wow

When it was announced that this was going to be the final season for "Barry," and that it would premiere on the same day as the finale of "Succession," I immediately prepared myself for a day that would come with a lot of force. "Barry" is a show that didn't initially catch my interest, but which quickly became one of the most entertaining parts of my week, especially as the season's grew stronger and stronger. This hasn't been the strongest season, but this was exciting. And it went out like it began; as a show that subverts expectations to make the best result it could.

If there was any doubt that this was the finale, it was erased pretty quickly. While the real meat of what happens doesn't come before later in, the silhouette of Barry walking out of a department store with two guns on his back in a sign that something is definitely coming. He's at the point-of-no-return and everything has lead him to this place, and the brilliant thing is that his climactic fight never happens. Instead, his character is offered an opportunity of redemption in this episode, but whether he's able to take it or whether he'll continue in his ways is something that's not so easily answered. But the episode attempts anyway and it leads to a very cathartic answer for Barry. The ending to his arc felt very deserved and earned, especially considering that the events of the season had been starting to paint him as a martyr, which may or may not still have been the case by the end. A lot has also been made about the final moments of the episode, and while I do see both perspectives, it felt like a weirdly satisfying way to finish off this show and it puts Barry in the light that he has always wanted to be seen in. However, there is an argument to be made that it doesn't feel all that earned and that it puts the entire show in a weird perspective, but for whatever reason, it worked for me and felt like a satisfying conclusion to an absolutely great show.

"wow" is an episode that is in tune with the rest of the show, continuously subverting our expectations and sending off our hero with style. It's certainly not without its criticism and the ending is a big point of division, but for me, it landed quite well and proved what the show has always been about.

This episode is a masterful conclusion to one of the most original and daring shows of the decade. Bill Hader and Alec Berg have crafted a finale that is both satisfying and surprising, delivering a mix of comedy and tragedy that is rare and remarkable. The episode manages to tie up the loose ends of the story while also leaving room for interpretation and imagination. The flash-forward sequence is especially brilliant, showing how Barry's legacy is distorted by the Hollywood machine and how his son struggles to make sense of his father's actions. The performances are outstanding, with Hader, Winkler, Goldberg and Carrigan giving their best in their final roles. The episode also features some of the most hilarious and shocking moments in the series, such as the bloody shootout between Hank and Fuches' men and the movie version of Barry's life. This episode is a must-watch for fans of the show and anyone who appreciates smart and dark humour.

From the beginning it is known that Barry was always in constant search of his purpose, refusing to accept that he was a bad person and with the desire to have a happy ending with Sally and fit into the world of acting. However his links to crime were unveiled as each episode progressed, this already gave us a clue that his destiny was headed for disgrace and this makes his ending quite digestible.

The first 2 seasons were always loaded with a very black and satirical humor, with well-structured plot twists. But from the third season onwards it becomes more somber and the comic moments are limited, a detail that is not superfluous due to the ambitious approach of the protagonist to make amends for his enemies and the episodes of post-traumatic stress he suffers as a result of his past in the army. The secondary characters always maintain their endearing personalities, facing their own tragedies.

It concludes in a way that although difficult to assimilate because of its impact, it could not be more successful; with a rather superb production and brilliant performances by the cast without exception. It is undoubtedly a dramatic comedy that adapts with excellence an amalgam of emotions through the theatrical journey.

I'm truly stunned. I was a little disappointed when I heard the finale was going to be the same length as any other episode. I felt a little unsure about whether or not one of, if not my favorite series of all time could give us a truly satisfying conclusion to the whole show in just a half hour.

I don't know why I ever had any doubts.

This is about as perfect a culmination of the entire show as I can possibly imagine. An unbelievable episode of television that remains wholly true to the show's core while still managing to fit in laughs, tension, excitement, surprises, and satisfyingly perfect conclusions to each and every character's story. There's not a single thing I would change about this ending.

The best episode of the entire show, one of the best episodes of TV of all time... I just really am beside myself, I can't believe they stuck the landing this hard.

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.