The other day I wrote some first impressions on Bill Hader's show, Barry. Around the time I wrote those first impressions, I was at around the halfway mark through the show. I was hooked. Completely engrossed, and wanting more and more as my curiosity got the best of me. I couldn't help but watch more to find out where things were going and how it may end. This was by far one of the best shows I have seen in a while, with such an original yet simple idea. Something that seems more and more rare as the years go by and streaming services cheapen out on originals, or the few shows that do come out are heavily reliant on source material either from books or some aspect of reality. Of course this is nothing new to the world of television, but I can't help but feel original ideas like Barry are becoming more rare, and that is certainly something to cherish about it. Bill Hader has displayed an incredible talent to the world that has otherwise been tucked away over the years, an ability to perform, write, and direct. Leaving an impact on the audience of Barry that only has people wanting more from Hader.
In my first impressions post, I wrote on how Barry was a show that really looked into the beautiful world of acting. Being a show that explores how actors perfect their skills over time through the manipulation of their own emotions, going deep into their personal traumas and finding ways to pull something out of them that pertains to a character they're portraying. Also while showing that acting is really just being yourself to some degree. We overlook acting as something that just brings us entertainment on the screens, or through theatre. Thanks to Barry, I am sure it has managed to show many just how personal and challenging it can be. I still believe that Barry was a television show dedicated to the world of acting, even with the story it holds. It certainly doesn't shy away from this idea at any point, even when it roams through its various other ideas; the action, the comedy, and the deep sadness.
Before I continue, I already recommend this show. It's one I feel most will enjoy. It has about everything for everyone. And if you do dislike it, well, you're wrong for it!
Barry
Barry opens up with a hitman for hire duo, some may recognise one of these characters from Office Space! Played by Stephen Root, who I believe really flourished with his character here. Bill of course plays Barry. The two seem to be a dysfunctional duo in which one handles the work with crime syndicates, and Barry conducts the gruesome work that pays. Very quickly on we see that Barry doesn't seem that comfortable in this work, and is starting to second guess it. But it is upon stumbling into an acting class that he really begins to question his life. Who is Barry? What does Barry want in life? He holds this idea that acting might just be his thing. It is clear to begin with, well, it really isn't. It's through luck that he manages to score a spot in the acting class, to which Barry's life as a hitman starts to spiral out of control. No longer content with killing, he tries to put an end to it, telling himself that this is the last time; it never is. Barry has to handle the insanity of his coworker, and the Chechen mob that he often works alongside.
At a glance this may seem quite serious, but rarely is it. The Chechen mob are portrayed as lovable fools. Characters you can't help but find enjoyable to watch despite them actually being insane criminals. They come off as very welcoming, polite, and quite regular. It added a really nice comedic effect to the show that removed the seriousness of Barry's work, and then injects that seriousness back in as we slowly start to understand Barry and see his prior traumas. Barry ultimately is not a bad person, but he's surrounded by people that are so familiar with violence and committing crime, that the norms of his life have been twisted. Killing doesn't seem serious to anyone but him, and it promotes this character growth that no other character in the show experiences. Through all of this, the show asks the question: can a person really change? Barry insists upon this idea, telling the few people he holds some trust in of his past traumas as a marine, he rarely speaks openly about his present work, of course. This pushes Barry into more dramatic and difficult events, as he forms friendships and relationships with people he's directly lying to, or has even hurt indirectly through his work. Interestingly, Barry's character doesn't seem aware of this at first, almost as if it's normal in his work, which it is.
It becomes very easy to care for Barry, we see such a human side of him with these conflicts, as he tries his hardest to keep things together and pursue a better life, while essentially trapped in his old life. Barry slowly becomes better at acting as his stress manages to manifest itself into the characters he has, at the same time tensions rise around him. Handling the Chechen mob, police, and other criminals. All while trying to lead a normal life. Without going too deep into spoilers, Barry becomes a tale of tragedy as things begin to crumble. While we already feel for Barry, we see how people really see him. How everyone ultimately manipulates him and doesn't really seem to care for him; even in the acting class and the relationships he forms there, it seems everyone is just out for themselves, using Barry to some degree; lashing out at him, not caring for his feelings or thoughts. The writing doesn't seem to change, however, everything seems to maintain its pacing, showing perspectives from other characters and slowly pushing everything forward. Through this we actually see how time passes without Barry around, how people get into problems and then put the weight on Barry later on, to which his nature is to try to solve people's problems; even going as far as buying someone an expensive laptop.
Aside from the writing which holds your attention and has you feeling for such a broken protagonist, Barry is a show full of wonderful cinematography and directing. In some instances there are perspectives that have us hanging over the characters, following them through environments. Utilising foreground and background to take advantage of the scene for comedic purposes. There's even the more cinematic shots during the moments of action which display Barry as some total war machine when the button is pressed. The way it handles these moments makes the show a really engaging watch. Artistic out of nowhere, fast-paced and personal other times. Though it never oversteps with the directing, it still feels like your typical television show that isn't trying to wow you in any way. Instead, it does it naturally through its performances and emotional story. All while only being a handful of episodes each season; and I'd argue the show doesn't have a single bad episode in any capacity. Each one pushes us forward, giving us something to enjoy about it whether it is the story, the laughs, or the style. That's all I'm saying from here. Go watch it!
