I always interpret the first two seasons as being from Barry’s POV. We see him more as a quirky hero and victim of fate. But as the show goes on it begins to pull back and we see how psychotic selfish and unwilling to take responsibility he really is on the outside
That’s why I love the last two seasons so much. Basically gives the audience a big wake up call to how someone like Barry would be like in real life and how his actions would affect others for the worse.
I don't understand. When the acting coach, Gene kills Barry, people I Misunderstood that to mean Gene was the mastermind using Barry and that he was tying up loose ends? And then what? They make a documentary about it as if Barry was the hero?
@@kokayinewsome9308he accepted money from Barry, making him look guilty of SOMETHING. If he’d stayed away in Israel, he’d have been fine, but his ego got the best f him. If he’d waited 5-10 minutes, Barry’s surrender would have been clear, and he’d have been okay. Killing Barry silenced the one person who could definitely clear him.
He does lack empathy though. He has to in order to to what he's done to innocent in order to save himself from getting caught. But he dissociates from his lack of empathy and convinces himself that he's a good guy. He has some empathy, but his sense of empathy is different. Empathy for people who make him feel loved. So it's self serving to care about people he needs for his own emotional comfort. He's basically Dexter without the sadistic urges. But at least Dexter somewhat came to terms that he was a monster. Barry is much more delusional.
@sekiro_the_one-armed_wolf well said. He obviously has and feels empathy, but he makes a choice to ignore that empathy, which is a different kind of "evil". He is not void of feeling bad for himself and others. We see him struggle with his feelings and actions and regret every single episode.
I was never the biggest Bill Hader fan until I watched Barry. Not only can the guy write some hilarious scenes and dialogue, but in the same stroke of a brush, he can make you feel extremely uncomfortable and unsettled with the subject material. Season 1 was a hilarious and action packed romp about a Hitman turned actor while 4 was a deeply disturbed yet insightful look into a man who used violence to solve his problems and how it destroyed those around him.
His personal life aside, Woody Allen was once a stand up comedian, and he became one of the most important voices in cinema in the second half of 20th century. And I recommend DOCUMENTARY NOW! with Hader (first two seasons), Fred Amrisen and co-created by Seth Meyers.
@@heis147id say he was more competent, he’s been in business way longer than Walter White by years and did without getting attention on him until Barry messed up. He had a very diplomatic mind, could read and manipulate people like nothing. Not to mention surprisingly strategic for a man whose seen no combat.
It's a testament to the writing of this series and how brilliant it is at character exploration because Barry goes from a sympathetic antihero trying to turn his life around who is being manipulated by Fuches to continue being a killer, and then it reaches a point in Season 3 where the curtain is pulled back and we see Barry as the psychotic killer that he is at his core. Similar to Walter White in Breaking Bad, by the time we get to the final season Barry is full on evil and garners no understanding from the viewer at all and Bill Hader's acting is some of the best I think I've ever seen in a TV series ever.
I am so happy that you analyzed Barry. His character arc was fantastic. We empathize with him at first and then have to come to terms with the fact that he is evil.
I don't think he is evil but always end up doing the wrong with the best intentions he doesn't take pleasure in doing those but in his eyes are a means to an end
Barry didn’t start evil. But he crossed the line after realising what he was doing and the consequences. Barry could have stopped then but he didn’t. So he chose to be evil in the end
Fun Fact: One of the production companies for the show is "Hanarply Productions." This is Bill Hader's personal production company, and the name is an amalgamation of his three daughters' names; Hannah, Harper and Hayley.
Literally finished the show exactly 2 days ago, but prior to that I looked and hoped the vile eye had made this video but they hadnt. Basically i am saying god favors me
What? Barry’s wants and needs weren’t very unrealistic. He wanted acceptance, love, and purpose. Barry could have easily stolen more money, killed more people, and gotten what he wanted thru violence, intimidation, and coercion. One of the many overt themes of the show is that ego can be destructive without you realizing it. Barry was in Cleveland playing video games when he was introduced. How the world can corrupt an individual, who might not even realize at first that he’s/she’s being corrupted is shown over and over again.
Barry is the type of character where you could debate endlessly on his evil, but one character that is unequivocally evil is Lorne Malvo from the first season of Fargo. I really hope you do a video on him because he's one of the best written and evil characters ever put to screen and a video about him would be absolutely amazing to see.
Wonderful video, but I'm a bit disappointed you didn't mention the fact that Barry was going to turn himself in right before Gene killed him. This obviously doesn't "redeem" him, but it's the first time he seems to truly take responsibility for his actions, and that feels pretty significant.
It's kind of a tragic end, the moment barry decided to take responsibility for what he's done, Gene killed him. Throughout the show, it's clear the world was trying to give him the chance to change multiple times but by the time he finally chooses to it was too late
I really don’t know if Barry would have committed to turning himself in. After Genes agent confirms that he has not seen Sally or John, Barry says “I see…” and his face loses all expression, the same way we’ve seen him do before and during his violent acts. He doesn’t even fully get the words out before Gene shoots him. “I’m gonna turn myself-“. Earlier, he had justified the hit using theology, believing he was given a sign from God. I believe that Barry would have more than likely killed the agent had he tried to call the police. The same way Barry tell’s Ronnie Proxin’s duaghter Lily that he’s gonna take her to Chicago, even though Bill Hader has said in interviews he intended to kill her before she escaped.
It's definitely important! That's what makes his death scene so darkly ironic, just when he does the right thing, he's killed, and the only words he can utter is... "oh wow" Such a good ending. To me, Barry wasn't a good or bad guy, he was a man who tried to change, but couldn't take responsibility for his actions, then dies just as he realizes it.
that ending was the best Barry could've wished for. the moment he himself accepted his wrongdoings, the universe gave him the gift of death and a good legacy even if it was a false one.
i love how you highlight barry's turning point from sympathetic, misguided hitman, to truly unforgivable monster. just as you said. barry wasnt always evil, but at a certain point it was ultimate HIS CHOICES that turned him into the evil man is became.
Absolutely not. Harry Morgan groomed a child into being a serial killer when, in reality, he just needed adequate mental health services. In the end, Dexter and Barry are no different.
Kendall would be better, Logan was a bastard but at least he was honest with himself, Kendall truly thought he was the good guy the entire time. Logan was a lot like Periander, Kendall was more like Marc Antony.
