Barry (TV Series) wow (2023) User Reviews

"Oh Wow"

[rxckne · 9/10 · 29 May 2023]

Barry is officially over, and it's safe to say that it left off on a chaotic note and had some satisfying character send-offs in the end. Sally and her kid get to live a normal life which is what they deserve. Sally deciding to go with Barry wasn't a good decision at all, but in the end I'm glad to see she had the revelation that she needed. It's unfortunate that John is going to have to grow up without a father figure, but at least he gets to live a normal life around normal people, and Sally is freed from Barry and gets to live out her life being an acting teacher like Cousineau.

In regards to Gene, he was definitely the most tragic character of the show. The things he went through with Barry were awful and now he has to pay for the crimes that Barry committed. Obviously it was a dumb move to take the money Barry gave him in season 3, but to see his character go out like that is sad. But in the end I'm glad he got to be the one to take out Barry. The media will see it another way, but he truly got justice for Janice and I'd like to think that he feels freed in a way knowing he got to avenge Janice face on.

Also the last moment between Fuches and Barry was pretty wholesome. Seeing them have one last moment was cool considering the roads they've been on in the entire show up until this point.

But I hate to say, I have a lot of things that I don't feel crazy about in regards to this finale, and even the final season as a whole. After episode 5, I was happy with the direction the show went and excited to see where it'd go. But I can't help but feel that some of the things were very rushed. The conflict between Noho Hank and Fuches didn't feel it reached it's fullest potential. I'm ok with the reasoning of it and Cristobal being the head of it, but the way it played out felt very underwhelming. If Fuches had a Cristobal in his life then I feel it would've had more of an emotional impact, but he didn't. Barry was someone he dragged on yes, and maybe I'm wrong and he felt a way towards Barry that made him regret what he put him through. And maybe that's why he wanted Hank to make that confession about Cristobal. I'm talking my self into the idea and it is a possibility, but I still can't help but feel it was rushed on Fuches' end as we never saw that possible regret get fleshed out more. You could feel the guilt that Hank had especially with Cristobal in episode 4, I can't say the same about Fuches. He was somewhat at peace with Barry in prison and that potential guilt didn't feel like it was brought out enough after the 7-8 year time jump.

So now that the show is all said and done, I can say that Barry had a compelling final season and a nice finale. It didn't blow me away and I feel with maybe more episodes in longer length that it could've reached its fullest potential, but I'm still satisfied for the most part with the way things left off.

Props to Bill Hader and the whole Barry team. Bill is one of a kind and the things he accomplished as a writer, director, and actor on this show are things I feel we may never see again in TV. Here's to hoping he keeps this going post Barry and we get to see more of him in this industry in the future. That being said, "My Lord, Barry is Dead."

One of the Most Unique Endings to a TV Series Ever

[tristan_19 · 10/10 · 29 May 2023]

Barry delivers shock after shock in this eclectic finale. That was definitely something...

Fuches learns Barry has a son and wants to protect John, but, at the same time, he can't stand Hank's hypocrisy. A shootout ensues and bullets fly everywhere. On a truly memorable piece of imagery, Noho Hank dies with his hand in Cristobal's (well the statue version of him). Fuches looks at Barry in a scene reminiscing of a specific moment in Breaking Bad's Felina.

Sally escapes and eventually leaves Barry alone, wanting him to do the right thing on the Gene front. But that ends up being the death of the protagonist, as Barry shows up at Gene's place, looking for his kid. However, Tom informs him John isn't there, and tries to preach for Gene. Barry then finally gives in to do the right thing, and suggests the cops are called, but Gene turns into a psychotic killer and shoots him...

As Barry tries to redeem himself, Mr Cousineau delivers a fatal head shot. And he waits, therefore forfeiting his life and freedom. It's so surreal. Then, we cut to the future, and Sally is successful. John goes to his friend's and they watch a movie... It is THE movie, and the story unfolds before your eyes, in a mostly comedic way. But the whole portrait is depicting what people think happen. And then you get to see the lines at the end of this film, depicting where the characters ended up.

Barry's name will be remembered and honored forever. Gene's name has been soiled and completely destroyed. The credits come in with military bugle and orchestra.

Excellent episode, it felt so unique and different. Lots of shocking moments and scenes that felt almost unreal or dreamy like. Never something I would have predicted in a thousand years to be honest.

The Hollywood Critique

[Rob-O-Cop · 9/10 · 30 May 2023]

My reading on the Barry series is it's a deeply critical observation of the shallow self obsessed nature of the industry that made this series.

It accurately depicts the players who create fiction from reality at the expense of those around them.

