Alright, so I recently finished watching the series, Barry, that ended in 2023, and I’m genuinely surprised this is so underrated. The plot follows the titular character, Barry, played by Bill Hader, as a professional killer (Some people said serial killer, but he gets paid and he doesn’t enjoy it, so…) who picks up murder-for-hire after his days as a marine with the guidance and manipulation of his father’s friend. He’s soon hired by the Czechians to murder a man, which brings Barry into the fold of a local theatre group taught by Gene Cousineau, played by Henry Winkler. What follows is a storyline that was oddly immersive and kept me wanting more until the short series concluded, leaving me strangely emotional.
As a whole, I really enjoyed the concept of this show. The central character was similar to Dexter, if he used guns, but Barry separated himself by convincing himself he could go down a different path despite his actions. It was a complex character that you want to like, but deep down you know he’s a terrible person, which is a testament to how well Hader plays him. The rest of the cast was equally talented, with very few characters not getting fleshed out over the course of the series, like NoHo Hank and Sally.
It’s even more impressive when you know that Hader not only played Barry, but co-wrote it and directed several episodes. The cinematography and writing of each episode were crafted to perfection, allowing scenes to breathe in the same vein as Breaking Bad, and utilizing slow zooms, pans, and French tilts to really showcase the tension and disruption caused by Barry’s path.
Dialogue was sharp and witty, taking every opportunity to inject dark humor into the bleak-ish final season. Anyone with a sense of humor that enjoyed Dexter or Breaking Bad should give this underappreciated gem a watch.
There were many moments of foreshadowing, including misleading flash-forwards that were brilliant, but the central plot arc told a dark tale of consequences and redemption, two themes I absolutely love. The finale was very satisfying, tying up the subplots and central plot in a way that felt right without necessarily playing to the modern Hollywood approach of being happy. It’s definitely a show worth watching, and I don’t understand why it went under the radar for so many (Or maybe I’m just that behind on new shows).