I’m so glad somebody did an analysis of Barry. I find it to be the most unique show I’ve seen in ages. The way they’ve mixed comedy and drama is unprecedented imo 🔥
Barry is the most interesting character I've ever seen, along with the whole of the cast. They're just such well written characters and it's an excellently written show. Can't help but love it
Except sally. For me she was so unlikable and has no redeeming characteristics. Even being a victim of domestic abuse I was like god she just sucks. She gave her kid alcohol like wtf dummy lol
@HeatherHolt I liked Sally I can get why people didn't like her but Sarah Goldberg is way too good of an actor to be overlooked because her character isn't the greatest maybe that's just me but I thought she was still a good character that contributed a lot to the story
I loooved this series very much. And i hated Barry for failing to take responsibility for his actions. So when he FINALLY takes responsibility and says he will turn himself in, I was finally happy. But then Gene stole that from me when he shot him. I was sooo upset. Great show! So unique!
Gene was one of the first to see barry for who he was.... and kept getting away with it. Sally also used barry a bit and weighed her options and knew who and what barry has done. Yet never gave him up. Gene was the only character to feel this is his chance for justice, same as barry wants to do good and change.... They just ened up in a room with a gun and genes opportunity presented itself. Also barry loved gene in a warped way, not true love. So he would never think he would shoot him. Thus the "oh wow"
Absolutely agree! He's a dope complex character and watching him go through all the stuff he did is super engaging, like, you know there's a certain point where his actions become truly selfish and malicious, but then you remember the chaos and misdirection that guided his life to said places, in addition to him having no purpose and just coasting through it until he found sources of validation and praise to cling to. Add the human desire of his want to change for the better (an almost universally relatable concept) and you can't help but be drawn in by Barry Berkman💯
You should do one of these episodes on Noho Hank. He was not mentioned very much in this one, but his part and influence on the show is as equal as Barry's himself.
I always saw Hank as a foil of sorts to Barry- also a people-pleaser, also someone who isn't really evil at his core, but while Barry desperately needs family and community, Hank desperately needs to feel strong and powerful.
Barry finding God and having a, for the situation, comparatively nice family life for his last couple years on Earth was actually much more of a positive ending than I was expecting. As opposed to some people was _always_ rooting for Barry, but I figured he would've gotten a horribly tragic ending that ruined everything he had built in those eight years. Sure he was isolated, but he did genuinely seem happy if a bit paranoid. As for Sally though, sucks for her, I guess. And him becoming religious was definitely played as a gag for a bit, but when he was praying before he was going in to save John, he definitely sounds genuine and I believe he really did find comfort in God right up before his death. I like to think that John was Barry's redemption, Barry was in too deep to turn himself around, but he raised a great kid who'll live a good life to make up for his dad. It's a shame that if it weren't for Rip Torn gifting Gene that "prop" gun everyone could've had a more positive ending. After that ending I walked outside into the rain, fell to my knees as I raised my arms to the sky and screamed with conviction; "Toooorn!"
Barry dying the way he did was probably the best thing that could've happened to John. He won't need to live his life as the son of a serial killer, but of a "hero".
I feel like him finding god was more to do with a guilty conscious and trying to clear it. Also, the family he made was a tad unstable. Barry should his young son a kid dying after a baseball injury, that will stick with him. All it took was a random podcaster saying that the bible condones some murder for him to revert back to violence. But I see your point
The way he prays before going to save John was very selfish. He's asking God to forgive him for everything he's done in exchange for more even bloodshed to save his own son, John. John is only in this position because Barry still won't take responsibility for his actions. He still hasn't learned anything. He's going in to make a similar mistake he did at the end of season two by going in and shooting everyone. Saying he raised a good kid is silly, I'm sorry. We can only hope John turns out ok. There's no indication he's good at all. He's young enough to be innocent for now, but that has nothing to do with Barry. Barry was a bad father and Sally was a bad mother, though I blame her less. Maybe Sally becomes a good mother later, but if John turns out ok, it's in spite of his upbringing. I think you should rewatch season 4 tbh. It is sad that Barry is killed, because he seems ready to finally take some responsibility in that moment. The good part about his death is that he can't hurt anyone else anymore. But even that might not be a happy ending. At first I was happy that John doesn't have to know about his father's real actions, but John won't be able to learn from the truth now either.
you should take the time to actually watch S4, barry has done a great job with john and was fully ready to give up his life at a chance of saving him. he was a wonderful father who set up john to lead a morally fulfilled life. @@notsorrystory
You should do a video series on the gang from Always Sunny In Philadelphia like you did for Ganondorf! That’d be funny and interesting to see. I think the gang is just as evil as a lot of these characters you’ve done videos on.
Barry’s downfall is ultimately the fact that he is unable to do what it takes to overcome the flaws of his past. He realizes that he is a shit person(or at least doing shitty things) pretty much from episode 1, but he is unable to take the decisive actions or make the sacrifices necessary to a) Become a different person and b) Repent for his past actions. Instead of accepting his fate at the end of season 1, he kills Janice to avoid punishment. He admits that he went bat shit insane trying to avenge Albert in season 2, but then lies to his son about those actions in season 4 to make himself seem like a hero. He clings to religion in s4 to cling to a hope of salvation that deep down he knows he doesn’t deserve. Barry shows us that recognizing your flaws is simply not enough, but that you must also make the change necessary to become a better person
Yo! This is the one I've been waiting for! One of the best and most uncompromising takes on the classic "tv anti-hero". Barry is a sad, sympathetic, emotionally stunted child, and a horrible, irredeemable monster. Fantastic show, thanks for covering it
I always thought after Fuches showed C. Moss' dead body in the trunk that's when Barry snapped. There's also the fact that Bill Hader deliberately changed his appearance to create a more psychotic appearance. He materializes out of nowhere from the chase scene's end and black abysses as well as other characters who start appearing from the dark. It seems like he is Walter White where he keeps damaging and hardening people around him that the best possible ending for him was to get shot after coming to terms with going to jail.
Thank you for keeping up the voice you use for these videos. There is such an amazing blend of the chaos and complexity of these characters paired with your calm analytical voice. It makes for great content!