Gene and Sally personifying this and the final movie twisting the details for 'entertainment' value as so many real films have done (Argo, King in the Carpark, Zero Dark 30, etc etc), it's self critical and self referential. Barry's religiousness and how he selectively chooses his inspiration and truth was a welcome late arrival parting shot critique that also delivered insight and laughs.

The crime stuff is played for laughs and mostly delivers.

How do you end a complex series like Barry? This episode and the last4 did feel rushed. Ultimately I'm not blown away by it but it was not disappointing in a Game of Thrones way. It did land and the series as a whole was outstanding tv comedy drama.

The cinematography was next level. Well done Team Barry.

(In)Justice

[alexdiflip · 10/10 · 29 May 2023]

Barry has always been a show that avoids conventional approaches. After the finale, we can safely say they stuck to that technique until the end.

I don't think anyone was expecting a happy ending to this show, even before season 4 came out, but the conclusion we did receive was even more chaotic than I expected. Once again, Barry keeps me on my toes for the better part of an hour and keeps me guessing until the last second.

Although I am obviously disappointed with how things went, I have to think that that's the point. The seedy world of Hollywood has always played a part in this show, and I'm not surprised it's twisted the ending into its favor. I was wonderfully sad- because that's what this show has always done best: tragedy. This is a no spoiler review, so I won't go into specifics, but almost nothing worked out the way I wanted. And I wouldn't have the show gone any other way.

The cinematography is as always top notch and expertly done. Look for symbolism everywhere and you'll probably find it. I'm sad to see it go, as this was one of the tensest and most creatively produced shows I've ever watched. Farewell, Barry! We loved ya!

They actually did it.

[lovemichaeljordan · 9/10 · 30 May 2023]

Last episode left us with so many unanswered questions and many thought it would be difficult to tie up all lose ends in just one episode. But the writers have done it again. They continue to surprise and make us laugh until the credits roll. A very fitting ending for this show. Every character's arch has been completed. Have we ever witnessed a finale like this before? Unpredictable and funny.

It's funny while also being serious. The characters decisions make sense and everything that has happened the past four seasons has led to this. Was there any other way it could end? Not this show. A great ending to a very unique show we have had the luxary of enjoying these past years.

The art of subverting expectations

[mayankmmz · 10/10 · 29 May 2023]

If you went into the episode expecting or almost wanting a Barry rampage where he goes full Rambo and single handedly ends the story by killing Hank and Fuches and maybe dying in the process then you are the target audience of the "the mask collector" movie at the end of the episode.

I still cannot believe how Fuches is the character who I ended up liking the most after this episode. His speech about being a poser was genius writing because it showed exactly what this show is about. Hank and Cousineau lied to themselves, pretending to be someone they're not. And they paid the price. Although Cousineau did get his justice by killing Barry but the whole world sees it completely differently. Sally finally accepted her flaws and herself for what she did and she was redeemed. Fuches was redeemed as he broke the cycle with not killing Barry and saving John. I have a theory that Fuches only went to save John and not to kill Barry or Hank. Barry wished for redemption and his son to have a good life. In the end Barry was painted as a hero thus getting his redemption although underserved. His son and wife got a normal life as well.

The final movie scenes were brilliant. Shows how Hollywood biopics take out the soul of stories and just fill it with cliches. It was the perfect satire and I love how the violence was glorified in the movie despite never being shown that way in the show. A very valid and cutting criticism of Hollywood's depiction of 'heroic' violence.

Take a bow Bill Hader. What an actor, what a writer and what a director. He's created an absolute masterpiece. Anthony, Stephen, Sarah and Henry have been beyond amazing throughout the show. Specially Anthony brought to life the character of Hank so well and made it iconic. Sarah and Stephen were so so good in the finale. Sarah in the speech to John confessing her sins and Stephen in the 'poser' speech. I'm in awe of this show and forever will be. Gonna miss this show a lot. Excited to see what the cast and crew have in store for us after this in their respective careers because they all deserve to do more stuff as good as this.

5 years in 30 minutes

[CJPALLISTER2002 · 10/10 · 29 May 2023]

I have been watching this show ever since the first episode aired way back when I was fifteen and I have not missed a moment, it's crazy that it's over but what's even more nuts is how great the whole ending of the series was. I did not anticipate this at all, like at all- at all. That one shot in Genes house( you know the one I'm referring to where it seems out,) Straight up out of a Andrei Tarkovsky film. To think that the finale of this show and the finale of this aired back to back with only a three minute ad break to separate them is absolutely nuts, HBO is where it's at and it would be any screenwriters privilege to work for such a rarefied company.

