HBO series Barry takes another surreal turn in its final season, while Netflix’s Queenmaker impresses with its Succession-like drama

Black comedy Barry, in its fourth and final series on HBO and HBO Go, sees the ex-US marine-turned-assassin, turned actor, seek divine approval for his actions

Meanwhile, on Netflix Queenmaker – which has elements of Succession but with less profanity – guarantees a feast of deceit, misdirection and skulduggery

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Bill Hader as Barry in “Barry”. The black comedy, in its fourth and final series on HBO and HBO Go, sees the ex-US marine-turned-assassin, turned actor, finally incarcerated for murder. Photo: HBO

After 20-odd years spent peddling and polishing words in Hong Kong, Stephen McCarty now resides in Britain, from where he scribbles, daydreams and laments the state of the world.

Published: 6:15pm, 19 May 2023

Following the misadventures of reluctant hitman Barry Berkman feels increasingly like a guilty pleasure: that of cavorting through someone else’s nightmare, but knowing you can leave – and leave behind everyone stuck in it – when it all becomes too weird.

Co-created by and starring Bill Hader in the title role, black comedy Barry (HBO and HBO Go), now in its fourth and final series, sees the ex-US marine-turned-assassin, turned actor, finally incarcerated for murder. A primer of the first three seasons, still streaming on HBO Go, is recommended.

Whether mere prison walls can contain him, however, is a moot point.

The existentially troubled, depressed Barry, reluctant upsetter of people, has been betrayed by his acting teacher and sometime friend Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler); organised-crime boss and former ally NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan) is feeling less than charitable; Barry’s girlfriend Sally (Sarah Goldberg) has forsaken him; and the FBI would like a word.

And the psychological drama of Barry’s life takes another surreal turn with a radical reinvention that has him subscribing to Pastor Pat’s Podcast, as he seeks divine approval for his actions and criminal tendencies. Redemption? No, just more self-delusion.