You know the writing of the show is amazing when you are super invested in so many unlikeable characters. Brilliant. The show always surprised me and IMO Ronny/Lily is one of the best episodes of television I've ever seen 🤯🤣 A great video on a great character. I really like the end when you are really thorough about why we have such mixed feelings about him and whether he deserves a happy ending during different seasons😅
I’m only at season 1, so I’m not seeing one more second of this until I finish it. But seeing you make a video on Barry got me so hyped. I only knew of the TV show because of a friend who’s obsessively told me for years to watch it. If you’re wanting to give another HBO show a try, Silicon Valley is one of my favourites of all time. The drama and comedy mix is so good. Gavin Belson might make for a great Analyzing Evil episode
Succession and barry had their final seasons airing at the same time and it seemed succession got most of the buzz. I think Barry will be more of a cult favourite , even thought it won somebig awards
I think Barry is a classic "nurture vs nature" case. Deep down I think he's a good person, but his entire life has guided him toward evil acts, so much that he was never able to escape it
i started the show at the beginning of this year and when watching it, i thought “i can’t wait for this show to wrap up so i can see Analyzing Evil’s video on this”. i think that’s a testament to both the show and this channel. it’s one of my favorite shows and i love this channel. i was so excited when this video got recommended to me
I had a feeling you’d do an analysis of this character eventually and thank God you did. I love this character and the entire show so much. It’s so underrated.
PLEASE DO Boyd Crowder from JUSTIFIED, he us literally perfect for this series! He was a villain that found myself straight up rooting for and then you would be reminded he was a cold blooded killer.
The flashback of Barry returning after his discharge from the Marines shows him looking to see who is there for him in a crowd of other soldiers being greeted by loved ones. I thought he was surprised to see Fuches standing there so I assumed that that was when Barry and Fuches relationship really started beyond where Barry sees Fuches being just a friend of his dad (ie non descript generic nice guy like his own dad). I assumed Barry’s dad died while Barry was deployed. Why doesn’t Barry mention his dad telling him directly that Barry shouldn’t let the world walk all over him, why does Fuches get that message while Barry’s dad is presumably dying? I figured that the combo of getting kicked out of the army and returning to no family left him in that numb state which Fuches took advantage of. I doubt Fuches was doing much to train Barry or push him into the army since Fuches is such a bumbling buffoon for the first 3 seasons.
I’ve been waiting for a Barry vid. This was well done! Some video suggestions: - Dio Brando/DIO from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures - Ralph Cifaretto from The Sopranos - like how you did with Pulp Fiction I think one on Reservoir Dogs would be interesting
The worst part about all of this is that Barry could easily have the life he desires, if he takes responsibility and properly ends the relationship he had with other people in his second life but instead he becomes self-centered and very destructive and the relationship with his wife and son is very controlling that it’s an inevitable that they would walk away.🐱
So Barry was just following orders? Both are evil. Both knowingly cause harm to others for no good reason. Fuches is more evil, but both are considered evil.
Huge fan of the channel. Great video. Here are some suggestions for future videos: Jake LaMotta from Raging Bull Nicky Santoro from Casino Avon Barksdale from The Wire The Guilty Remnant from The Leftovers The Tuttle Family from True Detective
i watched barry after seeing dexter and i never thought id walk out of it thinking id feel safer in a room with the serial killer man than with the hit man
This show is full of back stabbers I love it you could do at least 3 episodes Barry, Fuches, and Noho Hank just because they have the most screen time. The way they put together killing and comedy kind of reminds me of seven psychopaths.
im not sure why you say Barry didn't have an emotional response after killing Chris, he has an absolute full mental breakdown after killing him, and he was following the rules set by Fuches when he killed him anyways. Killing him was the only reason he was able to give sally the performance she needed to nail her part. your analysis of his murder of Chris completely ignores how emotionally traumatic that murder was for him
After watching the series finale, I realized that it's all skewed and Barry really does win in the end with his son never actually realizing what kind of person Barry really is.
I honestly think you could’ve done a video similar to Menace II Society or The Batman where it touches over multiple characters in the series as well. The show has so many sources of cruelty and evil, whether it’s from Fuches (the man with no heart) or NoHo Hank (almost a Lalo Salamanca type character with the kind of evil he holds deep down). Even characters like Cousineau (SPOILERS AHEAD) could be a small study, a narcissistic man taking advantage of naive manchildren who blows up the only true actual chance for a true honest effort to honor Janice’s memory and persecute Berkman because he couldn’t resist the temptation of recognition and stardom. Truly a masterclass show of acting and writing.
One of my favorite parts about this show is the way it goes into the “we only kill bad guys” it doesn’t necessarily make bad on this promise, since if you analyze every single character in this show you cannot find one character you can call good overall. The bad just becomes less clear and the murders much more questionable.
@@etangbose4755 a “family man” who is eager to go jump people while lying to his family about where he’s at doesn’t scream good person to me. He knew he was headed to hurt people just didn’t know he could die.
What about Janice, though? She seemed fine. She's the only person I can think of that was a good person who was killed that wasn't Chris. Even if Chris kinda dug himself into the hole due to being pressured by his friends.
Love this video. After finishing the last season I was really hoping you’d make this and I’m super glad you did. If you’d like to take a similar theme with somewhat nuanced characters, I’d look at Ray from Mr. Inbetween. Awesome video
A video on logan Roy from succession would be a great one, one of the most realistic villains in a tv show that’s not very over the top or kills people, etc.
Many of the points you explained on Berkman being an anti-hero to a corrupt psycho were 10/10, however, I felt that you missed discussing more of the environment and scenario he was living in and the incredible development of 'Barry''s plot season after season.
Yes yes YES!!! I've been looking forward to this one since the series ended. I love how the show gets us to sympathize with Barry and the constant control and manipulation he's under only to pull the rug out from under us to show that Barry is an incredibly selfish man who uses murder as a means to an end for his own personal gain. Kudos to Bill Hader for this master class in character development. I'd like to see a video on Christopher Moltisanti from The Sopranos as he is the unofficial second protagonist of the show with an interesting story arc. He's a volatile, impulsive and abusive gangster who is also quite ambitious and emotionally wounded as we see him go through a constant and vicious cycle of addiction and abuse at the hands of his so called friends. He sacrifices so much personally for his uncle, only to be casually snuffed out by the very man he claimed to be going to hell for. I also think Moriarty from Sherlock would be cool too. He's a delightfully sadistic psychopath who is able to outsmart his nemesis, not with a complicated plan to discredit the detective, but an incredibly simple one.
Amazing work! I loved how you broke down Barry's evolution to evil. I think Barry truly ignored his shadow, and if you know Carl Jung, rejection of the shadow leads to projection, and projection offers reflection. I wondered if Barry's "Oh, wow" was due to him finally seeing his reflection in Cousineau or was it a more nihilistic view, no longer choosing but accepting the end? I can see a bit of both, but I lean heavily on the former, because Cousineau portrayed Barry twice. Once, acting him out to the reporter (reflecting Barry's mask), and again when he's about to kill Barry (reflecting Barry' shadow). Opening Barry to be a viewer, and finally see the last thing most of his victims saw: himself. I would love if you would consider analyzing either Dre from "Swarm", or Kevin from "We Need to Talk About Kevin".