Barry Season 4: A Fitting Send Off to One of the Best Shows on TV

[ryanpersaud-59415 · 9/10 · 1 June 2023]

It's always nice to see a show with a vision end on its own terms. Barry's final episode felt like the culmination of the entire show in a well crafted, tightly paced 35 minute finale that wrapped up all the loose ends and reminded us why this story was so amazing in the first place.

Barry is about A LOT, despite it's somewhat paint-by-numbers premise of an assassin trying to "get good" and embracing acting classes to restart his life. This show could've gone in so many directions, but the one it chose was, in my opinion, the right one. Barry is a tale about morality, about the human capacity (or lack thereof) to change, about justice and fairness. It's about Hollywood and how it acts as a magnet to attract the most selfish and narcissistic amongst us.

Barry is also a story about characters and this season represents the reckoning for all of them. Every character is embroiled in some sort of interesting moral dilemma that tests their character. Sally, Hank, Cousineau, Fuches, and of course Barry, are all put in situations where they can make a choice to do what's right or do what's expedient for them. Their actions have consequences and it's amazing to see these characters - many of whom started off as comedic and stereotypical (on purpose) grow and mature to become so complicated and fleshed out.

This season is also amongst the most visually, narratively, and cinematographically interesting of the show; it elevates the material with interesting storytelling and visual choices, a slow pace that the show knows when to snap out of, perfectly timed comedy, and a zany (but not over the top) vibe that straddles the line between comedy and tragedy.

I do prefer Season 3, which I contend is still Barry's best. The season does seem to run out of narrative steam at a point and doesn't have as much of the plot building that the last season had. But honestly, this show ended about as greatly as it could've.

Wow is Right

[ceedubbsentertainment · 10/10 · 30 May 2023]

I'm truly stunned. I was a little disappointed when I heard the finale was going to be the same length as any other episode. I felt a little unsure about whether or not one of, if not my favorite series of all time could give us a truly satisfying conclusion to the whole show in just a half hour.

I don't know why I ever had any doubts.

This is about as perfect a culmination of the entire show as I can possibly imagine. An unbelievable episode of television that remains wholly true to the show's core while still managing to fit in laughs, tension, excitement, surprises, and satisfyingly perfect conclusions to each and every character's story. There's not a single thing I would change about this ending.

The best episode of the entire show, one of the best episodes of TV of all time... I just really am beside myself, I can't believe they stuck the landing this hard.

All good things come to an end...

[alvaroperdomo · 10/10 · 7 June 2023]

From the beginning it is known that Barry was always in constant search of his purpose, refusing to accept that he was a bad person and with the desire to have a happy ending with Sally and fit into the world of acting. However his links to crime were unveiled as each episode progressed, this already gave us a clue that his destiny was headed for disgrace and this makes his ending quite digestible.

The first 2 seasons were always loaded with a very black and satirical humor, with well-structured plot twists. But from the third season onwards it becomes more somber and the comic moments are limited, a detail that is not superfluous due to the ambitious approach of the protagonist to make amends for his enemies and the episodes of post-traumatic stress he suffers as a result of his past in the army. The secondary characters always maintain their endearing personalities, facing their own tragedies.

It concludes in a way that although difficult to assimilate because of its impact, it could not be more successful; with a rather superb production and brilliant performances by the cast without exception. It is undoubtedly a dramatic comedy that adapts with excellence an amalgam of emotions through the theatrical journey.

Dark Excellence ( I wish I had a better header )

[theknownames · 9/10 · 31 May 2023]

This series became so dark that ,at times , that I couldn't tell of it was intentionally departing from its comedic intent or if something was going terribly wrong . Nonetheless, we were hooked; and while we came for Barry , we stayed for the glorious cast and the compelling storyline that unfolded beautifully, episode after episode, season after season . When a show announces its final season there is concern. How will it end ? Should I even watch it ? How are they going to do justice to the individual characters we have all come to know and care for . My own initial confusion with the time jump and the framing ( or downright misfortune of Gene ) only served to keep me intrigued long after the credits , making way into my consciousness when I was far away from the televisions ( and snacks ) I found this far more brilliant that annoying . Barry was , or in fact Is, an epic win for Bill Hader. It feels like it was always meant to be. I am appreciative of the lengths he went to and the twists and turns in his own career to land this . Oh and what a landing he stuck!

Funny heartbreaking , scary , weird , surprising and even cringe , we're all packed into 30 minute increments spanning over 4 years . My own attention span has expanded in ways I never before thought possible lol. There are few shows that near perfection beginning to end. Check out Mr Inbetween if your withdrawing ( but watch a buffer show because it's too good and certainly not meant to be compared! ) I mention it because personally I can get a little depressed when a show so great ends and Ray's story is a blessed shoo-in !

