If you haven’t caught up on HBO’sBarry, one of the best TV gems of 2018, you still have time before Season 2 premieres. The series is created by and starsBill Haderas a cold-blooded killer-for-hire who unexpectedly begins to explore his humanity thanks to an acting class. His connection there makes him start to question his murder-soaked life, although it’s not something he can get out of, yet. And for what it’s worth, change is certainly a process with Barry – at the end of Season 1, he kills someone to protect the happiness he has created for himself by pretending his other life doesn’t exist.
The first full trailer for the new season gives us a sense of that dark tone, but also some much-needed lightness (mostly fromAnthony Carrigan’s NoHo Hank).Barrytakes wild swings between hilarity and brutality, but (so far) always ends up with the right balance.
We don’t know much about the specifics of Season 2 yet, except thedirectors, which were revealed back in August: “For Season 2, Hader andAlec Bergwill each direct two episodes, while acclaimedAtlantadirectorHiro Murai—who directed two Season 1 episodes—is also returning to helm two episodes of Season 2. Rounding out the list are twoBarrynewcomers each helming one episode:Liza Johnson(Elvis & Nixon) andMinkie Spiro(Downton Abbey,Call the Midwife).” But the trailer also reveals the search for Janice (Paula Newsome), who is missing, and the reaction Gene (Harry Winkler) has to it (mostly by using the acting class as therapy). Barry meanwhile is working in an athletic shop, trying to keep his lives separate, but as Gene jovially notes: “Barry there is an inherent darkness within you, I had the same instinct with Charlie Manson.”
Barryranked as one of my picks for theBest TV Shows of 2018, and if you’re caught up or just starting, you’ll want to make sure you catch Adam Chitwood’s exclusive interviews with Hader onEpisode 5,Episode 6,Episode 7, and a deep-dive into thatfinale.
Barryalso starsStephen RootandSarah Goldberg.Check out the Season 2 trailer below;Barryreturns March 31st to HBO.
Here’s the official synopsis forBarry:
This dark comedy stars Emmy® winner Bill Hader as a depressed, low-rent hitman from the Midwest. Lonely and dissatisfied in his life, he reluctantly travels to Los Angeles to execute a hit on an aspiring actor. Barry follows his “mark” into an acting class and ends up finding an accepting community in a group of eager hopefuls within the LA theater scene. Barry wants to start a new life as an actor but his criminal past won’t let him walk away – can he find a way to balance both worlds? Season one credits: Stephen Root, Sarah Goldberg, Glenn Fleshler, Anthony Carrigan and Emmy® winner Henry Winkler also star. The series was created, executive produced and written by Bill Hader and Alec Berg. The second season begins March 31.