I know this isn’t a very topical film but I think you should consider the 2017 film The Death of Stalin and more specifically it’s portrayal of the real life monster Lavrentiy Beria. He was one of the most despicable figures of the 20th century and described by Stalin as “our Himmler”. And while mostly a dark comedy in nature the film does an excellent job of showing that evil in various ways.
I waited too long to watch that and now it's off Netflix. It looked really good, I just had to be in a certain mood before I watched a dark comedy on such a specific and fucked up point in history. Waited too long, damnit
Barry is the king of shifting responsibility and looking like a victim no matter what. I don't think anyone but Bill Hader can manipulate an audience so well.
Barry Berkman won. He became the man he wasn't. A hero, an army medic, a loving father. All Barry wanted was for the truth to be obscured. But acting is truth. This is why we have so many souless media satire shows. They chose Pam! over Joplin because Pam! chose to satisfy the viewer instead of have a real thought provoking story. A realish story about abuse isnt funny or satisfying. Its emotional. There is a quote when Sally got her show canceled. The showrunner says something about if you show a character eating a desert within the first 5 mins they are 90% more likely to watch the next 5 episodes. Entertainment is meant to satisfy. When we prioritize what we want over what we are. We get it. Barry got it. HIS SON THINKS HE IS A HERO, the world knows Barry Berkman as a hero. Gene fucked himself over in the start by choosing to embellish for entertainment over the truth. He chose to paint it as if he was a puppet master behind Barry because he wanted to seem smarter than the man who killed his girlfriend. Acting, is truth. Entertainment isn't truth. The world in Barry is unaware of the truth and is left satisfied and entertained by a Tom Cruise esk action drama. We, the only ones who know the real story, the truth, are the ones who are left unsatisfied. And being left unsatisfied was amazing writing.
I always interpret the first two seasons as being from Barry’s POV. We see him more as a quirky hero and victim of fate. But as the show goes on it begins to pull back and we see how psychotic selfish and unwilling to take responsibility he really is on the outside
“Now TECHNICALLY some parts of the bible are okay with murder”
“ *That’s all I need* “
**Hops out of car** still cracks me up.
Great assessment.
That’s why I love the last two seasons so much. Basically gives the audience a big wake up call to how someone like Barry would be like in real life and how his actions would affect others for the worse.
I don't understand.
When the acting coach, Gene kills Barry, people I
Misunderstood that to mean Gene was the mastermind using Barry and that he was tying up loose ends? And then what? They make a documentary about it as if Barry was the hero?
@@kokayinewsome9308he accepted money from Barry, making him look guilty of SOMETHING. If he’d stayed away in Israel, he’d have been fine, but his ego got the best f him.
If he’d waited 5-10 minutes, Barry’s surrender would have been clear, and he’d have been okay. Killing Barry silenced the one person who could definitely clear him.
Barry doesn't lack empathy or a conscience; what he lacks is moral courage. He will not take responsibility for his life or his actions.
He’s delusional. He distances himself from his actions as a coping mechanism to avoid responsibility for the awful things he does.
He does lack empathy though. He has to in order to to what he's done to innocent in order to save himself from getting caught. But he dissociates from his lack of empathy and convinces himself that he's a good guy. He has some empathy, but his sense of empathy is different. Empathy for people who make him feel loved. So it's self serving to care about people he needs for his own emotional comfort. He's basically Dexter without the sadistic urges. But at least Dexter somewhat came to terms that he was a monster. Barry is much more delusional.
@@lachousalle31wrong. You can have empathy and still do horrible things lol
@@lachousalle31you don’t need to lack empathy to do bad shit. You just need to be able to overcome it.
@sekiro_the_one-armed_wolf well said. He obviously has and feels empathy, but he makes a choice to ignore that empathy, which is a different kind of "evil". He is not void of feeling bad for himself and others. We see him struggle with his feelings and actions and regret every single episode.
“Oh wow” might be one of the best and darkest punchlines in television history.
Are you talking about the episode or the line?
crazy how wuick it happens. just oh wow, and then its over.
@@CharlieA24 Episode 8 season 4 titled "Wow" Barry's final words were "Oh wow"
@@sladeh9813just like how Barry killed so many people himself
I was never the biggest Bill Hader fan until I watched Barry. Not only can the guy write some hilarious scenes and dialogue, but in the same stroke of a brush, he can make you feel extremely uncomfortable and unsettled with the subject material. Season 1 was a hilarious and action packed romp about a Hitman turned actor while 4 was a deeply disturbed yet insightful look into a man who used violence to solve his problems and how it destroyed those around him.
There is a LOT of South Park we have today thanks to Bill Hader's writing, not everyone knows that.
@@jtyearsleyhe is one of the comedy big boys, up there with the likes of Conan and Greg Daniels, imo
I can't believe a comedian pulled off such a dark character
@@kokayinewsome9308tom Hanks, Robin Williams and Jamie Foxx are all comedians who became capable dramatic actors.
His personal life aside, Woody Allen was once a stand up comedian, and he became one of the most important voices in cinema in the second half of 20th century. And I recommend DOCUMENTARY NOW! with Hader (first two seasons), Fred Amrisen and co-created by Seth Meyers.
Fuches honestly deserves one of these episodes for himself
and NoHoHank
Yeah, definetely gives off Walter White vibes, just less competent
@@heis147id say he was more competent, he’s been in business way longer than Walter White by years and did without getting attention on him until Barry messed up. He had a very diplomatic mind, could read and manipulate people like nothing. Not to mention surprisingly strategic for a man whose seen no combat.
Pretty much all of the main cast of Barry deserves one at this point.
@@OGVade Yeah. He was just much more comedic, thus appeared a little more goofy then Walter White. Especially in season 1 and 2.
It's a testament to the writing of this series and how brilliant it is at character exploration because Barry goes from a sympathetic antihero trying to turn his life around who is being manipulated by Fuches to continue being a killer, and then it reaches a point in Season 3 where the curtain is pulled back and we see Barry as the psychotic killer that he is at his core. Similar to Walter White in Breaking Bad, by the time we get to the final season Barry is full on evil and garners no understanding from the viewer at all and Bill Hader's acting is some of the best I think I've ever seen in a TV series ever.
The show is a masterpiece dude. One day, a day that will be bittersweet for me, Barry will take its place amongst the greatest shows of all
It’s black comedy. There’s something deeply dark about it
I was out in season 3. Because it was already done before (and better) in breaking bad
@@travismcnasty51I really didn't like BB for some reason. I just didn't like being in that world at all.
