Barry Review: The Show Must Go On, Probably? (Season 2 Episode 1)
Moving on is harder for some, as proven on Barry Season 2 Episode 1, “The Show Must Go On, Probably?”
From its first immediate moment, Barry lets you know that it has not changed. The flash of violence with a dash of comedy is a devilish combination on the show, and the whole safe caper in the apartment building and its aftermath is a hilarious reintroduction to the series.
The conundrum of Barry needing to pour himself into acting as a coping mechanism, while the others in class want to do anything but act, is a really great way to peel back the trauma Barry causes to himself. The loss he causes creates a strange paradox, where he is empathetic despite the cruel deeds he’s done.
Alec Berg and Bill Hader’s writing is still as sharp and personal. Barry feels as though he is at the cusp of snapping at any moment, and is holding on by a thread. That thread happens to be the class, and the very real threat of losing it causes him to be more open than ever before.
Henry Winkler is largely absent from the premiere, but he brings a level of pathos in his dismissive remarks towards Barry when driving the personal with the professional at the end of the episode.
Forcing Barry to relive his first kills on stage is a perfect moment for Barry. To juxtapose what other actors dramatize next to him, using empathy, while in actuality it is celebrated and enthusiastic, shows the disconnect Barry has from everyone else.
Something so traumatic is seen as a good thing in that instant, his skill at taking lives, and Hader’s reaction of confusion at classmates sobbing and consoling each other in the re-enactment is such a revealing moment.
For a second season, there are a lot of avenues the show is setting up that feel like final season moves. With Fuches already caught, Hank and Barry on the outs, and Barry once again suspected by the police, it’s a lot of pieces where everything could collapse and tear apart every facet the show has set up.
It’s what makes everything so exciting. The style Berg and Hader are setting up is essentially a go-for-broke mentality, and it provides an extra layer of tension on top of the ticking bomb of Barry’s mental health.
With Goran no longer in the picture, Anthony Carrigan’s NoHo Hank finally gets all of the spotlight. He is almost treated as a co-lead for the premiere, and the episode is all the better for it.
Carrigan’s performance as Hank is so positive and illuminating, full of enthusiasm and making every scene with him so much fun to watch.
There is more of a focus on the ensemble as a whole now, giving each member of the cast a moment to stand out while the main cast do their thing, which is an unbelievably welcome change that helps round out the supporting players.
Barry Season 2 Episode 1, “The Show Must Go On, Probably?” is a lot of table-setting for what’s ahead. Even still, the episode manages to pursue character and drive forward a lot of fantastic scenes where its impeccable cast can shine.
Some stray thoughts on the episode:
- Drug cartels adapting a corporate synergy and becoming franchised crime is such a bizarre idea. NoHo Hank’s confusion and dismissal of the proposition is understandable.
- Fuches playing smart by not giving over his DNA, while at the same time handing over a soft drink with his DNA, is my favorite moment of the episode. Stephen Root is such perfect casting for someone who will always be trapped in some way, whether he realizes it or not.
What did you think of this episode of Barry? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
Barry airs Sundays at 10/9c on HBO.
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.