“Barry” Continues to Push Boundaries in Its Final Season

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<img src="https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/230412113212-01-barry-season-4-hp-video.jpg" /> <div data-editable="content" itemprop="articleBody" data-reorderable="content"> <cite class="source__cite"> UJ — </cite> <p class="paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_E4710C0C-A1F5-6A5C-9098-7247DB8A760D@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true"> From the very start, “Barry” has embraced risk, and this sentiment resonates in its fourth and final season, which starts right after the dramatic conclusion of the third season, with the hitman-turned-aspiring actor being taken into custody. This sets the stage for a season that delves deeper into darkness, emphasizing the ensemble cast while occasionally getting lost in whimsical distractions. <p class="paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_88BB0006-5FB4-342B-A2AF-7275E8CFC928@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true"> Even though “Barry” won’t be the most high-profile farewell on HBO this spring—thanks to “Succession”—the Emmy-nominated show still holds its own. While these new episodes may not quite reach the heights of previous seasons, even a toned-down “Barry” remains exceptionally well-crafted. <p class="paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_9DCA8C5C-F076-5E21-07B8-7782FF85C88D@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true"> Bill Hader continues to surprise as he takes on the roles of director, producer, and star, making it one of television's most unpredictable shows. This new season carries a strong “Better Call Saul” feel, stemming from the inevitable fallout of Barry’s inability to juggle his complex double life indefinitely. <p class="paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_BC1588E4-CA8D-59AA-3873-7275E8D17319@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true"> The repercussions of his arrest ripple through his life, affecting characters including his acting coach Gene Cousineau (played by Henry Winkler, who showcases a fascinating blend of ego and dependency) and his girlfriend Sally (Sarah Goldberg), as well as a cast of quirky criminals surrounding him, such as Fuches (Stephen Root) and NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan), who unexpectedly finds romance in his escapades while comically elongating the name "Barry" to four syllables. <p class="paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_811FE39C-C6D0-09DC-9A9B-7275E8D2EAD7@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true"> “Barry” has consistently struggled with the unsettling notion of having a murderous protagonist, and the question of whether to empathize with him takes on greater significance in this season as he faces life in prison. When Barry innocently asks, “Are you mad at me?” with a child-like simplicity, it momentarily diminishes the weight of his gruesome past, even if Jim Moss (Robert Wisdom), driven by a thirst for revenge, cannot overlook it. <p class="paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_25871BC4-5B04-0CB4-3840-7275E8D29AEB@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true"> Hader (who helmed every episode) shines with his talent for darkly comedic visual humor, enhanced in this new season with several hilarious cameos from real Hollywood personalities, like director Guillermo del Toro, making their appearances even more amusing due to their randomness. <p class="paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_1F6CAF54-988F-44D9-4E9D-7275E8D3879B@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true"> However, the show's surreal elements and flights of fantasy can become a bit distracting, occasionally veering into overly indulgent territory. Fortunately, the cast's strength consistently shines through, even with the limitations imposed by Barry’s imprisonment on their interactions. <p class="paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_3C3109C2-3854-8FAF-234C-7275E8D4726C@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true"> HBO has released most, though not all, of the new season, keeping audiences engaged and curious about how the storylines will unfold and whether they will connect. <p class="paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_FFEE1553-D1A7-2FC2-A6F7-7275E8D50C9F@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true"> The possibility of a happy ending for the characters in “Barry” always seemed unlikely, but Hader and co-creator Alec Berg appear committed to concluding their story as they see fit, even if it’s not without its frustrations at times. This is why it's challenging to critique a show that takes such bold creative risks, despite a season that may not quite match its prior brilliance. <p class="paragraph inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_82F1E4CB-5D7E-32F6-79EF-7275E8D681F2@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true"> “Barry” kicks off its fourth and final season on April 14 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO, which, like UJ, is a division of Warner Bros. Discovery. </div>

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