Barry (Season 4)

Available on Now TV and Sky Atlantic

Barry has long been one of the most curious shows on mainstream television, it being an odd combination of action, comedy, and drama. For four seasons, we have watched veteran/hitman/actor Barry Berkman (Bill Hader) attempt to exorcise his demons and commence a new life, only to find himself frequently pulled back into the murk of Los Angeles’ criminal underworld.

Given their creation’s unique premise, Hader and co-creator Alec Berg could be forgiven for finding this final act a difficult one to land, and yet no such difficulty can be detected in a fourth series that is tight, expertly paced, and neatly concluded. Hader is once again in fine fettle, reiterating his position as one of contemporary comedy’s most unique voices, as are co-stars Henry Winkler, Sarah Goldberg, Stephen Root, and Anthony Corrigan.

Interestingly, this chapter of Barry elects to continue the show’s recurring motif of leaping between timeframes and questioning the reliability of its characters’ memories and points of view, making for a viewing experience that is both challenging and rewarding. The oddity of the central narrative also brings an air of pulp fiction to proceedings, with the real-life absurdity of the film industry also granting an unlikely air of believability to events.

Hader and Berg also ought to be credited for ending their show at an appropriate time. When you have a hot property on your hands, it can be tempting to keep it pumping for as long as possible, but this is a well-executed swansong that will secure the legacy of their impressively quaint show.