“The End of an Era: Reflections on the Legacy of ‘Barry'”

Barry Finale Review: An Extraordinary Achievement

The finale of Barry has concluded the show’s four seasons with a remarkable ending and a leap forward into another decade. It has been an extraordinary achievement that mixed incredible comedy with intense drama. The show towered above its rivals since 2018 and became the best series on television, making it deserving of recognition far better than playing second banana to Succession.

The “Wow” Factor

The finale of Barry was titled “Wow” and pulled off a remarkable feat by creating a definitive ending while still being able to provide the bitter Hollywood satire that it always delivered. The final scene was how it was always expected to end – Barry dying. As a character, he committed numerous atrocities, both legal and moral, and for a show focused on redemption, his death was the only way to conclude his arc. The ending was just, and Barry’s attempt to turn himself in before getting murdered hinted at the show having its cake and eating it too.

The Real Ending

The real ending happened with another 10-year flash-forward, showing Barry and Sally’s now-teenage son, John, watching the movie made about Barry’s life. This movie presented a false Hollywood image, framing Barry as a hapless stooge, while it was the trashy, blood-soaked, and gratuitously simplified nonsense that some viewers secretly wanted Barry to be. However, Barry was never this type of show. It was high-minded, experimental, and relentlessly singular. It was a show that didn’t jive with the general public as well as Succession.

Seasonal Change

Arguably, this final season of Barry lacked the accessibility of previous seasons. Season three ended on a satisfying note with Barry finally receiving justice, and working on a fourth season of Barry seemed crazy. Nevertheless, the fourth season opened up space to underline how repellent these characters were. The show went to great pains to underline this fact, showing how dreadful these people could be. For this reason, I struggle to recall a season of television so inescapably bleak.

The Meditation on Forgiveness

Barry moved beyond its premise of a hitman wanting to become an actor. It became a meditation on the nature of forgiveness, exploring the point at which someone becomes utterly irredeemable. The show investigated how one can escape the shadows they have thrust upon the world. It questioned whether love, justice, or God could help someone find redemption. The show was always about consequences, and in the end, viewers had to watch all of Barry’s consequences play out in horrible detail.

Vaulting Invention

Barry was a peerless Hollywood satire, and the show deserved recognition as being one of the best of all time. The show had moments of vaulting invention that were in keeping with the show’s overall ethos. It was violent and surreal in equal measure and delivered comedy that was strikingly on the money. Barry‘s finale may have been challenging to watch, but it contained moments that showed its worth and guaranteed Bill Hader an audience willing to follow him anywhere.

Conclusion

Barry might have ended, but its legacy will endure. It was a show that towered above its rivals and provided a bitter Hollywood satire that mixed incredible comedy with the most intense drama. Barry was not a show for everyone, but it was singular, experimental and high-minded. The finale of Barry was an extraordinary achievement, unlike any other show on television. The show reminded viewers of the nature of consequences and the difficulty of redemption, making it deserving of recognition far beyond playing second banana to Succession.