The Seamless Conclusion of Barry Season 4

This article contains spoilers for Barry.

Article Key Points

Barry concludes with the gratifying demise of its protagonist, Barry Berkman, executed by Gene Cousineau. The utilization of Rip Torn's firearm in Barry's demise foreshadowed repeatedly during the series, enhancing the significance of this pivotal moment.

The concluding scene of the episode showcases Barry's son observing an embellished cinematic adaptation of his father's life, offering a critical commentary on Hollywood's tendency to glamorize violent personalities and delivering an uncompromising, somber conclusion.

Barry, an exceptional dark comedy drama, captivated audiences with its compelling narrative. Bill Hader portrayed the troubled assassin, Barry Berkman, who, while on a mission in Los Angeles, decides to explore his passion for acting by enrolling in a class. As he grapples with the morality of his profession, he discovers an outlet for his frustrations within the confines of the acting community. Along the way, he forms a bond with Sally, a young actress, and finds guidance from the idiosyncratic acting coach, Gene Cousineau, portrayed flawlessly by Henry Winkler, known for his role in Happy Days.

Barry Season 4 Ending, Explained

Bill Hader and Alec Berg collaborated to create the critically acclaimed series, Barry. The show enjoyed a successful four-season run and concluded on a high note earlier this year. Airing on HBO from March 25, 2018, to May 28, 2023, Barry comprised 32 exceptional episodes, each with a duration of approximately 30 minutes. With each passing season, the show elevated its quality and took a notably darker turn, ultimately delivering one of the most satisfying finales in television history.

In the final episode titled "Wow," Fuches receives a call from NoHo Hank at the start. Hank informs Fuches that Barry is on his way to meet him and proposes that if Fuches accompanies him, he can deliver Barry to him. Hank then discloses that he has successfully kidnapped both Sally and John, Barry's son. Motivated by this information, Fuches decides to head towards their location.

Meanwhile, Barry visits a gun shop and leaves armed with a substantial assortment of firearms, preparing himself for a final confrontation with NoHo Hank. Simultaneously, the authorities reveal that the investigation into the murder of Janice Moss has been reopened, and Gene Cousineau has been wrongfully implicated in the crime.

Sally discloses to John that his father is a murderer and admits to her own crime, causing her to break down in tears. Their emotional moment is interrupted when NoHo Hank's henchmen appear and forcibly separate them. Meanwhile, Fuches arrives at NoHo Hank's headquarters accompanied by his crew, leading to a tense confrontation between them and NoHo and his gang. Fuches, concerned about John's whereabouts, demands the truth from Hank, offering to disappear forever if Hank confesses to killing Cristobal. Overwhelmed with emotion, Hank breaks down and confesses that Cristobal was the love of his life.

Shortly after, Sally and John are brought forward, only for Fuches to accuse John of lying and declare the agreement null and void. In a shocking turn of events, Fuches fires a shot that hits NoHo Hank in the chest, triggering a violent gunfight that leaves many of the men dead or severely injured. Fuches shields John's eyes from the gruesome scene and rescues him, leading him away from the chaotic battleground.

Barry's arrival is met with the endearing sight of his son racing towards him, wrapping him in a warm embrace. Fuches maintains a distance as he exchanges a meaningful look and a nod with Barry before departing. Meanwhile, within the headquarters, NoHo Hank leans onto the statue of his beloved Cristobal. As he reaches out, his hand tightly grasps the statue's, symbolizing his fading existence until he succumbs to death.

Subsequently, Barry finds himself lying on a bed alongside Sally and John. Sally discloses that she has conversed with Gene, revealing the unsettling possibility of his imprisonment for Janice's murder. She implores Barry to take the morally right path and surrender himself. However, he adamantly refuses, believing that his survival earlier that day alone has already granted him redemption. He asserts, "I don't think that's what God desires for me." The next morning, Barry awakens to solitude, with Sally and John having departed.

