"When HBO first ordered Barry to series, the show sounded like another 'man desperately tries to leave unethical business, but keeps getting sucked back in' story, something that had been done plenty of times before," says Jen Chaney. "But season one took that idea and ran with it to dark, unexpected places, creating a multifaceted, funny, suspenseful series with a protagonist who seemed perpetually on the verge of experiencing a psychotic break. Amazingly, season two, which concluded Sunday night on HBO right after a certain other major show’s finale, managed to up what was already a very solid game. It featured an even more nuanced and emotionally limber performance by an already excellent Bill Hader, as well as richer work from the entire cast and the writers. It also addressed one of its central themes — whether it’s possible to live a completely honest life — more directly and across multiple story lines, all of which intersect in the finale."
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TOPICS: Barry, HBO, Bill Hader