Watch season one of True Detective
I am so happy that you analyzed Barry. His character arc was fantastic. We empathize with him at first and then have to come to terms with the fact that he is evil.
I don't think he is evil but always end up doing the wrong with the best intentions he doesn't take pleasure in doing those but in his eyes are a means to an end
@@murderman8578he continues doing evil willingly, he is Evil even if he doesn't enjoy it
Barry didn’t start evil. But he crossed the line after realising what he was doing and the consequences. Barry could have stopped then but he didn’t. So he chose to be evil in the end
Fun Fact: One of the production companies for the show is "Hanarply Productions." This is Bill Hader's personal production company, and the name is an amalgamation of his three daughters' names; Hannah, Harper and Hayley.
That's pretty awesome
That’s cute
Shouldn’t it be Hanarpley?
@@lastEvergreen Shouldn't it be HaHaHa?
They also drew the graphic
Been waiting for this one. Both sympathetic and horrible. His selfishness was what made him fall deeper over and over again.
Literally finished the show exactly 2 days ago, but prior to that I looked and hoped the vile eye had made this video but they hadnt. Basically i am saying god favors me
What? Barry’s wants and needs weren’t very unrealistic. He wanted acceptance, love, and purpose. Barry could have easily stolen more money, killed more people, and gotten what he wanted thru violence, intimidation, and coercion. One of the many overt themes of the show is that ego can be destructive without you realizing it. Barry was in Cleveland playing video games when he was introduced. How the world can corrupt an individual, who might not even realize at first that he’s/she’s being corrupted is shown over and over again.
Barry is the type of character where you could debate endlessly on his evil, but one character that is unequivocally evil is Lorne Malvo from the first season of Fargo. I really hope you do a video on him because he's one of the best written and evil characters ever put to screen and a video about him would be absolutely amazing to see.
“Aces”
Lorne is a great recommendation
“Why can the human eye see more shades of green than any other color?”
Please please
Malvo might very well be the Devil of the Fargo universe
Wonderful video, but I'm a bit disappointed you didn't mention the fact that Barry was going to turn himself in right before Gene killed him. This obviously doesn't "redeem" him, but it's the first time he seems to truly take responsibility for his actions, and that feels pretty significant.
Yeah, that ending was brutal, guess Gene never heard the phrase "Revenge is a suckers game".
It's kind of a tragic end, the moment barry decided to take responsibility for what he's done, Gene killed him. Throughout the show, it's clear the world was trying to give him the chance to change multiple times but by the time he finally chooses to it was too late
I really don’t know if Barry would have committed to turning himself in. After Genes agent confirms that he has not seen Sally or John, Barry says “I see…” and his face loses all expression, the same way we’ve seen him do before and during his violent acts. He doesn’t even fully get the words out before Gene shoots him. “I’m gonna turn myself-“. Earlier, he had justified the hit using theology, believing he was given a sign from God. I believe that Barry would have more than likely killed the agent had he tried to call the police. The same way Barry tell’s Ronnie Proxin’s duaghter Lily that he’s gonna take her to Chicago, even though Bill Hader has said in interviews he intended to kill her before she escaped.
It's definitely important! That's what makes his death scene so darkly ironic, just when he does the right thing, he's killed, and the only words he can utter is... "oh wow"
Such a good ending.
To me, Barry wasn't a good or bad guy, he was a man who tried to change, but couldn't take responsibility for his actions, then dies just as he realizes it.
that ending was the best Barry could've wished for.
the moment he himself accepted his wrongdoings, the universe gave him the gift of death and a good legacy even if it was a false one.
i love how you highlight barry's turning point from sympathetic, misguided hitman, to truly unforgivable monster. just as you said. barry wasnt always evil, but at a certain point it was ultimate HIS CHOICES that turned him into the evil man is became.
Barry is the perfect example of a kind of evil that knows what he's doing is wrong, but makes no effort to change
💯💯💯. The most dark part of human nature
@@chasehedges6775 honestly the scariest kind of person
@@LonelyCell45👍
That’s worse ngl
Barry is a show that answers the question.
"Who would Dexter Morgan be if he didn't have Harry's code?"
They’d both still be hypocritical monsters.
more like who would Dexter Morgan be if he has moderate autism and a horrible role model
@@TribophopicDexter made an real effect to follow his code. Plus the creators ruined the character after season 4
Absolutely not. Harry Morgan groomed a child into being a serial killer when, in reality, he just needed adequate mental health services. In the end, Dexter and Barry are no different.
@@joeabernathy5402 I have more sympathy for Dexter. Dexter was groomed from an early age but Barry had more time to become what he is
I think since it ended the same time as Barry, an Analyzing Evil episode on Logan Roy from Succession would be rlly interesting
Or just the Roy family in general
Oh, it's gotta be coming. But, like Walter White and Tony Soprano, his video's likely gonna be an hour plus in length.
Kendall would be better, Logan was a bastard but at least he was honest with himself, Kendall truly thought he was the good guy the entire time. Logan was a lot like Periander, Kendall was more like Marc Antony.
@moneykenny119 looking back at it I think the Roy Family as a whole would be a better analyzing evil episode but it would be a long asf ep
@@ilovemesomme yeah Kendall is such a fantastic character to analyze he’s def more complex morally then Logan
I’m so glad somebody did an analysis of Barry.
I find it to be the most unique show I’ve seen in ages. The way they’ve mixed comedy and drama is unprecedented imo 🔥
Barry is the most interesting character I've ever seen, along with the whole of the cast. They're just such well written characters and it's an excellently written show. Can't help but love it
Except sally. For me she was so unlikable and has no redeeming characteristics. Even being a victim of domestic abuse I was like god she just sucks. She gave her kid alcohol like wtf dummy lol
@HeatherHolt I liked Sally I can get why people didn't like her but Sarah Goldberg is way too good of an actor to be overlooked because her character isn't the greatest maybe that's just me but I thought she was still a good character that contributed a lot to the story
Barry is Such an awesome character, Bill Hader played him perfectly. Thank you so much for making a video on him.
Bill Hader plays anyone perfectly, incredible actor
@@alfonsohr02 So true
I loooved this series very much. And i hated Barry for failing to take responsibility for his actions. So when he FINALLY takes responsibility and says he will turn himself in, I was finally happy. But then Gene stole that from me when he shot him. I was sooo upset. Great show! So unique!
Gene was one of the first to see barry for who he was.... and kept getting away with it.
Sally also used barry a bit and weighed her options and knew who and what barry has done. Yet never gave him up.