Barry bursts into Gene's location, disregarding Tom Posorro, and demands to know the whereabouts of Sally and John. Tom insists that they are not present. Meanwhile, Gene, in his room, opens a case, revealing Rip Torn's gun, which he proceeds to pick up. Tom urges Barry to take responsibility for his actions and surrender himself, to which Barry eventually agrees. He instructs Tom to call the police, as he is willing to turn himself in. Just as he utters these words, Gene enters the scene and shoots Barry in the chest. In shock, Barry exclaims, "Oh Wow," but his life is abruptly ended as Gene fires another shot, this time hitting him in the head. Gene calmly settles onto the sofa, with Barry's lifeless body nearby in a chair.

Fast forward to a later time when Sally, receiving a standing ovation during a performance, is accompanied by her teenage son, John, who enthusiastically applauds from the audience. As Sally departs, a new history teacher at John's school approaches her, inviting her for a coffee. She politely declines the offer. Subsequently, John approaches Sally and requests permission to spend the night at his friend Eric's house. Sally grants permission, and he takes the opportunity to express his love for her. Seeking reassurance, Sally inquires about her performance, and John assures her that it was exceptional. Lost in thought, Sally drives home while gazing at the flowers she received in recognition of her stellar performance.

John and Eric settle in to watch "The Mask Collector," a film that tells the story of Barry's life. It follows the typical Hollywood narrative, depicting Barry as the protagonist. After returning from serving in Afghanistan, Barry stumbles into an acting class where he encounters Gene and Sally. Gene praises Barry's exceptional acting skills, which eventually leads him into getting involved in the cover-up of Janice's murder, committed by Gene.

Barry gets framed for the crime but manages to rescue Sally and John. In a dramatic turn of events, Barry visits Gene, only to be shot and killed by him in a flurry of bullets. Barry is laid to rest and given the honor of a hero, leaving John visibly moved as he watches the film.

The film concludes, and a message appears on screen, disclosing that Gene is serving a life sentence for the murders of Janice and Barry. As the film's credits roll, they also serve as the credits for the culmination of Barry's final episode.

Why Barry Season 4 was the perfect finale

The conclusion of Barry's latest episode leaves viewers at the edge of their seats, as the demise of Barry Berkman is brought about in a striking and necessary manner. Adding a profound touch to the moment, Gene emerges as the one responsible for putting an end to Barry's life, utilizing Rip Torn's firearm which was first introduced during season 2. The series co-creator and primary actor subtly hinted at this pivotal event during an interview with The Wrap.

I recall mentioning how intriguing it would be if Cousineau used that gun to kill Barry. After that, I took note of it mentally, resulting in numerous close-up shots specifically focused on the gun, as it was known that it would ultimately be the cause of Barry's demise. In an interview with the Hollywood reporter, Henry Winkler, the actor who portrayed Gene Cousineau, also shared his thoughts on Barry's surprising fate.

Bill shared something with me that left me speechless. I couldn't believe it and stuttered in response before walking away, needing some avocado toast.

The show doesn't conclude immediately after Barry's death. Instead, there is a final sequence that fast-forwards to Barry's son, John, watching a film adaptation of his father's life. Hollywood embellishes the story, turning Barry into a hero, despite the fact that he was anything but. This ending cleverly criticizes how Hollywood often glamorizes violent characters, wrapping everything up neatly. The true ending of Barry is bleak and far removed from its comedic beginnings.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I was incredibly satisfied with the conclusion of Barry Season 4. The show delivered a flawless finale that exceeded all my expectations. The seamless storytelling, exceptional acting, and thought-provoking themes made this season a standout in the series.

The ending was particularly powerful, with Barry's demise serving as a poignant commentary on the futility of violence and the corrupting influence of Hollywood. The scene where Barry's son watches the embellished cinematic adaptation of his father's life was both heartbreaking and thought-provoking, highlighting the dangers of glamorizing violent criminals. Overall, Barry Season 4 was a masterclass in storytelling, and I can't wait to see what the creators have in store for us next.