wow

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.

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.

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.

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 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!