The show could have ended with Barry's demise yet , true to form, it delivered something in addition , something exceptional to contemplate going forward.

Ps it's a 9 because I am super picky about 10's . I just need to process a bit - the series itself feels like a 10 overall for sure.

The best finale given the weird left turn in the last 4 episodes

[aivilovee · 7/10 · 29 May 2023]

I really did not like the mid season time jump at all. It felt weird and out of character to me, and just overall outlandish.

But, given the time jump, I do think that this finale is probably the best it could have been. I thought the fake Barry movie at the end was hilarious and also offered a scathing critique of what Hollywood does to real stories. I also thought Barry's death was perfectly done. It was exactly what he deserved and funny enough that it still fit the humor of the show.

I do think this show just deserve better in the end, though. "All things considered" is not a great endorsement for a series finale to have.

DISSAPOINTED, and super bored!

[hansenfamfam · 2/10 · 31 May 2023]

It was so hard to watch the 4'th and last season, it was so boring each episode getting worse, and the finale over did it self, it was a dud.

Nothing interesting and no point in anything.

Whatever made people come back and watch the show the first 3 seasons, it was clearly missing here.

We came due to Barry, the show is called BARRY not sally, we came to watch all his dry comments, lovely weirdness and the contrast of an OP soldier/hitman when forced to step up, and in this season he had the role of an awkward father and some religious notions out of character.

I wonder why the whole flow of this tv show had to change so much from the first 3 seasons, the 4'th season was slow and boring and totally out of style from previously. Sure all seasons had too much of Sally's neurotic personality that will not be missed, but the first seasons had humor, and twists and surprises, and the casual attitude to killing, like it was just any other job.

Well, now it lost all of its charm!

Wow

[nyxstrix · 9/10 · 29 May 2023]

This episode is a masterful conclusion to one of the most original and daring shows of the decade. Bill Hader and Alec Berg have crafted a finale that is both satisfying and surprising, delivering a mix of comedy and tragedy that is rare and remarkable. The episode manages to tie up the loose ends of the story while also leaving room for interpretation and imagination. The flash-forward sequence is especially brilliant, showing how Barry's legacy is distorted by the Hollywood machine and how his son struggles to make sense of his father's actions. The performances are outstanding, with Hader, Winkler, Goldberg and Carrigan giving their best in their final roles. The episode also features some of the most hilarious and shocking moments in the series, such as the bloody shootout between Hank and Fuches' men and the movie version of Barry's life. This episode is a must-watch for fans of the show and anyone who appreciates smart and dark humour.

wow

[lassegalsgaard · 9/10 · 29 May 2023]

When it was announced that this was going to be the final season for "Barry," and that it would premiere on the same day as the finale of "Succession," I immediately prepared myself for a day that would come with a lot of force. "Barry" is a show that didn't initially catch my interest, but which quickly became one of the most entertaining parts of my week, especially as the season's grew stronger and stronger. This hasn't been the strongest season, but this was exciting. And it went out like it began; as a show that subverts expectations to make the best result it could.

If there was any doubt that this was the finale, it was erased pretty quickly. While the real meat of what happens doesn't come before later in, the silhouette of Barry walking out of a department store with two guns on his back in a sign that something is definitely coming. He's at the point-of-no-return and everything has lead him to this place, and the brilliant thing is that his climactic fight never happens. Instead, his character is offered an opportunity of redemption in this episode, but whether he's able to take it or whether he'll continue in his ways is something that's not so easily answered. But the episode attempts anyway and it leads to a very cathartic answer for Barry. The ending to his arc felt very deserved and earned, especially considering that the events of the season had been starting to paint him as a martyr, which may or may not still have been the case by the end. A lot has also been made about the final moments of the episode, and while I do see both perspectives, it felt like a weirdly satisfying way to finish off this show and it puts Barry in the light that he has always wanted to be seen in. However, there is an argument to be made that it doesn't feel all that earned and that it puts the entire show in a weird perspective, but for whatever reason, it worked for me and felt like a satisfying conclusion to an absolutely great show.

"wow" is an episode that is in tune with the rest of the show, continuously subverting our expectations and sending off our hero with style. It's certainly not without its criticism and the ending is a big point of division, but for me, it landed quite well and proved what the show has always been about.

What an amazing ending

[DiMeArellano · 10/10 · 29 May 2023]

This series was a journey, an exeprience, a joy, full of laughter, tears and more laughter.

My expectations on the ending was high, but man, this is amazing.

