Barry Review: Bill Hader’s Hitman Comedy Stays Sharp Through Four Seasons

Barry is a dark comedy about a hitman who cannot stop killing people, and it is one of the sharpest shows on television. The HBO series follows Barry Berkman (Bill Hader), a professional assassin who takes a contract in Los Angeles and ends up joining a community theater troupe. The show is a masterclass in tone control, shifting between brutal violence and warm human moments within seconds. It is funny, bloody, and deeply sad, all at once.

The show was created by Alec Berg, and it premiered in 2018. It ran for three seasons, with a fourth season announced in 2023. The first season is available to stream now.

Trailer, via Roku.

Bill Hader’s Double Performance

Bill Hader plays Barry as both a cold killer and a lost soul. He is a man who has spent years working for a criminal organization, but he has grown bored and disillusioned. When he is forced to kill a young actor named Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler), he finds himself unable to leave town. Instead, he joins the local theater company, where he becomes friends with the cast.

Hader’s performance is the engine of the show. He can deliver a joke about Shakespeare and then walk into a room full of bodies without missing a beat. The contrast is what makes Barry work. Hader also wrote for the show, and his writing is as sharp as his acting. His scenes with Gene are some of the best television dialogue ever written.

Henry Winkler’s Surprise Turn

Henry Winkler plays Gene as a lovable loser who is desperately trying to make something of himself. He is a former police officer who became a janitor after his career ended. He is also a terrible actor, but he is completely committed to the craft. His scenes with Barry are the heart of the show, and Winkler delivers some of the funniest lines in the series.

The show also features Stephen Root as Monroe Focker, a crime boss who runs the local operation. Root plays Monroe as a comic villain, but he is also a man who genuinely cares about his employees. He is a father figure to Barry, which makes the violence feel more personal. The supporting cast is strong across the board, but the show belongs to Hader and Winkler.

The Dark Comedy Formula

Barry is a comedy, but it is a very dark one. The show is full of violence, but it never feels gratuitous. The killings are often shown off-screen, and the aftermath is treated with a matter-of-fact humor. The show understands that the absurdity of murder is what makes it funny. A hitman who cannot stop killing people is a perfect protagonist for a comedy.

The show also explores themes of identity and purpose. Barry is a man who has defined himself through his job, but he is not sure what he wants to be when he grows up. He joins the theater because he thinks it might give him meaning, but he quickly realizes that he is not cut out for it. The show is about the struggle to find a place in the world, even if that place is a stage.

Season One and Beyond

The first season of Barry is the best entry point. It introduces the characters and sets up the central conflict. Barry is a reluctant killer who is stuck in a cycle of violence. He wants to escape, but he does not know how. The season ends with a cliffhanger that changes everything.

The second season deepens the mystery of Barry’s past. It also introduces new characters who complicate the situation. The third season is darker and more violent, but it is also more focused. The show has a clear vision of where it is going, and it does not waste time getting there.

The show has received critical acclaim throughout its run. Its Metacritic score sits at 8.8 out of 10, based on reviews from critics.

What Works

• The chemistry between Barry and Gene
• The performances of Bill Hader and Henry Winkler
• The balance of comedy and violence
• The exploration of identity and purpose
• The writing, which is consistently sharp and inventive

What Doesn’t Work

• Some of the later seasons lean too heavily on violence
• The pacing slows in the middle of the third season
• The supporting characters get less development than the leads

Barry is a show that rewards attention. It is not for everyone, but for those who can handle its darkness, it is a masterpiece. The show is a tight, well-written, and well-acted piece of television. It is a show that will stay with you long after you finish watching it.

Score: 8.8 out of 10.

Barry · Bill Hader · dark comedy · HBO · Henry Winkler · TV Review