Archer Season 1

Right now you can watch Archer Season 1 on and — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The 1-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. 1,441 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Watch it for H. Jon Benjamin — stay for everyone else around them. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

Archer Season 1 arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The jokes in Archer Season 1 land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Suave secret agent Sterling Archer is the world's most dangerous spy, but political intrigue and global crises are nothing compared to the sexual tension and human resources crises at the intelligence agency where he works. Archer must deal with his overbearing, oversexed mother—who is also his boss—and his femme fatale ex-girlfriend who seems to be sleeping with everyone except him. H. Jon Benjamin and Judy Greer lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2009. The timing in Archer Season 1 is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Archer Season 1 is a strong candidate. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in a weekend, substantial enough to feel satisfying. H. Jon Benjamin's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.