Fuches redemption with a Breaking Bad ending reference, an amazing conclusion to Hank's tragedy, Sally closing her dead dreams arc, Barry having a dignified penalty for his sins and that magestic social critizism of the gloryfication of assassins and the unexact biographic movies/series.

I know the series began in the 2016, but this feel ALMOST like it was planned to take on the Dahmer's series head.

Amazing, what a good ending, what a good series.

Thanks Bill Hader.

Put a bow on it

[cameroncrazy4321 · 9/10 · 29 May 2023]

Barry leaves with narrative satisfaction. Strong acting & writing from start to finish. You walk away asking the question that has lingered on the subconscious throughout the show: who was I rooting for & why? A show that never once became predictable or subject to cheap tricks. Raw, messed up, dark, ominous, funny, goofy. NoHo Hank remains an all-time character on tv. Bill Hader should be able to get any acting/writing/directing job he wants from here on it. Dude crushes it. Henry Winkler's best role. It feels designed for him. All things considered, a gripping & earned finale to tie a bow on a consistently fresh & unique show.

Ending now

[diegosays · 8/10 · 30 May 2023]

I was afraid of watching the last episode of this beautiful and perfect show. Not only because I didn't want it to end or because we are living in times where films and shows are mostly mediocre and it can be a miracle to find good content like "Barry" out there; I was afraid of watching the finale of this show when endings like the Game of Thrones one happen.

As an enormous fan from this show, I opened a bottle of wine, I pressed play on the control and I said the words "starting now", hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

And here it is: I cannot complain about this ending, even though I wasn't exactly happy with it.

Here's why: It is a beautiful conclusion in a very short amount of time that causes the episode to feel rushed. When I saw the timeline of the episode, I immediately knew that was about to happen.

Do you remember those endings of the shows from those times, when the content was made with detail and not in a hurry? They used to take their time to put everything in that last episode. But nowadays, they keep rushing everything and leaving us as fans wanting more.

This was not Bill Hader's fault or the writers fault. This was some executives fault asking for a quick conclusion in order to keep their clients happy and move on.

I liked every single creative decision from the ending:

I liked Hank getting killed (called it).

I liked Barry and Fuches saying goodbye, the "Heisenberg and Jesse" style (that was amazing).

I liked Sally becoming an acting teacher.

Jesus, I even liked the Cousineau killing Barry scene... But the problem is: The timing. It all happens so goddamn fast it barely gives you time to process what is going on.

I didn't laugh this whole season... and that was great. I loved the idea of this show transitioning from a satire to "breaking bad" serious. But what I really didn't like was that same annoying rush that keeps happening with shows wrapping everything up.

These characters deserved a much slower and little more "melodramatic" ending. But we should not complain because "Barry" was always like this. It was never an emotional show. And in the very last scene, when Barry's son is watching the movie, they're literally criticizing how Hollywood tells the stories and how we as consumers of the bad content would expect from this show to be like. That I found it to be incredibly genius, but even with that last scene, it felt short and with lack of emotion, or a good dialogue, or something that made the very last scene a brilliant ending.

I loved this show with all my heart, and I'm going to miss it. But I've had enough of this "end it now" endings.

A near perfect show with a somewhat bleak ending, sad to see it go

[toonyjakes · 8/10 · 31 May 2023]

Barry has been one of my very favorite shows ever since the first episode. It had an interesting premise I wasn't sure that would work, yet it totally surprised me. The show hardly wastes time at all. By the end of season 3 I felt like they got cornered with the plot, and I guess I was kind of right. Season 4 was a little more strung out and serious, with a few plot points missing.

Anyways to get down to the finale. I can honestly say I don't know if I liked it or not. And that's not a bad thing. The show constantly reminded us that even though Barry wants redemption and faces it at certain points, he is irredeemable. He literally killed people and threatened to kill those he loves in order to protect "them" but mainly himself. They never say why or who or how, but Barry usually insists that if anyone knows about his job, everyone dies. But Barry is like the only hitman for Fuches so I'm not sure what that means. End of the day I think he was just lying to get let off whenever he faced punishment. My point being that, no matter how funny or quirky or awesome the show can be at times, Barry is not headed down a good road and cannot turn back. No matter how much he prays, says it's the last time, says he can move on, his brain is cracked. He lives in a delusional form of his dreams, something he wanted with Sally- a family. And he got it. But all the praying and Abe Lincoln references didn't hide how sad and isolated their family life was, how deluded and distraught Sally became.

All in all, it wasn't a bad finale, and it did make sense. I just wish it had a little more emotion to it rather than seeing everyone turn cold. But once again that's what makes it a great ending, it didn't sensationalized anything ever. And with the story we've watched unfold, you feel for the characters, like you're life is doomed with them as well. Barry was a total treat. Most TV SUCKS. But this show just had a bit of a drawn out 4th season, which is fine considering how wonderful the rest of it is. Can't wait to see what Bill does next.

