Fabian Kingsworth holds Archer hostage at IIA headquarters, and the Agency must contend with Other Barry while trying to rescue him.
Tropes:
- And I Must Scream: Barry says that he has no control over his actions as "Other Barry" is running the show. He's oddly chipper about it.
- The Bad Guy Wins: Fabian may have lost an IIA HQ, but thanks to Robert, he now bought and absorbed the Agency. Though Archer denies him a complete victory by destroying the flash drive, which, with Jeremy and the device also gone, means that his plans for IIA dominating the world are at least heavily set back.
- Bait-and-Switch:
- Archer (of course) lampshades how he assumed putting the memory device on Other Barry's head would lead to a "grand battle in a mindscape" to save Barry's persona. It even cuts to commercial just as Archer declares he's "going in." Turns out Other Barry has his head shielded so it doesn't work at all.
- When Lana catches Robert cheating on her, she asks if he talked to Archer. When Robert says that he did, Lana assumes that means Archer told Robert about Lana sort of cheating on him in Japan, but he did not. Robert was referring to when he spoke to Archer about Lana flirting with a bartender.
- Bait-and-Switch Comment: When Pam is pressured to seemingly reveal where Malory is, she breaks down and says that she wants new bangs. Lampshaded by Lana.Lana: Wow, nice cover.
- Battle in the Center of the Mind / "I Know You Are in There Somewhere" Fight: Lampshaded and Defied. Archer expects to team up with Barry to take down Other Barry once and for all on a giant metaphorical smackdown; too bad Barry's robot brain was already shielded...
- Bittersweet Ending: Leaning heavily on the bitter: The Agency is sold to the IIA since Robert has decided to cut them loose and the agents are forced to move to England while the ISIS building is cleaned out. Lana's marriage to Robert is also completely destroyed when their mutual infidelities are brought out in the open. On the more positive side, Archer ultimately destroys the flash drive, meaning Fabian's plans are now ruined. Plus, Malory officially retires to live in peace with Ron Cadillac and entrusts the team to Archer going forward.
- In Barry's case, he overcomes "Other Barry" thanks to Archer, though is rendered unconscious.
- In the case of one of the B-plots, the infidelity in Lana's and Robert's marriage finally rears its ugly head, leaving Lana emotionally distraught and more vulnerable than we've ever seen her. However, when Archer finds out, instead of being crude or trying to manipulate Lana into sex, he simply sits by her and comforts her, showing that, despite all of it, he really has changed for the better.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Demonstrated by more than one member of the group once more:
- Pam shows some great Human Resource skill by saying that since Ray was hired at the IIA, he must have gotten limited clearance in order to find out what their plan is.
- Sterling manages to escape IIA, making his way out of the building right next to Krieger's parked van.
- And Krieger, along with Colt, is able to subvert the internal systems of IIA to such a degree that they're able to monitor and fire or suspend IIA employees as it becomes convenient.
- The Bus Came Back: Ron shows up ever since his last appearance back in season 7, though, given Jessica Walter's death, he is back to be Put on a Bus for good.
- Call-Back: When a mover is about to open the drawer in Malory's desk, Lana says that he probably won't want to open that, only for Archer to say to let him do it. This time however, the drawer has a letter from Malory for her son in it.
- Can Not Keep A Secret: The gang press Pam about what she is hiding and, for once, she succeeds in keeping her mouth shut. The secret? Malory heads to IIA ahead of everyone else to confront Fabian and/or save her son.
- End of an Age: Malory retires and puts Archer in charge of ISIS, mostly due to the demise of her voice actor, Jessica Walter.
- Fake Shemp: Ron Cadillac's and a heavy part of Malory's lines are clearly taken from previous episodes due to both of their respective actors having passed away.
- Foregone Conclusion:
- Many would guess from last season that Lana and Robert's relationship would likely be on thin ice and at risk of ending. It took Lana walking in on a naked Robert and Sandra, not to mention Lana letting slip that she technically cheated on him in Japan, for it to happen near the end of the episode.
- It was also inevitable that this episode would feature the end of Malory's story due to Jessica Walter's death.
- Hope Spot: Colt remembers a way to completely destroy the IIA, but is shot down by Fabian before he can reveal it.
- Last Request: Colt gives this to Kreiger before dying, from one scientist to another.Colt: Do more science. Just really weird, fucked up shit. Stuff where even you're like, "Man, I shouldn't have done that." Do that.Krieger: (sobs) I will.
- Pet the Dog: Archer on more than one count:
- Archer forgoes his usual crassness when he finds Lana weeping in his apartment after her marriage with Robert has imploded, instead deciding to sit by her and silently console her while having a drink.
- Despite being at the mercy of Other Barry, with Barry being able to do relatively little to help, Archer doesn't seem to hold it against Barry. Archer primarily limits it to griping about the situation, makes an attempt to free Barry from Other Barry, and is genuinely regretful when he has to disable him, despite Barry's insistence. And when given the choice of pursuing Fabian or carrying Barry from the burning building, Archer chooses the latter.
- Put on a Bus: Malory decides to pass the torch to Sterling Archer and the rest of the Agency crew, officially retiring and reuniting with Ron Cadillac to places unknown. With Jessica Walter's passing before the season began, it also serves as an
In Memoriam. - Redemption Rejection: Played for Laughs. Barry tries to get Other Barry to end his insanity, but Other Barry, whose existence entirely consists of the homicidal rage and hatred he felt for Archer, just won't hear of it.
- Sarcasm-Blind: A plot point where Cheryl sardonically makes a plan to rescue Archer and stop the IIA, but the agents take it seriously.
- Sadistic Choice: Fabian manages to get away from Archer by creating one - chase him, or save the unconscious Barry from the burning building.
- Silent Credits: The typical credits theme is replaced with the sounds of the waves.
- Stealth Hi/Bye: After Malory pushes Other Barry with a trolley, she quickly disappears for no reason. A bit later, after the roof collapses, Archer makes a little mention that she already got away.
- Xanatos Gambit: Fabian could have used the device, but Archer destroys the memory stick with the data. He could have had Archer killed, but he survived thanks to his friends and mother. So, he does the next best thing: buying the Agency and all who work in it. He still wins overall; though it may be a bit of a Pyrrhic Victory considering the trouble the Agency gets into, and not to mention it was about the only thing he could do to win since they'd thwarted his attempts to profit off Colt or his data.