Gene was the only character to feel this is his chance for justice, same as barry wants to do good and change....
They just ened up in a room with a gun and genes opportunity presented itself.
Also barry loved gene in a warped way, not true love. So he would never think he would shoot him.
Thus the "oh wow"
Been waiting for this one. Probably one of the most underrated characters in recent memory.
Absolutely agree! He's a dope complex character and watching him go through all the stuff he did is super engaging, like, you know there's a certain point where his actions become truly selfish and malicious, but then you remember the chaos and misdirection that guided his life to said places, in addition to him having no purpose and just coasting through it until he found sources of validation and praise to cling to. Add the human desire of his want to change for the better (an almost universally relatable concept) and you can't help but be drawn in by Barry Berkman💯
Exactly, I don't even know a single person in my life who has watched it 😭
You should do one of these episodes on Noho Hank. He was not mentioned very much in this one, but his part and influence on the show is as equal as Barry's himself.
I always saw Hank as a foil of sorts to Barry- also a people-pleaser, also someone who isn't really evil at his core, but while Barry desperately needs family and community, Hank desperately needs to feel strong and powerful.
I did not expect to see Barry Berkman on “The Vile Eye” so soon. Thank you!
Barry finding God and having a, for the situation, comparatively nice family life for his last couple years on Earth was actually much more of a positive ending than I was expecting. As opposed to some people was _always_ rooting for Barry, but I figured he would've gotten a horribly tragic ending that ruined everything he had built in those eight years. Sure he was isolated, but he did genuinely seem happy if a bit paranoid. As for Sally though, sucks for her, I guess. And him becoming religious was definitely played as a gag for a bit, but when he was praying before he was going in to save John, he definitely sounds genuine and I believe he really did find comfort in God right up before his death.
I like to think that John was Barry's redemption, Barry was in too deep to turn himself around, but he raised a great kid who'll live a good life to make up for his dad.
It's a shame that if it weren't for Rip Torn gifting Gene that "prop" gun everyone could've had a more positive ending. After that ending I walked outside into the rain, fell to my knees as I raised my arms to the sky and screamed with conviction; "Toooorn!"
Barry dying the way he did was probably the best thing that could've happened to John. He won't need to live his life as the son of a serial killer, but of a "hero".
I feel like him finding god was more to do with a guilty conscious and trying to clear it. Also, the family he made was a tad unstable. Barry should his young son a kid dying after a baseball injury, that will stick with him. All it took was a random podcaster saying that the bible condones some murder for him to revert back to violence. But I see your point
Relatable, I too fell to my knees in the rain and screamed after I watched the ending
The way he prays before going to save John was very selfish. He's asking God to forgive him for everything he's done in exchange for more even bloodshed to save his own son, John. John is only in this position because Barry still won't take responsibility for his actions. He still hasn't learned anything. He's going in to make a similar mistake he did at the end of season two by going in and shooting everyone.
Saying he raised a good kid is silly, I'm sorry. We can only hope John turns out ok. There's no indication he's good at all. He's young enough to be innocent for now, but that has nothing to do with Barry. Barry was a bad father and Sally was a bad mother, though I blame her less. Maybe Sally becomes a good mother later, but if John turns out ok, it's in spite of his upbringing. I think you should rewatch season 4 tbh.
It is sad that Barry is killed, because he seems ready to finally take some responsibility in that moment. The good part about his death is that he can't hurt anyone else anymore. But even that might not be a happy ending. At first I was happy that John doesn't have to know about his father's real actions, but John won't be able to learn from the truth now either.
you should take the time to actually watch S4, barry has done a great job with john and was fully ready to give up his life at a chance of saving him. he was a wonderful father who set up john to lead a morally fulfilled life. @@notsorrystory
You should do a video series on the gang from Always Sunny In Philadelphia like you did for Ganondorf! That’d be funny and interesting to see. I think the gang is just as evil as a lot of these characters you’ve done videos on.
At the very least Dennis. Because of the implication.
Barry’s downfall is ultimately the fact that he is unable to do what it takes to overcome the flaws of his past. He realizes that he is a shit person(or at least doing shitty things) pretty much from episode 1, but he is unable to take the decisive actions or make the sacrifices necessary to a) Become a different person and b) Repent for his past actions. Instead of accepting his fate at the end of season 1, he kills Janice to avoid punishment. He admits that he went bat shit insane trying to avenge Albert in season 2, but then lies to his son about those actions in season 4 to make himself seem like a hero. He clings to religion in s4 to cling to a hope of salvation that deep down he knows he doesn’t deserve. Barry shows us that recognizing your flaws is simply not enough, but that you must also make the change necessary to become a better person
Yo! This is the one I've been waiting for! One of the best and most uncompromising takes on the classic "tv anti-hero". Barry is a sad, sympathetic, emotionally stunted child, and a horrible, irredeemable monster. Fantastic show, thanks for covering it
I always thought after Fuches showed C. Moss' dead body in the trunk that's when Barry snapped. There's also the fact that Bill Hader deliberately changed his appearance to create a more psychotic appearance. He materializes out of nowhere from the chase scene's end and black abysses as well as other characters who start appearing from the dark. It seems like he is Walter White where he keeps damaging and hardening people around him that the best possible ending for him was to get shot after coming to terms with going to jail.
Barry is a series where everyone wants to take the credit but no one wants to take responsibility, a perfect metaphor for Hollywood
Thank you for keeping up the voice you use for these videos. There is such an amazing blend of the chaos and complexity of these characters paired with your calm analytical voice. It makes for great content!
You know the writing of the show is amazing when you are super invested in so many unlikeable characters. Brilliant. The show always surprised me and IMO Ronny/Lily is one of the best episodes of television I've ever seen 🤯🤣
A great video on a great character. I really like the end when you are really thorough about why we have such mixed feelings about him and whether he deserves a happy ending during different seasons😅
not only does he (Haider) act extremely well he can act terribly when the character demands it,
a massive talent.
I’m only at season 1, so I’m not seeing one more second of this until I finish it. But seeing you make a video on Barry got me so hyped. I only knew of the TV show because of a friend who’s obsessively told me for years to watch it.
If you’re wanting to give another HBO show a try, Silicon Valley is one of my favourites of all time. The drama and comedy mix is so good. Gavin Belson might make for a great Analyzing Evil episode
Barry is easily in my top 5 favorite shows of all time now, it's also the most under appreciated show I've ever seen.
Succession and barry had their final seasons airing at the same time and it seemed succession got most of the buzz. I think Barry will be more of a cult favourite , even thought it won somebig awards
Thank you so much for a great analysis of this amazing character.