Mindblowingly Amazing Finale Despite the Final Season Not Being Able to Top Season 3

[MamadNobari97 · 10/10 · 29 May 2023]

"Oh Wow!" indeed! Holy mother of fk is more like it!

First of all, I cannot fkin believe that Fuches actually survived this show and NoHo Hank died instead. I mean, pretty much most of us knew Hank wouldn't survive the show's finale, but Fuches actually making it was really surprising for me.

I think this is just one of the best finales of any show I've seen and deserves the full 10/10 rating for the number of shocking twists that happen in this alone.

This show went from a 7/10 for season 1 for me, to an 8/10 in season 2, and a 9/10 in season 3. But I gotta say, I'd still don't think season 4 could live up to the insanity and the great writing season 3 had, so even after the finale, the show as a whole is a 9/10 for me. Not that season 4 is bad or anything, it actually has some of the best episodes of the show in general, including this finale, but overall, the writing kinda lacked a bit, and felt like they didn't know what to do anymore and they had to wrap it up fast.

It is still surprising that no matter how dark and serious this episode is, it still has a few funny scenes that actually makes you laugh and reminds you that yes, you're still watching a comedy. One minute you're tearing up for that first scene with Sally and her son and the amazing performance from Sarah Goldberg, and the next you're laughing at the absurdity of Barry walking into a school and kids' toy shop and buying a bunch of rifles and guns.

It is also surprising and expectation-subverting (God, I hate this term) that Barry actually does zero killing or commits any act of violence for that matter in the finale of his show, and actually the whole final season too. Which is actually poetic in a way that he gets his justice this way. I don't think other than killing the roof assassin in the prison, he did any killing in this season. Either that or I have Alzheimer's and I don't remember him killing anyone after that.

Hank's demise was inevitable but the way the shootout goes is also surprising and sudden but not too much unpredictable, only that Barry wasn't there. And it is also poetic and really sad the way he dies with his hand in Cristobal's.

What's more poetic cinema, is Gene Cousineau is the one who finally kills Barry. And even though you already know Barry is dying in the finale, his death is still one of the most shocking and surprising scenes in the whole show. Though I'm glad Gene didn't actually shoot himself and shot Barry instead, if you read my review for the penultimate episode, I said that it would be really bold of the writers if they actually go through with the whole "Gene Cousineau was behind all this" plotline. And they tricked us into thinking they didn't by having him kill Barry, but the ending scene is just a huge punch to the gut and a twist inside a twist and them actually going through with it and making poor Cousineau take the blame. And I have to praise and admire the balls of the writers for doing this because I didn't think they would do it.

Now I understand that some, if not, many people would have a problem with the ending and how the police actually thought Gene Cousineau was behind all of it, and I totally get it if you don't like how they wrote it this way and you're disappointed or not satisfied with it, I totally understand. But to me personally, it makes sense that Gene still gets the blame and nothing changes in the eyes of the police and Jim Moss. From an outsider's perspective who doesn't have the big picture, it makes total sense that Cousineau would be behind all this, and when Barry came to confess, he just shot him dead, it makes sense. And don't tell me you wouldn't think Gene Cousineau is a monster murderer behind all of it if this was actual news in our real world and we only knew about it as much as an average Joe knows in this universe.

So while it makes total sense to me for the story to go this way, I also totally understand why some would not like the way it went. And I actually wanted it to go this way since I like frustrating (in a depressing way) and sad endings more than a happy ending where everybody is happy sitting at a table enjoying dinner and laughing.

And this Barry we're talking about here, you didn't actually expect the show to end on a happy note though did you? It makes sense for the story to end like this. And I gotta say, Gene Cousineau became one of the most tragic characters of TV, probably up there with Ulrich Nielsen and Jesse Pinkman in my opinion. Though I know they went through way much more than Gene Cousineau, but he went through a lot too and his journey through this show is just really sad and depressing.

This finale and the whole final season might not be satisfying for a lot of people, especially compared to season 3's brilliance and how every episode from the second half of that season was a 10/10. And I don't like the time jumps either and they don't feel as satisfying because it's kinda sudden and feels like the writers kinda didn't know how to wrap up the story and the amount of plot conveniences happening for the story to go this way might have passed the threshold of the audience's suspension of disbelief for the show more than than the previous seasons. But I think it does make sense for the story to go this way. We wouldn't be here if there wasn't a John, and Fuches didn't have the time to change in the prison.

