The Show's Called "Barry." He's a Killer Act...

OK, so do we all know who Bill Hader is? Look up the name if you’re not sure, check out his creds. Dude's a genius.

So here we are with another review/recommendation, and I'm right now trying to think of a better name to describe these things. Review-mendation? That's ridiculous. Binge Talk? Hmm, maybe. Anyway, the show is called “Barry,” and it is Bill Hader's baby. Besides creating the story and starring in it, he also directs and writes episodes.

Premise. A hit-man, named Barry, wants to leave his life of killing people for money and pursue a new career as an actor. That's it.

Of course, it's not that simple when you're trying to escape a dark underworld of crime, psychopaths and deadly leverage. One doesn't simply give two weeks notice, ask for a favourable reference, and update the old CV. The exit is clumsy, bloody, and intense.

Oh, and funny. Stupidly funny.

This is a comedy, definitely. But as is the trend with so many shows these days, there is so much unexpected complexity and ambiguity – at times you truly forget you are watching a show by a dude who is now on the South Park writing staff. (A major cred in my eyes, by the way). Reflecting on it now, I think that is part of the genius of using comedy as a foundation for story – the default state of the audience is to have their guard down, and settle in for an easy watch.

Then, at your periphery, an unexpected moment of intensity rushes in. It hits you, square in the guts.

Next, a powerful piece of storytelling. Crack.

Stunned, an exaggerated character suddenly reveals hidden depth. Bang.

Jaw dropped, a new, profound understanding of the human condition sinks in.

K.O.

It’s not an overly complicated story; but it’s beautifully nuanced, and gracefully written. The characters appear as a hilarious piss-take of wanna-be actors and criminals; but you inevitably sympathise with everyone as their hidden truths are revealed. It’s also a short watch, meaning you can hammer this one out in no time. A solid, satisfying experience without much commitment needed.

Man, are my reviews sounding like on-line dating profiles? Don’t’ answer.

All these grand and unnecessary statements aside, I want to reiterate how funny this show was for me, as it is still a comedy at heart. When it was on a roll, I had to press pause frequently, laugh my head off, then rewind to see what happened again, only to repeat the process in a loop of insane cackling. (sometimes even chortling. Hell, even the occasional guffaw escaped me, would you believe.) At times my laughs turned into glitches, where my face became frozen in an expression of shock and hysteria – you’d think there was a problem with the Wi-Fi if you saw me on a video call in that state.

Well, done Hader. Well done.

Now, in the spirit of this show being a short watch, I’m going to wrap this one up as a short read. I’ve haven’t written a blog in a while, so this will serve as a little stretching of the old finger sticks before I dig into something more substantial.

Till the next one.