TV Review: Barry - Season 2

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Synopsis: Desperate to leave his violent past behind in favor of his newfound passion, Barry is attempting to untangle himself from the world of contract killing and fully immerse himself in acting. But getting out is messy. While Barry has eliminated many of the external factors that pushed him towards violence, he soon discovers they weren't the only forces at play. What is it about his own psyche that led him to become a killer in the first place?

Review: The first season of Barry was something special. A showcase for Bill Hader's talents beyond his comedic abilities, Barry channeled his sjills as a director and a writer with material that was still incredibly funny but also very dark with dramatic elements that made it one of the best series of 2018. It earned Henry Winkler a long overdue Emmy Award but always seemed to be more of a limited series rather than an ongoing one. I was not disappointed when HBO picked it up for a sophomore run, but I was hesitant as to how long they could sustain such a specific narrative. I am happy to say that not only did they find a way to keep the story going but that the second season is even better than the first. The humor is just as awkward as last year but the dramatic elements land even better. Bill Hader, Henry Winkler, Sarah Goldberg, Stephen Root, and Anthony Corrigan all deliver some of their best work.

Picking up a short time after the ambiguous ending to the first season, we find Barry and his classmates trying to move forward despite teacher Gene Cousineau still mourning the murder of his girlfriend, Detective Janice Moss. Barry seems to have more energy and enthusiasm to be an actor with his career as an assassin seemingly behind him, but that doesn't last long. The very first scene of the season presents a wrinkle that will put Barry at the center of an investigation that could change his new life entirely. There is also the tenuous nature of Noho Frank's working relationship with the Bolivians which gets complicated when the Maltese mob gets involved. All of these story elements come together in a perfect mix of action and drama punctuated by the most awkward moments of humor on any show.

This season also deepens the backstory for Barry Berkman which was glimpsed during the first season. We know Barry was a Marine who had difficulty adjusting to civilian life. His friend Fuchs (Stephen Root) stepped in to manage his career as a hitman, but this season we get to actually experience Barry's flashbacks to his time in Afghanistan and how he reached the point we see him at now. I never thought I would buy Hader as a soldier of any sort, but he brings an everyman quality to the character which is undercut by a steely resolve when he is in killer mode. Barry is a relatable character but at the same time someone whose actions most people could never imagine themselves doing. It is almost like seeing Ethan Hunt making breakfast or doing laundry; we know these characters have lives outside of what we see on screen, but Barry balances that and makes both very intriguing to watch.

We also explore more of the supporting cast, especially Winkler, Goldberg, and Corrigan. Anthony Corrigan, who plays the very different role of Victor Zsaz on FOX's Gotham, was one of the best elements of Barry's first season. Here, we see more of his kooky personality as he recruits Barry for another job. Corrigan brings a unique quality to Noho Hank that makes him both likeable and very scary. Sarah Goldberg also gets some more depth to her character including an element of her past that represents a big moment for her relationship with Barry and for Barry's attempt at a normal life. Then there is Henry Winkler's Gene. Winkler played his character so well last season but he also has to deal with a turning point in his life as he questions what he wants to achieve in his twilight years. I think you can sense a consistent theme for all of these characters and that really informs this season and gives it a slightly bigger scope than season one while still saying true to the tone of the show.

The funniest moments on Barry are the ones that are delivered as an aside or just off camera as a scene ends. Whether it is characters dancing while bleeding, incongruous music during a dramatic moment, or virtually any facial expression on Bill Hader's face, this show benefits from the directing of Hiro Murai, Minkie Spiro, Alec Berg, and Bill Hader. All of them keep the aesthetic the same as season one while not going too much bigger. There is clearly a larger focus on characters besides Barry, but this show is still a showcase for Hader who comes off as a believable Marine. In fact, I never thought I would see a character in the middle of a firefight in the Middle East stop and deliver the speech from the end of BRAVEHEART and yet this show makes it work.

Barry has proven that it is capable of sustaining a story beyond a single season and now makes me think it could continue for several more. There is the impending threat of Barry being caught for his criminal actions and that may only go so far before it begins to lose credulity, but for now it keeps the series on it's toes and the audience as well. Over the first three episodes, I found myself on the edge of my seat on multiple occassions while laughing out loud on many more. Barry is a hit in more ways than one and as the characters grow, the quality of the show does as well. Barry has easily already secured a spot as one of the best series of 2019.

The second season of Barry premieres March 31st on HBO.