It is also understandable if anyone thought this ending is validating Barry Berkman as a redeemed good guy since he becomes a martyr in the eyes of everybody in this world at the end and Gene takes the blame for everything. It's like if Walter White actually released that videotape and actually became an innocent pitiful chemistry teacher with cancer in the eyes of everybody and Hank became Heisenberg instead and took all the blame. Yes, that would be more depressing than how the story of Breaking Bad actually concluded and it was satisfying, and the writers of that show actually stick their characters with the consequences of their actions, and justice is served in the end nonetheless.

But I think this show tackles the themes of taking responsibility and justice and consequences of action differently and it makes more sense for how dark and serious the show has always been, that this is how Barry and Gene are gonna be thought of till the end of time. It's depressing, but it makes sense and fits the show's narrative. Not to mention Fuches actually surviving the show's ending too which adds much more to the twisted conclusion of this show and how it wraps every major character's story.

It makes sense for every character how they end up at the end. Barry wanted to leave the murderer life behind and become an actor so he could redeem his past and become a good guy in the eyes of people around him and possibly the world. Gene has always been desperate for more fame and wanted movies to be made of his life or at least his later adventures and things that happened to him. Sally just wanted to be a good actress and followed Gene's footsteps of maybe eventually becoming an acting teacher in the future. Hank wasn't made for the criminal life and it was obvious he was gonna get killed eventually from the beginning. Fuches has been at death's door so many times more than any character in this show and he somehow always has been able to weasel his way out of every near-death situation and survive it. So it makes sense that he would survive the finale too.

It all makes sense for every character and this is what I call poetic cinema. So while I would understand if someone had a problem with this finale, I personally don't have and I think everything works out really great and makes sense narratively.

This finale has everything that defines Barry: Laughs, cries, amazing performances of Anthony Carrigan, Sarah Goldberg, and Stephen Root, shocking and jaw-dropping twists and scenes one after another, crazy intense action scenes with practical effects, and great writing. The production value is top-notch too and I really like that they actually went through the effort of making a real short film with Hollywood-level production for the ending scene.

Overall, the season might not have been the best season of the show narratively and from the writing quality standpoint, and might not have been as crazy or action-packed as season 3 which is the best season of the show. But I think this finale is a total masterpiece in many aspects and wraps up the story really well in a satisfactory manner, albeit depressing, ending to the show in my opinion, and one of the best finales of any show.

Barry is one of the best shows I've ever seen and it is gonna feel like something is missing from my life when there isn't a new episode next week.

I have no words.

[lucasemployee · 10/10 · 29 May 2023]

This episode is pure perfection. From the acting, the strange ending that somehow fits the show perfectly, and the way all of the characters arcs wrap up, I could not have asked for a better finale.

Lets discuss the character who arguably gets the worst ending in the show, Gene:

Gene has never been a good person. He has always been extremely greedy, along with all the stuff that he has done in his past to other actors, producers, etc. And to have Gene actually go to prison for the rest of his life because of that greediness is tv perfection.

Fuches on the other hand, redeems himself by killing Hank, saving John and reuniting him with Barry. In my opinion, a great ending for a character like him.

Sally gets a great ending, leaving Barry with John in the middle of the night, just like she did with Sam. Arc perfectly complete

Hank gets a good or bad ending, depending on the way you look at it. One one hand, he died holding the hand of his lover in a beautiful scene, but on the other hand, he is the one who killed his lover, so like a lot of things on this show, it is completely up to interpretation

Now Barry. Barry's arc in my opinion is utmost and complete perfection. Throughout the entire show, Barry tries to change, but it never works out and it always ends with people getting hurt. In this final episode, Barry finally gets the opportunity to change, and the moment he actually wants to, he gets killed. It is a perfect character arc that is very rare to see on television nowadays

This episode, and more specifically, this show, are complete perfection. I am sad it is over, but ending it was absolutely the right move, as I am not sure how they would drag it on for another season. A masterpiece.

Humorous and devastating. I will miss Barry

[howardad1 · 7/10 · 29 May 2023]

I really think Bill Hader made something special here and those first two seasons are some of my favorite television. Belly laughs and gut-wrenching intensity. However, the last two seasons morph into something different than what this show originally was. It's a bit darker and more cinematic. There were a lot of distractions and left turns disguised as bold moves (a time jump, an episode without Barry, the cinematography, studying the psych behind it all). That's okay-I was fully invested. But it all added up to series finale that left me with mixed feelings. I can't forget about all the greatness throughout all four seasons but I was left wanting more.

