Mild spoilers for the show “Barry.”
“Barry” is one of the best shows I have ever seen. Each season builds upon itself masterfully, and I am hooked.
For the record, I have not finished “Barry” yet. I am deep into season three, and all I can say is that it is amazing.
The premise for the show is as follows: A hitman goes to LA to carry out a contract, but he joins an acting class. The main character, Barry Berkman, develops so beautifully as the show goes on.
Berkman, in the first season, is a stone-cold killer, and eventually develops thoughts of his own, and spoiler alert, goes against the person who raised him by the end of the first season.
The incredible character writing is not limited to Bill Hader’s character. Every person in the cast has things going on, and it makes them develop significantly. Every character, no matter how good or evil they are, is sympathetic in some way.
For instance, the main love interest, Sally, develops into a product of her own ego and refusal to move on. She is made sympathetic — and her actions are explained — by her abusive ex-husband, who shows up in the show midway through season two. The experience that adds a lot of depth to Sally’s character is the fact that she never had a triumphant moment of defiance to her abuser; she just leaves in the middle of the night. This revelation adds to her character because it explains how she acts in her daily life.
It’s worth mentioning that the episodes are only 30 minutes long, and there are only eight episodes to a season and only four seasons.
It’s characterization like that which makes a show amazing, and it’s all done by a phenomenal cast, including the aforementioned Bill Hader as lead, Sarah Goldberg as Sally, Henry Winkler as the director of the acting class and so many other amazing actors who all give the best performances that I have seen from them. “Barry” > “Breaking Bad,” 10/10.
