The conclusion to Space Race. Archer and the rest of ISIS are held captive by mutineers on the Space Station Horizon.
This episode provides examples of:
- Diabolus ex Nihilo: After Drake and his mutineers are dealt with, Barry shows up out of nowhere to try and kill Archer again. It's lampshaded by Archer — "OK, Barry, forgetting for the moment how you found me here!" Gilligan Cut to Krieger having sex with his virtual girlfriend in his van.
- Everyone Has Standards: Even an unhinged arsonist like Cheryl can't take Archer's selfishness, which gets lampshaded by Lana.Cheryl: FOR GOD'S SAKE, THINK ABOUT SOMEONE OTHER THAN YOURSELF, FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE!Lana: And that's coming from her.
- From Bad to Worse: Barry randomly shows up to kill Archer aboard the Horizon, after Archer tries to stop Pam from saying, "Things can't get any worse."
- Gave Up Too Soon: Malory surrenders to dying in the Horizon after Cyril shoots the other pilot capable of taking them back to Earth. Averted when Cyril recalls that he was trained to land the ship.
- Mars Needs Women: Except it's not aliens wanting women, but rather Drake trying to populate Mars through Lana, as she was deemed as a top female specimen to give birth to babies.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Cyril does this twice:
- When Drake shoots himself, Cyril panics and shoots around wildly, accidentally killing Kellogg - who's also a pilot - who had surrendered and was fine to joining their side (not to mention the other two people Cyril killed accidentally).
- Cyril strands Barry on Horizon by destroying his ship, forgetting the fact the Horizon has innocent people aboard and left at Barry's mercy.
- Then there's Archer, whose ego gets the better of him as Cyril tries to land their ship by crashing it, injuring everyone aboard (especially Ray) and, frustratingly, not himself.
- Skewed Priorities: Archer takes a jab at Lana's breasts, leading her to make Archer say otherwise in the middle of a firefight.
- Tempting Fate: After Cyril kills Kellogg, Pam tries to say, "Things couldn't get any worse," but is stopped by Archer, who warns her not to finish that to avoid tempting fate. Cue Barry flying to the station as Pam finishes her verse anyway.
- Villainous Breakdown: Drake finally lost it after his men surrendered, declaring humanity to be doomed before blowing away his head with Pam's rifle.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: Commander Drake's goal is to terraform Mars fit for human habitation once Earth cannot support human life. However, he decide to accelerate his plans by hijacking Horizon and capturing the female members of ISIS as breeding stock.
- Wheelchair Woobie: In-Universe. Ray is subjected to this again since "Heart of Archness, Part III". Only this time, for real.
