Right from the very beginning, "Barry" has ultimately been about a bunch of characters all thinking that they can get whatever they want, despite the unfortunate circumstances that they all find themselves in, and their inexplicable inability to see that they are doing anything wrong and hurting the people around them. With this season, that seems to have found its way back into the minds of the writers as the entire season has basically been about characters making decisions to further their own narratives. In this episode, all of the characters face things that will shape their future, and without really knowing where they're going, they seem willing to take a leap of faith. Bill Hader is once again directing - as he's doing with all the season's episodes - and this time, he's focusing more on that aspect as his character is largely absent from the episode, giving it more time to really shine some light on the amazing supporting cast. The episode is centered around the hunt of Barry, who has escaped from prison, and how the individuals in his life all make some important decisions that will shape the future of the show and their relationships with the hitman. And it works up into one of the most satisfying episodes of "Barry" yet, with this season's storyline finally hitting the peak that it has been wanting to hit for a few weeks now, setting the stage for what's to come next packaged in an episode that was full of heartbreak and incredible character development.
On its surface, "Barry" is certainly presented to the audience as a dark comedy. And it is, but it's also important to understand that this show works the best when the comedy is mixed in with the drama, because these writers know how to squeeze out all the drama of a seemingly hilarious situation. In this episode, the humor is certainly not absent, but its place in the universe of this show has been limited to give room for some insanely satisfying and dark moments that sheds new light on what can and can't be done in a great comedy.
The story is very much focusing on the supporting cast this time around, most importantly on NoHo Hank and whatever he's planning. His entire storyline has been a little confusing, but if this episode did anything, it put light on his motivations and his desires. And if Cristobal was that motivation, it's gone now. He's a broken individual and a lot of his suffering comes from his own desires and his blind fear of Barry, which will certainly set the stage for their storyline to find its climax and it doesn't seem like it's going to end well for Barry.
Hader is a great storyteller and his work on this show has been immaculate. It was certainly a choice for him to direct the entire season, but his steady hand is ultimately what leads this show so seamlessly forward. His character is largely absent from the episode, but his presence is still felt, and the show is still unanimously about Barry. His direction is enough to make that presence felt and it goes to show that his DNA is squarely put into the show and that it probably wouldn't work if he wasn't as integral to it as he was.
The episode also gave the actors a lot of opportunities to shine, especially Anthony Carrigan who continues to impress as NoHo Hank. This is the most emotional he's been and a lot of it shows that inherent pain that Hank is feeling. He has been through absolute hell since the first season, and Carrigan seems to have matured with the role so well, showcasing an abnormal strength that's seldom seen in actors who stays with characters for this long. He understands the journey, and Carrigan has become quite comfortable, now being able to take Hank to a completely different level.
"it takes a psycho" puts Barry on the backburner, but gives new life to its supporting characters and sets the stage beautifully for the rest of the season. The writing is perfect and Hader's brilliant direction makes it clear that even without Barry present on screen, Hader's involvement is integral to the success of this.
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