yikes

It already feels like 2023 is going to be a tough year for TV. Not in the sense that there's a lot of bad TV, but because a lot of my favorites are ending. Having already lost "Atlanta" and "Better Call Saul" last year, I'm gearing up for the finale of "Succession," which is sure to be a real doozy; however, I'm also slowly getting ready for the finale of "Barry," which has just premiered it's fourth and final season, and I'm definitely not ready. If the premiere is showing anything about this season, it's that there's no stopping this from being an explosive finale.

A lot has changed since the finale of the third season. Seeing Barry in prison definitely feels weird, but considering everything that he has done throughout the show to this point, there's a nice sense of justice to it, despite the sense that it's not going to be there for long. He's certainly a great character, but not even the best of us can escape our demons. However, Barry doesn't necessarily show signs of slowing down his criminal ways, although it seems like he's slowly trying to mend his own wounds by allowing himself to be punished in the most gruesome of ways. At the same time, Gene is living the good life at the moment, but may also be walking a tightrope over a very interesting moral question that he'll have to ask himself in the coming weeks. The episode doesn't lack it's setups and there's a lot of different arcs to keep track of now that none of them are essentially linked to Barry, with the exception of Fuches. It'll be interesting to see where they all go, especially NoHo Hank's storyline which seems to set up a return to the criminal world in a very unique way. The only storyline that's raising a few questions is Sally's. Not a lot of time was dedicated to her in this episode and the direction of that storyline seems to be very much focused on her grieving. She's a great character, so here's hoping that it'll lead to great things for her to do eventually.

"yikes" is a great start to this new season of "Barry," which feels like it's starting off again with a slate that's been wiped clean. A lot of arcs to follow, but the characters still feel as rich as they did when the show started and I'm so excited to see where this all leads.

Great, short, and sweet first episode. And a funny one too. If the season keeps this pace up, it will be a certified classic in HBO's catalog. The cinematography is impressive and so is the acting. Bill Hader continues to impress. This show has perfected the art of dark humor.

The writing is superb. It's funny, tragic, and great. What a great way to reintroduce the viewers to another season of Barry. HBO are consistently putting out great work and Barry is no exception. Barry might continue to be one of the most underrated television shows ever. It's a perfect blend of drama and comedy. Few shows will make you go from laughing out loud to crying.

Barry returns for Season 4.

Barry's in jail. Fuches is in jail. Gene is the prosecution's star witness. Cristobal and NoHo are living blissfully in Santa Fe.

So far, so good.

Problem is Sally is still a character. I was kinda hoping that her flight out of L. A. at the end of Season 3 meant the end of her in the show. Alas, Season 4 has her returning home to her parents. And right on queue she's throwing a fit in her mom's car as mom is trying to order fries and a Coke at a drive-through.

Does Sarah Goldberg's contract include a bonus for winning an Emmy? All she does is scream and cry.

Indeed, Sally's dad - in dialogue that is more on-the-nose than viewers probably realize - tries to comfort Sally by saying to her, "How's our little Meryl Streep doing?"

Bingo.

The whole episode was so dark I was tempted to stop it halfway through and go back Season 1, Episode 1 when the show took itself less seriously.

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.

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.