Can you please do an ep on Vic Mackey from the shield?
I would love this. Vic is one of my favorite characters on tv... Ever
Would be so good. Tony Soprano with a badge.
Analyzing Evil: Tár, the movie (about the composer, Tár). Thanks for this video man. Kind regards from Ásgeir in Iceland.
I think Barry is a classic "nurture vs nature" case. Deep down I think he's a good person, but his entire life has guided him toward evil acts, so much that he was never able to escape it
I’ve been waiting for this episode since I started watching the show! One of my the best TV series ever made, thank you for the video as always :)
i started the show at the beginning of this year and when watching it, i thought “i can’t wait for this show to wrap up so i can see Analyzing Evil’s video on this”. i think that’s a testament to both the show and this channel. it’s one of my favorite shows and i love this channel. i was so excited when this video got recommended to me
You're so good at these. Freaking loved Barry such a great show. Hader is a master of his craft.
I had a feeling you’d do an analysis of this character eventually and thank God you did. I love this character and the entire show so much. It’s so underrated.
Man!!!
When Bill Hader looks pissed off, truly pissed off
It's scary...whoa
“You don’t have to be insane(or evil) to kill someone. You just have to think you’re right.”
Yoko Taro, Creator of Nier Replicant.
I think Fuches, Gene and Sally all deserve an episode.
Brooo I've been watching since episode 2 or 3 and this is still for content🔥
Thank you for the hard work🙏
Can't wait for the next one🍻
PLEASE DO Boyd Crowder from JUSTIFIED, he us literally perfect for this series! He was a villain that found myself straight up rooting for and then you would be reminded he was a cold blooded killer.
Was literally just thinking about how Barry would make an excellent subject for this series. You never miss!! Love the content
Bary isn't evil. Everyone around him is
Barry is 100% evil
th-cam.com/video/5LD1XKnSwP0/w-d-xo.html
this is how i still almost kinda see it…
Have you ever heard the saying, you are the 5 people you are closest to"
Well I'm glad you're talking about Barry... Yeah this guy really needed his analyzing of evil
Next should be Logan Roy and the entire Roy family from Succession
I’ve literally been waiting to see an Analyzing Evil on Barry ever since I first started the show. I’m so glad to finally see the day!
one of the best series of the last years
Barry is one hell of a show.
So I just think I’d love to see an episode about the Byrdes in ozark.
I would never skip your videos, sir. Your voice is too soothing for that.
The flashback of Barry returning after his discharge from the Marines shows him looking to see who is there for him in a crowd of other soldiers being greeted by loved ones. I thought he was surprised to see Fuches standing there so I assumed that that was when Barry and Fuches relationship really started beyond where Barry sees Fuches being just a friend of his dad (ie non descript generic nice guy like his own dad). I assumed Barry’s dad died while Barry was deployed. Why doesn’t Barry mention his dad telling him directly that Barry shouldn’t let the world walk all over him, why does Fuches get that message while Barry’s dad is presumably dying? I figured that the combo of getting kicked out of the army and returning to no family left him in that numb state which Fuches took advantage of. I doubt Fuches was doing much to train Barry or push him into the army since Fuches is such a bumbling buffoon for the first 3 seasons.
I thought the same thing
My head cannon Fuhes and barry's dad started falling out. Fuches has been seen to send hits or sabotage his "family". Aka barry.
Whoa. I Just finished this yesterday. Great timing. Everyone in this show could have their own video. Barry, Fuches, NoHo, even Sally or Gene.
I think you’d like the crime drama Snowfall. Both Franklin Saint and Teddy McDonald would make great vile eye episodes
YES! Totally agreed
He should do Jax teller too
Hell yeah
I’ve been waiting for a Barry vid. This was well done!
Some video suggestions:
- Dio Brando/DIO from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures
- Ralph Cifaretto from The Sopranos
- like how you did with Pulp Fiction I think one on Reservoir Dogs would be interesting
Yes! I've been requesting him for a while! Also Logan Roy from succession would be another great one or Marty and Wendy byrde from ozark
The worst part about all of this is that Barry could easily have the life he desires, if he takes responsibility and properly ends the relationship he had with other people in his second life but instead he becomes self-centered and very destructive and the relationship with his wife and son is very controlling that it’s an inevitable that they would walk away.🐱
"It's an edible that they would walk away"💀
*Inevitable 😂
You silly goose, Barry Berkman is a hero! Didn't you see "The Mask Collector"?
Just finished the series yesterday and i said to myself i wished the vile eye did a video about barry ahah
Great Video as always!
This character is one of the most fascinating characters in TV imo
YES !! I’ve been hoping you would do Barry thank you ❤
Barry didnt kill taylor because he wanted him to replace him as a hitman as well not just because he was a marine
I feel like a fun villain I'd like to see would be Little Slugger, from Paranoia Agent
Such a haunting but fun show
Love to see more characters that are complex evil like Barry. Evil to the core but there's sympathetic reasons behind it.
Barry Block. You should do one on Fuches, the best character of Barry but i would argue that he isnt truly evil.
Evil is such a messy word. Barry is unscrupulous. But Fuches is the evil one. Pushing him to keep it going for money.
But eventually, Barry stops doing it for money.
Barry is evil. Dude ran away from murder for years bro.
So Barry was just following orders? Both are evil. Both knowingly cause harm to others for no good reason. Fuches is more evil, but both are considered evil.
Huge fan of the channel. Great video. Here are some suggestions for future videos:
Jake LaMotta from Raging Bull
Nicky Santoro from Casino
Avon Barksdale from The Wire
The Guilty Remnant from The Leftovers
The Tuttle Family from True Detective
Let’s go! I love Barry. Thanks for doing an episode on him Vile Eye
I could legit watch a series on characters just from this show.
i watched barry after seeing dexter and i never thought id walk out of it thinking id feel safer in a room with the serial killer man than with the hit man
Fitting that a man who tried to keep his position in the movie industry committed so many atrocities to do so
Yes!!! Such an underrated show! One of the best I’ve seen
This show is full of back stabbers I love it you could do at least 3 episodes Barry, Fuches, and Noho Hank just because they have the most screen time. The way they put together killing and comedy kind of reminds me of seven psychopaths.
What a series. The ending was perfect in my opinion. Noho hank was my favorite lmao.
Lemonade was the best episode. It was the episode where you see Barry with the social mask nearly slipping off.
wonderful timing. just finished barry last week and now i get to sit down and enjoy this.
