My rating: 8.5/10 for Season 1 of Barry

Pros:

• The concept is honestly really unique. A hitman randomly discovering acting and trying to escape his violent life is such a strange idea, but it somehow works really well.

• The tone is super interesting. One moment the show is genuinely funny, and then the next moment it gets really dark or tense. That contrast makes it feel different from most shows.

• Barry himself is a great character. You can tell he doesn’t want to keep living the life he’s in, but he’s also kind of trapped by it. Watching him struggle between acting and being a hitman is what makes the story work.

• Some of the side characters steal the show. NoHo Hank is hilarious almost every time he’s on screen, and Gene Cousineau adds a lot to the acting class scenes.

• The pacing keeps things engaging. The episodes are short, but they rarely feel boring.

Cons:

• The season is really short. Because of that, some story moments feel like they move a little too quickly.

• A few characters could’ve been explored more. Some side characters feel like they had potential but didn’t get enough time yet.

• The tone can be a little jarring sometimes. The show jumps from comedy to violence really fast, which might not work for everyone.

• It takes a couple episodes to fully click. The first episode or two are good, but the show really finds its rhythm a little later.