I think the whole "Son isn't really dead, but is a murdering transporter energy mutation" was the part that really didn't work. The story could have been stronger if Erickson had had a mental break that convinced him that his son was still alive. Archer doesn't want to see that his friend is destroyed and Tucker is so full of hero worship that they let him go on this crusade of sorts. It could've been much more of a character piece.