The only 10 episodes was because the Archer team were going to do a new show – Cassius and Clay – alongside Archer, so they only did 10 episodes to make it less work. In the end though the new show was cancelled :(

Season 5 Woodhouse was voiced by Tom Kane, maybe even some of Season 4 as he sounded a bit different for some of that, though that might have been Coe's declining health.

Un Chien Tangerine, glad it’s not just me who thought that was mostly sucky – wall-to-wall dog vomit and fart jokes. Drift Problem though I think is a classic and is miles ahead of most of Season 5.

Really wish they’d left the CIA stuff in Season 6, this season has been great and this felt like a big step back. I’ve never found Slater to be a very memorable or interesting character and not really worth bringing back. With only 10 episodes this season this was a huge waste.

I could have done without the police guys outside the house, but incompetence in this show has never been the exclusive reserve of the ISIS team, e.g. the KGB were always mostly clownishly inept.

I think I liked this better than the first part, actually.

And they were supposed to be "undercover" but they told everyone they were private investigators.

Pretty sure it's been mentioned in the earlier seasons he had cheated on Lana in the past, though they didn't have a kid then. Though I agree it felt odd and the whole forcing himself on her made me… uncomfortable. Then again he did try to bang the queen (not Ray) in last season's episode so it kind of is just a…

It’s funny, a few times I’ve thought they should do an episode at a party like the one with Lord Feltchley from season 1, and then they do!

Loving this season, to me the show hasn't felt this fresh since ~Season 3. Also loved seeing Malory in a new situation, I swear they must have read my comment about getting her out in the field a little more.

"Meanwhile, it’s always nice to be reminded that it’s Cyril’s incompetence—wasting bullets, failing to secure the “Longwater” clues in Trent Whitney’s safe—that draws the biggest part of Sterling’s ire; Archer is a roving grab bag of flaws, but at least he can get the job done."

It was Ivy who shot Whitney, Archer says "As much as I'd like to claim credit for that…"
The scene reminds me of Frisky Dingo "Phil's head just exploded, like a ham!"

Except Mallory didn't hang up the phone.

Awesome episode, and so refreshing!

I found Slater a bit bland myself, but seem to recall Reed hinting he’ll pop back up this season :)

What they should have done instead of Vice, or in fact what Season 4 should have been.

Decent start and loving the change of scene. It’s the new world-building I’m really excited for this season. Vice too often went the lazy route of bringing back old characters when it should have been creating new material. And last season it just felt like the cast were stuck in a bubble.

But without a compelling mystery for the detective to apply himself to and reveal his genius and test his powers to the very limit then its rather empty. It's Holmes *in action* that's compelling and where the richness and interest in his character is revealed.

Exactly! In both shows we also see Moffat setting up big things (e.g. Doctor Who: who/what is the hybrid? Sherlock: how did Holmes fake his death?) only for them to completely fizzle out. Also: ridiculous convolutedness.

The main reason S3 sucked for me is the mysteries and plot were completely relegated to the background in favour of psychoanalysis of Holmes and Watson and a dissection of their friendship. Add in the mocking of fans, the fan-service, the convoluted plots, the ludicrousness of Mary being a super-assassin, Holmes…