Why is Archer Ending After 14 Years? Was it Canceled?

Archer, which first graced our screens in 2009, was met with success and critical acclaim for its hilarious take on the espionage genre. While the series strayed from its original premise throughout its run, the escapades of the protagonist, Sterling Archer, never failed to captivate audiences with their clever writing and parody.

Yet, as the saying goes, all good things must end, and FXX’s recent announcement of the show’s finale has left fans with mixed emotions.

1. Why is Archer canceled?

Although FX confirmed that Archer was ending with season 14, the network hasn’t yet given an official reason for Archer’s cancelation. 

That’s not atypical regarding such announcements, as networks and streamers rarely detail their decisions to axe specific projects.

After a successful 14-season run, FXX may have felt that Archer had reached its peak. The show received four Emmys and garnered widespread acclaim throughout its tenure.

It’s possible that FXX considered ending the series on a high note instead of risking a decline in quality over time. 

2. Will there be an Archer Season 15?

Archer will not be returning for Season 15. 

When Archer Season 14 was announced, FXX revealed it would be the show’s final season. When the 14th season aired, it was initially planned to contain only eight episodes. But due to the demand, its creators announced a three-part series finale.

The announcement of the three-part finale raised speculations for an Archer Season 15 renewal.

Unfortunately, this has been debunked by the show’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.

FXX released the special finale, Archer: Into the Cold: The Finale Event, on December 17, 2023.  This extension was a final goodbye to the heroic spy many have grown fond of. The special finale also covered the loose ends that Season 14 left unanswered.

3. Were poor ratings one of the contributing factors to its cancelation?

Archer’s declining ratings & actor losses prove that ending the show after Season 14 is the right choice. 

As expected of a long-running show in its 14th season, Archer has experienced a gradual decline in ratings over time.

While there were some fleeting moments of increased viewership after season 12 (via NME) and 13 (via TV Series Finale), it failed to reach the levels of its earlier seasons. To make matters worse, the recent seasons were met with lukewarm reception.

Many fans felt the show had strayed too far from its original spy concept. 

Archer lost one of its best cast members when Jessica Walter, who voiced Mallory Archer, died in 2021. Archer season 13 handled Walter’s death gracefully, but the series losing one of its beloved characters may have indicated that it was time to wrap things up.

With ratings dropping and the cast being permanently altered, Archer probably ended at the right time.

4. About Archer

Archer is an American animated comedy series created by Adam Reed for the FX network.

The series premiered on September 17, 2009 and is currently airing its thirteenth season on FXX. 

The show follows suave master spy, Sterling Archer as he deals with global espionage working for the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS).