Archer's search for his father's identity takes him to Russia, where he is held captive by Nikolai Jakov, the head of the KGB.
This episode provides examples of:
- Agony of the Feet: Taken to an extreme. While fleeing the KGB in Russia, Archer loses his shoes and has to go barefoot, and ends up stepping in broken glass. Then he gets new shoes, loses them again, and steps in more broken glass. He spends the whole chase screaming in pain with every step.
- An Arm and a Leg: Barry is once more abandoned by Archer and a Trash Landing costs him his leg, which was already suffering from a factured femur.
- As Long as It Sounds Foreign: Archer's Finnish is...approximate. He says: "Hei, jätkät! Tämä suomalainen laskavarjo [sic] klubi?" which would generously translate to "Hey dudes! This Finnish parachute club?" In terms of out-and-out mistakes, the sentence is missing a verb (on) as well as the Finnish question particle -ko or -kö, and the word is laskuvarjo, not the non-existent laskavarjo. Meanwhile, suomalainen does mean "Finnish," but the genetive suomen would be better for the name of a club or association, klubi does sort of mean "club" but something like seura, yhdistys or liitto would be better for something like this, and laskuvarjourheilu (literally, "parachute sport") is the word for "skydiving." What he meant was "Hei, jätkät! Onko tämä suomen laskuvarjourheiluseura?" Of course, it's all moot as Archer has overjumped into Russia, not Finland.
- Call-Back: A ton.
- Barry still remembers when Archer dropped him from a balcony, and sodomized his ex-fiancee.
- Lana is reminded of her previous sexual encounter with Barry, as well as almost having sex with him just to get Malory's job.
- Archer is treated with the same electrical interrogation he trained for (or barely trained for, as he put it).
- Did Not Think This Through: Malory was almost about to send Lana to go rescue Archer, until she's reminded by her that going undercover as "Russia's only black woman" isn't the best idea.
- Electric Torture: Archer is subjected to this by the KGB, which makes him wish he'd taken the training more seriously. This episode provides the trope image.
- Hard Head: Lampshaded when Archer knocks Ray out so he can takes the latter's place on the Russia mission. Archer tells Ray not to stay unconscious for too long because "it's super bad for you". When reporting back to ISIS Ray mentions that he's booked an appointment with a neurologist to get a CAT scan and refuses to go after Archer until he's been cleared.
- History Repeats: Archer had previously dropped Barry from a balcony in the past, and does so again in this episode, even when Barry begged him not to.
- Hollywood Skydiving: Played in a more realistic manner. Archer takes too long with his planning, he ignores the green go light, and thus touches down eight miles from the intended landing point.
- Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy: The KGB are terrible shots, much to the annoyance of their commanding officer. In fact, he shoots a door knob just to prove a point.
- Insane Troll Logic: During a fistfight with Archer, Barry points out that Malory Really Gets Around so much that Archer's father could be the head of the KGB. Archer's response? "Oh yea? Well at least I HAVE a father, Barry!"
- Nice to the Waiter: Archer gives two pilots money for taking him to Russia and orders them to split it. Unfortunately, after he leaves, one pilot keeps it for himself and lies that Archer didn't pay them at all.
- One-Man Army: Even with no weapons and open cuts on his feet, Archer still proves he's the most dangerous spy by taking out several KGB soldiers before being cornered.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Archer insists on confronting his possible father, even after being rescued by Barry, but bails when he hears that he would be executed if his DNA test proves he and Jakov are not related. Not that it matters; he and Barry are targeted after killing several KGB soldiers, while Boris intentionally contaminates the test out of jealousy.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Archer punching out Ray results in the latter being knocked out for a very long time, and with a broken bone. Plus, he has doctors' notes that prohibit him from rescuing Archer.
- Barry already had a fractured femur, so a second fall from a high point results in him losing the leg.
- Take That!: This episode does not show Russia in a good light. The KGB can't hit their target, the residential homes look terrible, everyone's clothes look poor, kids play with glass, and there's glass everywhere on the ground.Archer: (Attempts to shoot, but gun jams) Piece of- How are you a superpower?!
- Tap on the Head: Archer does this to Ray so he can take his place on the Russia mission. As mentioned, Ray refuses to go after him until he's been checked by a neurologist.
- Trash Landing: Archer dumps Barry into a trash dumpster during his escape. Unfortunately for Barry, while he survives the fall, he loses his already injured leg.
- Trail of Blood: Archer uses his Agony of the Feet to his advantage to distract the KGB soldiers, leading two to a wall that shows that he seemingly ran and jumped from that wall.Archer: Did I just blow your minds?
- The Unreveal: The DNA test is botched entirely just because of Boris being so jealous of Archer getting all the attention from Jakov.
