yikes

A great start to the last season of Barry that gives every important character of the show their own screen time and it's not just 20 minutes of Barry being in the prison, and showing us the same prison arc cliché in every movie and show where some prisoners gang up on him to kick his ass or something. None of that. Just Barry being alone to himself reminiscing the past within the walls of this prison thinking about how he got there.

What I like about this episode and I think this show excelled in this aspect in the past too, is that you don't really need flashbacks for every character like Barry to know why they are who they are. From the moment you are introduced to Sally's mom, you immediately understand why Sally is Sally. It's a great way of naturally progressing your story without halting it with some flashbacks and exposition to give characterization and backstory, you give your character characterization by moving her story forward and just having her interact with her mom and dad she hasn't seen for a long time.

This episode also does a really great job of introducing us to the new environment, and the new and different tone of the show. The comedy is still there and it is funny, but it is more serious than ever. The show has had always a serious tone alongside the dark comedy aspect of it, but it is way more serious now since all of the relationships are ruined and everyone hates each other. And ironically, everything had to go haywire for a certain character to be reunited with someone and to love them again which I'm trying so hard not to spoil but I think it's obvious enough. I just find this contrast really interesting.

They do a lot of this type of integrating flashbacks to the present scenes in this episode which I didn't find annoying at all since it was executed so well and it wasn't done to death to make it lame.

And I gotta say the direction of this episode was amazing. The way they decided to shoot and do a lot of scenes is just great and it shows that Bill Hader still got it. The cinematography of some particular scenes is just as great as previous seasons' and once again reminds you that this isn't just another regular drama show you're watching.

NoHo Hank is once again great and I'm glad that they hinted at how he's going to connect to Barry's plotline in this episode because so far, his and his boyfriend's plotline doesn't seem that interesting but I'm sure it's gonna result in some crazy shenanigans.

We're still not sure what Gene's motive here is yet, but something tells me he's not gonna be 100% hating Barry here.

Overall, I thought this episode was a great openner to the season and giving all the characters sufficient time in such a short runtime and introducing and developing new plot lines without being them rushed. The direction is fantastic and I'm sure it's gonna get better with Bill having directed of them himself. I'm looking forward to the crazy episodes we're gonna get in the second half of the season like every previous season.

What can I say the ending of Season 3 of Barry was phenomenal, top of the line tv, rejuvenated me. This first episode felt like a cooldown, it was slow, very bleak but it set everything up for what could be a satisfying finale.

Things did feel different from the jump, I was slightly disappointed with what I was seeing. I wouldn't say I was entertained by this episode, it was just a set up. It had me thinking the show would have ended perfectly at the end of Season 3.

I wanted more from this but as usual I expect Barry to pick up later in the season like previous years. Gene, Barry, Fuches and Sally have all evolved so much and are so much different than the people they were in Season 1.

This is still the most overlooked show on tv, it makes me feel like Im watching old days of quality television.

I enjoyed the season opening and am excited for where the show is headed, it feels a bit like a slow burn but into episode 2 the story really starts speeding up.

I just can't ignore that it feels much more serious and almost bleak in tone compared with previous seasons, hopefully we will get some more tonally balanced episodes later down the line, but I can see the show taking this tone for the remainder too - which might not be a bad thing as it feels more artistic, and surreal, but looses its comedic timing for me in this opening.

The performances, writing, cinematography, music and especially some of the incredible transitions really stand out to me as high points, however the bleak tone and dramatically toned down visual comedy- heck, it feels like they've cranked down all the comedy leave me wondering just how much I'll enjoy the rest of the season.

Bill Hader said that season 4 was going to lean more into the dramatic aspects of Barry this season, and I am here for it.

The comedy is still there. I can't help but chuckle when whenever Hank is on screen.

But the performances from the whole cast this episode was nothing short of remarkable. Bill Hader doesn't skip a beat from his stellar performance in season 3's finale, showing Barry going on an ever steeper decline. Sarah Goldberg gives an equally amazing performance with Sally dealing with the aftermath of Barry's arrest.

This is shaping up to me one of my favorite, if not my absolute favorite shows of all time!

Barry's latest episode, "yikes," is a great example of a complex show that manages to be both darkly hilarious and emotionally resonant. This episode, like much of the series, is a masterful exploration of the human condition and the lengths people will go to protect themselves and their interests, even when it means doing terrible things. Exactly what Dexter should have done, and Barry did it as a comedy.

As always, the writing in this episode is top-notch, blending humor and drama in equal measure. The dialogue crackles with intensity and wit, while the characterizations remain compelling and nuanced. Despite the fact that these are all terrible people, you can't help but sympathize with them on some level.

The performances, too, are outstanding across the board. Bill Hader continues to be a revelation as Barry, managing to convey both his deadly intensity and his vulnerability.

A great first episode, here's hoping the season follows the suit.