Barry Season 4 Trailer Has Fans Praising Bill Hader's Impressive Performance
Former "Saturday Night Live" star Bill Hader's turn from a comedic actor to leading a straight-up drama appears to be complete with the release of the trailer for the fourth and final season of the HBO series "Barry," and fans are feeling it.
"Barry," of course, has been recognized as a comedy by the Primetime Emmy Awards since the series' inception in 2018, as the show has won nine statuettes in the genre — including two for Hader for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2018 and 2019. Given the series' darkly comedic tone, the honors seem appropriate, but given fans' reactions to the Season 4 trailer on YouTube — where the series appears to take a steep dramatic turn — Hader is being viewed in a completely different light. "This is one of the best shows currently airing," commented @trinaq under the trailer. "Bill Hader has proved that he's just as skilled at drama as he is with comedy."
Meanwhile, @iphillydi praised the actor for showing how his talents in front of and behind the camera are limitless: "Bill Hader has built quite a film resume over the years. Voicing animated characters, classic comedies, horror flicks, crime/comedy series (Barry), and the fact he directed & wrote a lot of the episodes is all the more impressive. Bill Hader Rules!!"
Another commenter shared @iphillydi's sentiments, noting the tremendous promise for the upcoming season. "This show truly displays just how versatile Bill Hader is," @pepprin11 wrote. "I'm not emotionally ready for the final season, but I know it's going to be fantastic, and I cannot wait."
Season 4's trailer shows Barry losing it behind bars
"Barry," of course, stars Bill Hader as Barry Berkman, a Cleveland-based assassin who experiences an awakening when he travels to Los Angeles to carry out a hit. It's there where Barry is serendipitously bitten by the acting bug and soon finds success as "Barry Block" because his performances are informed by the real-life torment he harbors as a hitman.
While Barry finds love with a fellow actor, Sally Reed (Sarah Goldberg), his life is still complicated when he becomes intertwined with crime boss NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan). But Barry's hopes for ever finding normal again reach the point of no return when he kills Janice Moss (Paula Newsome), the police officer girlfriend of his acting coach, Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler).
Season 3 concludes with Barry's arrest in connection with Janice's murder, while the Season 4 trailer finds Barry in prison. As such, Hader displays his skills for playing a character once hanging on to his sanity by his fingernails now completely losing it behind bars with violent outbursts and acts of self-harm, all while proclaiming, "I am a good person. That is who I am."
In response to the Season 4 trailer, YouTube commenter @user-sw5nc9pm9f wrote that "Barry" is "The best show running at the moment. Bill is a pure talent."
While many commenters expressed sadness over "Barry" ending, fans like @michaelhughes9553 found an upside, writing, "The only silver lining of this show ending means that Bill Hader and the rest of the cast will have more time to make more incredible things. This show is so good."
The fourth and final season of "Barry" debuts on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, April 16.