HE WALKS IN BEAUTY
Archie's, ahem, visual appeal.
Did you see me? Did you see?
Whether he's smiling, joking, covered in blood, starving, shaking, quaking, or just standing around, Archie always looks mahhhvelous! Here are some of his most distinctive features; follow the links for further elaboration and examples.
Archie's enigmatic but always lovely hair.
That grin: 200 megawatts ... well, 100, certainly ...
The much-commented-upon "nose scrunch" mannerism.
The almost-as-much-commented upon "lip lick" mannerism.
How many people look half as good fighting off hysteria?
Our little fella has grown up in HH2.
Pictures at an exhibition, by Lorraine Jean
Because too much is never enough!
Poetry in motion.
And no, I did not forget the now-legendary "sapphire bullets." For that particular delight, see An Archie by Any Other Name -- if you dare!
(Many thanks to Alice for most of the HH2 images here!)
ON A GOOD HAIR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER
Archie's enigmatic but always lovely hair
There is a general consensus that Archie has some of the best hair (or at least hair extensions) in the series. Tied back in a pert little pigtail, brushing his face in feathery wisps, falling loose over his shoulders ... it can do no wrong.
But what color is it???
Blond?
(L) Trying to keep it together in "The Wrong War"; (Center) Well and truly together in "Retribution"; (R) "Not quite twenty" in "Retribution"
Red?
Post-traumatic-stressing in "The Duchess and The Devil"
Brown?
(L) Something's going on in "The Duchess and the Devil"; Standing at attention in "Mutiny"; R) It's all over now in "Retribution"
ARCHIE'S BEST HAIR DAY
OK, so it was a horrible day for him in every other respect. But just look at that
golden-red-brown crown: how softly it frames his features, spilling over his collar,
ever so slightly tousled ... sigh ...
(The beginning of the end in "The Duel")
SMILE, DARN YA, SMILE
That grin: 200 megawatts ... well, 100, certainly ...
Although Archie smiles less and less as the first series goes on, when he does it's always a treat. And in the second series, I swear he must be dipping his lungs into nitrous oxide! Depending on the occasion, Archie's smiles range from warm and endearing to pure joy to dazzling to sardonic to just plain goofy. But nevah are they insincere!
Happy happy, joy joy: HH1
(top L) Welcoming Horatio to Purgatory in "The Duel"; (top Center) First sight of the Indy in "The Duel"; (top R) There's no place like home in "The Duchess and the Devil"
Happy happy, joy joy: HH2
(top L to R) Another day in Mr. Sawyer's Neighborhood in "Mutiny"; All's well that ends well (apparently) in "Mutiny"; Peeping Archie in "Retribution"; Gloating a bit in "Retribution"
(bottom L to R) More gloating in "Retribution"; 'Whatever you say, Mr. Buckland' in "Retribution"; Taking an argument over a cliff in "Retribution"; You can't keep a good man down in "Retribution"
TURNED-UP NOSE, TURNED-ON POSE -- HAS ANYBODY SEEN MY INDYBOY?
The much-commented-upon "nose scrunch" mannerism
Archie has such a wee little button of a nose that I must admit I often can't tell whether he has a habit of scrunching it. But enough people seem to think he does for me to do some research. It does seem to be an aspect of his smile, and it seems quite pronounced whenever he's outdoors ... perhaps the light is bothering those very sensitive blue eyes. I came up with a total of 33 exceptionally distinctive scrunches (see the Episode Guide under "Archie by The Numbers"), but I had some trouble finding a good illustration.
Afraid these will have to do:
Maybe he just got a whiff of the dung cart?
HH1: Preparing to blow the bridge in "The Wrong War"
Could it have anything to do with the dorky hat?
HH2: Trying not to poke out Horatio's eye in "Mutiny"
TAKES A LICKING, KEEPS ON TICKING
The almost-as-much-commented upon "lip lick" mannerism
Actually I think Archie's getting a bad rap with this one. I counted only 7 lip licks in his entire 175 scenes (see the Episode Guide, under "Archie by the Numbers"). But it has undoubtedly captured people's imaginations!
(?)
Try as I might, I just cannot find a picture of this ...
HE'S SO PRETTY, OH SO PRETTY VACANT
How many people look half as good fighting off hysteria?
Archie's fits are painful to watch, yet the lost-in-thought trances that precede them are strangely beautiful. He actually appears rather calm, but the longer you look, the more you realize the poor guy is just hanging on by his fingernails. Even by the time of The Wrong War (in which he does not have a fit), he still occasionally falls into these trances. And although he has become far more confident and poised by the time of the second series, there is one shattering moment in Retribution when the old Archie returns for just a glimpse ...
Just before disaster strikes ...
(L) The night attack in "The Duel; (Center) Night on the bridge in "The Wrong War";
(R) The supreme sacrifice at the court-martial in "Retribution"
HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT
Our little fella has grown up in HH2.
Archie wasn't allowed much in the way of physical heroism in HH1, but all that's changed in HH2! Why, in Retribution alone we see him sword-fighting, shooting, charging about with barrels of gun powder, climbing down a rope, jumping off a cliff, swimming, and shouting with vigor. Just about the only thing we don't see is one-armed push-ups! (And I bet he could do 'em, too ...). Here are some choice images of the new Iron Arch:
Enter the dragon ...
from A&E's HH2 press kit (please ignore the dorky hat!)
(Thanks to Beth D. for sharing these images!)
WALLPAPER
Because too much is never enough!
So ya want all Archie, all the time, eh? (And who doesn't?) Your prayers are answered! Many, many thanks to Laurie for creating this truly gaw-jus Archie collage desktop theme. Just click on the image below to download the full-size version. Enjoy!
VIDEOS
Poetry in motion.
Sarah B., maintainer of the Horatio Hornblower Fan Fiction Archive, has created a video which, in addition to providing many pleasurable views of Archie, also serves as a moving testament to his friendship with Horatio:
(Note: You'll need Real Player to view it.)