The 30 minute runtime was tough-things happened very fast. It could have benefited from an hour long finale to flesh out some plot. I would have liked to see Hank and Barry meet again. I would have liked some dialogue between Gene and Barry. They all went through a lot together! I would have been more satisfied with the sad ending if I had seen some of Gene's defense (you're telling me there's no trial? No one can corroborate Gene's side? What happened to Barry's FBI friend? Now Barry's a decorated war hero who took down a Chechen mob crew and the mastermind acting teacher? Idk.)

We can't always get what we want so I will appreciate the good. Performances are great. Barry died. That's great. He had to go. The ending reversal of Barry being celebrated and Gene being framed fits with the show's overall vibe of being devastating yet humorous. It did feel like Barry. But c'mon don't leave me with the kid! Ugh! Show me Gene in prison!

I would love to see more shows this. It made me laugh but it also had me on the edge of my seat. I'll miss it.

Great Idea, Rushed Execution and Sally Reed

[Cxy324 · 4/10 · 29 May 2023]

For starters, this season felt very rushed. But, I'm here for one person Sally Reed. Not one time this season have we seen Sally show love, compassion, or any type of connection to their son John. She later tells John "we (her and Barry) both have killed people", but she tells Barry that HE needs to turn himself in. Barry wakes up and they are gone...Barry dies. Now John, obviously confused and alone, is left with a mom who's only ever cared about herself and her career. Sad ending for Barry and an even more sad beginning John aka Little Barry. I can see Monroe coming back for him and the cycle starting all over again. #RIPBARRY #RIPCRISTOBOL #RIPHANK.

Indeed wow

[aeneaskokkelmans · 10/10 · 29 May 2023]

Well that didn't go down at all how I expected it to go. Talk about subverting expectations ( yes I'm looking at you D&D), but done in a right way. Every character got their time to shine one final time and although I wouldn't have minded a longer episode, it was an awesome finale.

The face-off between hank and fuches was really intense and ended in a intense but also funny way only this show could pull off, and hank dying in the hands of christobal, come on that was so good and really sad. RIP to Noho Hank, one of the funniest and most tragic characters ever written.

Fuches gives Barry his son back because he feels like he needs to protect him just like he did with his father, and they share one final look before fuches runs into the darkness and the legend of the raven lives on.

After that in the hotel sally realizes that Barry is still Barry and she wants to protect her son and herself, so when Barry wakes up the next morning, they are gone so he goes to Cousineau because sally talked to him and yeah, Barry said it the best: oh wow! Gene, who doesn't know what to do anymore takes the gun and shoots Barry, just when he was about to turn himself in! Bam! Then we get this painting like shot of gene sitting on the couch next to Barry and we hear applause.

Now we are further into the future, Sally and her son live a normal live and sally is successful in the theatre once more as a teacher. After a good show, we see sally smiling again for the first time in a while, and while she isn't her old self again, she looks happy. John asks if he can go to a sleepover and he and the last sequence of the episode is his friend and him watching THE movie. It is done in a funny way and sums up the story how everyone on the outside thinks it went. They will never know about Barry's and fuches history, about the pain Hank went thru, about Sally's struggles and about what really happened with Cousineau and Barry, and I think that makes it extra special for us, that we where taken along on this wild ride. In the end, we see that Gene is in prison for the rest of his life for the murder on his girlfriend and Barry will be remembered as a hero, and we see a final smile on his sons face and that is where Barry ends.

This is most certainly the most bizarre finale of a show i have ever seen and of course that is something I could have expected from Barry. I will really miss this show. Thank you Bill Hader for creating something unique like this, it was a blast.

Barry will go down as an all time great

[jasonfreeman-73200 · 10/10 · 31 May 2023]

I went into this finale having trust that Bill Hader could perfect this shows ending as all 3 season finales beforehand were all fantastic. But boy oh boy was I overwhelmed with just how special this finale was. The opening half of the episode was so tense with the face off with Fuches and Hank only ever going one way but still being a visual masterpiece with Hanks final shot being so tragic for possibly one of the nicest vilans in tv history to the lighthearted comedy element of Barry buying the guns in the store. No country for old men esk the scene with Barry looking for Gene ultimately leading to his death tension built, almost expecting it to happen but still being in awe seeing it. It was always gonna end this way for Barry.

I'm so glad this wasnt the final scene and they decided to add that final 10 minutes with the second time jump of Sally and John. Deciding to show John watching the film made about Barry was a genuious idea and felt like a reward for viewers being reminded just how great this show has been. The final shot seeing Barry was seen as an American hero and not the lonely psycho that he really was so similar to Travis in Taxi Driver was the best shot of the entire show imo. What a way to end it all, this is Bill Haders masterpiece and a show all tv and film fans should watch, a top 10 show of all time.