Barry Review: Past = Present x Future Over Yesterday (Season 2 Episode 3)
It’s a time of reflection on Barry Season 2 Episode 3, “Past = Present x Future Over Yesterday,” as Barry and Sally dig deep on the moments that affect them the most.
The power on this episode comes through the facing of truths, filtered through memory where it’s imperfect and does not always fit together the way it’s intended. Sally’s remembrance of her past is an especially poignant moment, as a feeling overrides what actually happened and makes it hazy.
The moments of significance to Barry and Sally are malleable and leave both at a place of half-truths. They want to confront their moments, but do so at a distance where it’s still safe for them emotionally.
The impact of Sally being energetic and bright while Barry sees the pain she went through with her ex is a tough scene. Barry spends so much of the show in pain, and seeing the pain she suffered makes him deeply uncomfortable, especially when goaded to be the instigator.
It’s the kind of scene both Hader and Goldberg handle with great juxtaposition, harking back to Barry Season 2 Episode 1, “The Show Must Go On, Probably?”, where Barry’s resistance to violence and honesty onstage leaves him at a significant disadvantage of ever progressing anywhere with his process.
The episode picks the perfect spot to end on: a reason for Barry to be violent again. The arrival of Sally’s ex, after hearing all of the hateful things he’s done, gives Barry a moral dilemma, one that makes anger a natural response. This is about someone he cares about.
Bill Hader is spectacular on this episode, the absolute rage on his face at the sight of Sam, Sally’s ex, so gripping an image. But it’s during the short bedroom shootout, and downplaying its effects by simply laying on bed, where Hader does some excellent deadpan humor by simply listening to Sally.
The return of Fuches into Barry’s life is hard to grasp entirely. Stephen Root’s portrayal makes their reunion come across as genuine, and he does tell Barry to shut up when he starts to stray into certain areas, ones a wire may deem admissable. But Fuches is opportunistic to the bone, so there’s likely an angle somehow.
He’s also at his wit’s end with no one on his side, so perhaps Fuches is seeing Barry as his redemption of sorts. It’s still very likely he’ll turn on Barry to save his own skin, though. It’s what makes him a hilariously sleazy but fun character to watch.
Barry holds its most impactful moments on this episode in letting its characters lie to themselves in some form. They’re all in a state of denial, and where other shows can grow frustrating with that, Barry finds a trove of depth and meaning. This episode found truth, and becomes a spectacular look into its two leads.
Some stray thoughts on the episode:
- Hank’s profound excitement at fifty-fifty business with Cristobal makes no sense, but Anthony Carrigan’s funky dancing at the thought is one of my favorite moments of the episode.
- The mini-shootout in Barry’s bedroom is a fantastic audio gag, the silenced, zipping noises of bullets sounding so harmless with what’s really going on.
What did you think of this episode of Barry? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Barry airs Sundays at 10/9c on HBO.
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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.