
The identity of Sterling Archer’s father was one of the biggest mysteries that the animated show never conclusively answered across fourteen seasons, and steadily became a major part of the show’s arc for the titular character. The world’s best (and most verbose) secret agent, Sterling Archer followed in his mother’s footsteps as a capable but often morally bankrupt agent.Mallory Archer raised her son Sterling largely from afar, with her own status as an agent on the global stage taking her across the world. Instead, Sterling was primarily raised by the family butler Woodhouse and a number of prep schools.
In that time,Archer only met his father once. However, he eventually lost the memory and only briefly recalled it during a near-death experience in season 4’s “Once Bitten.” In the season 1 finale, Archer revealed that his mother had told him his father had been Blackjack Archer, an ace fighter pilot who died in action. However, Mallory ended up revealing this was a lie she’d told him to placate him in his youth. In reality, there were several possible candidates for Archer’s true father, none of whom were fully aware that they may be the father of Sterling Archer.
Here Are The Top Candidates For Archer’s Father
Nikolai Jakov
The most prevalent candidate for Archer’s father was Nikolai Jakov. Played by Peter Newman, Jakov was the head of the KGB and Mallory’s seemingly Mallory’s longest romantic relationship. When he discovered their possible connection, Jakov attempted to find out the truth for himself.Although Archer and Jakov eventually developed a surprising bondin season 3’s “Crossing Over,” Jakov was killed by Archer’s nemesis Barry before they could figure out the truth. To make matters worse, Barry arranged Jakov’s death specifically so it would destroy his body, preventing Archer from completing a DNA test on his own afterwards.
Len Trexler
Len Trexler was also an early potential candidate for Archer’s true father. Played by Jeffery Tambor, Len Trexler was the head of rival spy agency, ODIN. Trexler was a recurring antagonist in the first two seasons ofArchertrying to recruit Lana to his agency and attempting a buy-out of ISIS. This was expressly done so he could try and reforge a connection with Mallory, who he still harbored romantic feelings for. However, Trexler was thwarted in this attempt by Archer and Krieger, who used a microchip in season 2’s “A Going Concern” to force him out of the picture.
Savio Mascalzoni
Savio Mascalzoni was another possible candidate for Archer’s true father. Introduced in season 3’s “Lo Scandalo,” Mascalzoni was a former lover of Mallory’s who retained a semi-regular rendezvous with her over the years.His physical similarities to Archer raise the prospect that he was connected to Sterling, as well as the long-standing nature of his romance with Mallory. Eventually rising in the ranks of the Italian government to become Prime Minister, Savio was eventually revealed to have been responsible for a major death in Mallory’s past, prompting her to eventually trick him and kill him as revenge in the present-day.
The Unnamed Agent
Notably,the most likely candidate for Archer’s unseen father was the man Savio and his men had killedyears before the events ofArcher. Described as a “beautiful young man with blue eyes, full lips and thick black hair” that Mallory fell for during her days in the field, this unnamed man was eventually killed for resisting the spread of a new fascist regime in Italy. Although his name was never confirmed, he could have been the man Archer saw in his youth. That brief flashback prompted Archer to yell out “Buck Henry,” hinting that may have been his name.
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How Archer’s Father Became One Of The Show’s Biggest Mysteries
WhyArcherHighlighted The Lack Of Sterling’s Father
The mystery surroundingSterling’s birth father became a frequent source of drama in the early seasons ofArcher. Archer and Mallory would frequently clash, with Archer repeatedly looking into the mystery for his own state of mind. This even prompted him to travel into enemy territory in season 2’s “White Nights,” an adventure that ended up getting him almost killed and cemented Barry as his one of his most personal enemies for the rest of the series. This in turn prompted Barry to assassinate Jakov as part of his power-play to take over the KGB.
As the show progressed,other storylines took precedence over Archer’s parentage, such as his relationship with Lana and the birth of their daughter, AJ. It became even less pronounced during seasons 8, 9, and 10, which took place within Archer’s mind during his coma. However, questions about Archer’s father remained a lingering thread for the character that kept fans guessing for years. The thread finally resurfaced late in the series, in the most unexpected of places.
Why Archer Never Finds Out The Truth About His Father
The Series Finale ConfirmedArcherDidn’t Need To Know The Truth
During theArcherseries finale “Into the Cold,” Sterling faced off with his reoccurring rival, Slater. Gaining the upper hand over Slater, the enemy agent revealed that he knew the true identity of Archer’s father, and would reveal it if Archer helped save his life. He even revealed he’d erased the information elsewhere, meaning the only way Archer (and the audience) would learn the truth was by sparing him. However,realizing that he didn’t need the information to feel whole, Archer instead allowed Slater to fall to his death.
This turn of events is a major proof thatArcher has growth as a character, moving beyond his self-centered desires and drive. While the series still ended with Archer setting off on his own as a “rogue” agent, this confirmed how his connections to people like Lana and Pam had helped him evolve. One of the big elements of the show was Archer’s immaturity, and yet he was able to overcome a very childish desire to make everything about himself. It’s a big moment inArcher, and arguably the best way to resolve the plot about his father.
