You’re reading Watch With Us, so clearly you’re a fan of movies and TV. Have you ever dreamed of making it in Hollywood? If so, you have something in common with Barry Berkman (Bill Hader), the protagonist of HBO Max’s acclaimed dramedy Barry. You might not have much else in common with him, though, as he’s an ex-Marine hitman who drifts from place to place killing people for money.
When Barry is assigned to kill the lover of a Chechen mobster’s wife, he follows the young man to an acting class. Impacted by the emotional and human connection he observes among the actors, Barry decides to give up on his life of crime and pursue acting professionally. Unfortunately for him, extricating yourself from the Chechen mafia — and the trail of bodies you’ve left behind — isn’t easy, and Barry’s assassin duties keep getting in the way of his new life.
Here’s why you should watch this series on HBO Max in June 2025.
It’s Bill Hader’s Best Performance
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Most people’s familiarity with Bill Hader stems from his time on Saturday Night Live, where he was recognized for his larger-than-life characters and comedic skills. In Barry, which Hader cowrote with Alec Berg, he’s able to really delve into his dramatic capabilities. His character deals with PTSD from his time in the military, as well as crippling guilt and self-doubt. Barry Berkman is definitely an anti-hero, and many of his actions are deplorable — but you can’t help but care about him despite everything.
Hader is often the straight man throughout Barry, and it’s a role he takes on to great effect. His awkward demeanor hides Barry’s inner turmoil, and when the mask slips to reveal the deep rage inside of him, it’s genuinely frightening.
It Has One of the Best Side Characters Ever
NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan), a Chechen mobster whose friendliness and positivity are incongruent with his criminal background, is one of the most entertaining characters in television history.
Hank, whose real name is never revealed in the series, was originally meant to be killed off in the pilot, according to an interview with Hader. “Alec and I said, ‘We’d be insane to kill that guy. He’s so funny,” the actor told Uproxx.
That turned out to be one of the best casting decisions ever, because NoHo Hank’s arc throughout the series is one of the most entertaining. From his deep desire to be friends with Barry to his growing relationship with Bolivian drug lord Cristobal (Michael Irby), there’s something intensely lovable about NoHo Hank, who was clearly meant for a gentler life than the criminal one in which he lives. Carrigan makes the character both outrageously funny and painfully genuine, a rare feat which we’ve seldom seen matched in other shows.
Other standout cast members include Stephen Root as Barry’s handler Monroe Fuches, Paula Newsome as Detective Janice Moss, Sarah Goldberg as Barry’s love interest Sally and Henry Winkler as acting teacher Gene Cousineau.
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‘Barry’ Satirizes the Entertainment Industry Brilliantly
If you’re someone who follows showbiz news, Barry’s satire of the film and television world will crack you up. From the bizarre projects getting greenlit by random-seeming platforms — Barry’s girlfriend Sally ends up writing for a show called The New Medusas on a streaming service known as BanShe— to the desperate ploys that actors resort to to reach for fame, Barry never fails to point out the absurdity of the entertainment world.
Barry’s acting teacher and mentor, Gene Cousineau, is self-absorbed to the point of idiocy, and he’s alienated all of his former Hollywood colleagues with his diva-ish behavior. Still, his former fame makes his students (some of whom are played by other comedy stars like D’Arcy Carden and Kirby Howell-Baptiste) worship him fanatically, happily submitting themselves to his aggressive and abrasive teaching methods.
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Several times throughout Barry, the show examines the nature of narrative in perceived guilt or innocence, and how the right storytelling can make Barry (and the other characters) appear like a hero or a villain.
If you like morally complex characters, dark humor and really great action sequences, check out Barry this June on HBO Max.