*I loved the ending thematically* but as a story - I still had much to be desired from Season 4.. the time skip kind of derailed the series for me.
Yeah it felt very abrupt wished there were more events to make the shift more seemless
Yeah for some reason after the time skip things just seemed kinda, off.
I like how jarring it is
@@doctorcaptainalexdefinitely
You are such a legend for covering Barry. GOAT TV
im not sure why you say Barry didn't have an emotional response after killing Chris, he has an absolute full mental breakdown after killing him, and he was following the rules set by Fuches when he killed him anyways. Killing him was the only reason he was able to give sally the performance she needed to nail her part. your analysis of his murder of Chris completely ignores how emotionally traumatic that murder was for him
I was in need of an in depth analysis of this show in the analyzing evil nature, good job vile eye!!!
Who the fuck knew that Bill Hader had it in him to craft one of the greatest TV villains/anti-heroes up there with Tony Soprano and Walter White?
After watching the series finale, I realized that it's all skewed and Barry really does win in the end with his son never actually realizing what kind of person Barry really is.
I honestly think you could’ve done a video similar to Menace II Society or The Batman where it touches over multiple characters in the series as well. The show has so many sources of cruelty and evil, whether it’s from Fuches (the man with no heart) or NoHo Hank (almost a Lalo Salamanca type character with the kind of evil he holds deep down).
Even characters like Cousineau (SPOILERS AHEAD) could be a small study, a narcissistic man taking advantage of naive manchildren who blows up the only true actual chance for a true honest effort to honor Janice’s memory and persecute Berkman because he couldn’t resist the temptation of recognition and stardom. Truly a masterclass show of acting and writing.
Fx Legion would be perfect for a multiple character analysis for a episode of analyzing evil
One of my favorite parts about this show is the way it goes into the “we only kill bad guys” it doesn’t necessarily make bad on this promise, since if you analyze every single character in this show you cannot find one character you can call good overall. The bad just becomes less clear and the murders much more questionable.
His buddy he shoots in the car?
@@etangbose4755 a “family man” who is eager to go jump people while lying to his family about where he’s at doesn’t scream good person to me.
He knew he was headed to hurt people just didn’t know he could die.
What about Janice, though? She seemed fine. She's the only person I can think of that was a good person who was killed that wasn't Chris. Even if Chris kinda dug himself into the hole due to being pressured by his friends.
I’ve been waiting for this episode for a long long time, one of my favorite and most relatable anti-hero’s/ villain
Love this video. After finishing the last season I was really hoping you’d make this and I’m super glad you did. If you’d like to take a similar theme with somewhat nuanced characters, I’d look at Ray from Mr. Inbetween. Awesome video
A video on logan Roy from succession would be a great one, one of the most realistic villains in a tv show that’s not very over the top or kills people, etc.
Many of the points you explained on Berkman being an anti-hero to a corrupt psycho were 10/10, however, I felt that you missed discussing more of the environment and scenario he was living in and the incredible development of 'Barry''s plot season after season.
Yes yes YES!!! I've been looking forward to this one since the series ended. I love how the show gets us to sympathize with Barry and the constant control and manipulation he's under only to pull the rug out from under us to show that Barry is an incredibly selfish man who uses murder as a means to an end for his own personal gain. Kudos to Bill Hader for this master class in character development.
I'd like to see a video on Christopher Moltisanti from The Sopranos as he is the unofficial second protagonist of the show with an interesting story arc. He's a volatile, impulsive and abusive gangster who is also quite ambitious and emotionally wounded as we see him go through a constant and vicious cycle of addiction and abuse at the hands of his so called friends. He sacrifices so much personally for his uncle, only to be casually snuffed out by the very man he claimed to be going to hell for.
I also think Moriarty from Sherlock would be cool too. He's a delightfully sadistic psychopath who is able to outsmart his nemesis, not with a complicated plan to discredit the detective, but an incredibly simple one.
Amazing work! I loved how you broke down Barry's evolution to evil. I think Barry truly ignored his shadow, and if you know Carl Jung, rejection of the shadow leads to projection, and projection offers reflection. I wondered if Barry's "Oh, wow" was due to him finally seeing his reflection in Cousineau or was it a more nihilistic view, no longer choosing but accepting the end? I can see a bit of both, but I lean heavily on the former, because Cousineau portrayed Barry twice. Once, acting him out to the reporter (reflecting Barry's mask), and again when he's about to kill Barry (reflecting Barry' shadow). Opening Barry to be a viewer, and finally see the last thing most of his victims saw: himself. I would love if you would consider analyzing either Dre from "Swarm", or Kevin from "We Need to Talk About Kevin".
I was literally waiting for this one
I know this isn’t a very topical film but I think you should consider the 2017 film The Death of Stalin and more specifically it’s portrayal of the real life monster Lavrentiy Beria. He was one of the most despicable figures of the 20th century and described by Stalin as “our Himmler”. And while mostly a dark comedy in nature the film does an excellent job of showing that evil in various ways.
I waited too long to watch that and now it's off Netflix. It looked really good, I just had to be in a certain mood before I watched a dark comedy on such a specific and fucked up point in history. Waited too long, damnit
After watching a good amount of your essays, I finally subscribed. So good!
Barry is the king of shifting responsibility and looking like a victim no matter what. I don't think anyone but Bill Hader can manipulate an audience so well.
Logan Roy-Succession
Kai Proctor-Banshee
Mickey Donovan-Ray Dovan
Barry Berkman won. He became the man he wasn't. A hero, an army medic, a loving father. All Barry wanted was for the truth to be obscured. But acting is truth. This is why we have so many souless media satire shows. They chose Pam! over Joplin because Pam! chose to satisfy the viewer instead of have a real thought provoking story. A realish story about abuse isnt funny or satisfying. Its emotional. There is a quote when Sally got her show canceled. The showrunner says something about if you show a character eating a desert within the first 5 mins they are 90% more likely to watch the next 5 episodes. Entertainment is meant to satisfy. When we prioritize what we want over what we are. We get it. Barry got it. HIS SON THINKS HE IS A HERO, the world knows Barry Berkman as a hero. Gene fucked himself over in the start by choosing to embellish for entertainment over the truth. He chose to paint it as if he was a puppet master behind Barry because he wanted to seem smarter than the man who killed his girlfriend. Acting, is truth. Entertainment isn't truth. The world in Barry is unaware of the truth and is left satisfied and entertained by a Tom Cruise esk action drama. We, the only ones who know the real story, the truth, are the ones who are left unsatisfied. And being left unsatisfied was amazing writing.
starting to talk in sync with the character still gets me every time