HBO’s Barry: 10 of The Most Iconic Scenes in The Show (So Far)

From the best NoHo Hank scenes to some of the hitman’s darkest moments, Barry is full of unforgettable scenes.

With a highly anticipated 3rd season expected to arrive next year, HBO’s Barry has left fans with plenty of time to re-watch and appreciate the award-winning first two seasons. Spearheaded by the comedic and writing genius of Bill Hader and Alec Berg, and supported by an ensemble cast of heavy hitters like Steven Root and Henry Winkler, the series has produced countless iconic moments in its run so far.

Then again, it’s hardly surprising that a show about a contract killer trying to become an on-stage actor should have memorable moments. Add to the fact that Barry is a dark comedy/drama that explores topics like organised crime, depression and friendship and it’s almost guaranteed there will be unforgettable scenes throughout.

10/10 - NoHo Hank Calls During Hit

Arguably one of the best examples of the characters of NoHo Hank and Barry playing off each other to create some hilarious comic relief for viewers, it’s hard to forget this season 1 gem. In the middle of preparing to execute a hit on his target, Barry gets an unexpected phone call from Hank, telling him to hold off on the killing until a DHL delivery carrying a ‘symbolic’ bullet arrives at the house.

From the ridiculous reasoning behind the delivery to the contrast between Barry’s short temper and Hank’s cheery attitude, this hilarious scene is hard to forget.

9/10 - Sally’s Monologue

If there is one moment in the show that best represents the acting capabilities of actress Sarah Goldberg, it has to be this scene near the end of the second season. On the back of her somewhat stagnating acting vocation, the prospect of performing a painful memory to the class, and Barry scoring a director session before her, Sally breaks out into an unexpected and dramatic monologue.

Expressing anger, jealousy and anxiety that has been building up inside her, in one short scene Sally reveals some of her deepest fears: ‘’I’m terrified, okay? Because my piece is real. It’s not a character. It’s me.’’ The moment is even more striking by how it is directed- one long shot.

8/10 - Barry Kills Chris

A stark and brutal reminder of the world this show takes place in, the scene in which Barry decides to kill his friend Chris is truly harrowing. Overcome with panic and guilt from being involved with Barry’s killings, his military buddy breaks down, declaring he has to come clean to the police.

Unfortunately for Chris, he reveals this to Barry while the two are sitting in his car in a remote location. What ensues is an extremely tense few moments, with Bill Hader delivering a terrific performance in expressing the horrific thoughts going through his characters head at that moment- without even saying a word.

7/10 - NoHo Hank’s Letter to Chechnya

It’s fair to say Barry would not be where it is today without the iconic character and personality of NoHo Hank. In this scene, Anothony Carrigan delivers an absolutely hilarious monologue in the form of a letter to his boss Batir in Chechnya.

Presenting a cheery and almost playful account of his new life working with the Bolivians, Hank’s monologue contrasts, with great comedic effect as always, with the criminal activities at play. Doting over his new life may be one thing, but then the flamboyant Chechen mobster begins to idolize his handsome new comrade, Cristobal, making for a funny and memorable scene.

6/10 - Barry’s Line in Macbeth

There are many memorable scenes that take place on the stage of Gene Cusineaou’s acting class, but the most unforgettable has to be Barry’s delivery of the line: ‘’My lord…the Queen is dead.’’ Still in a wash of emotions after murdering Chris, Barry is forced to go on stage with Sally for their rendition of Macbeth. The stakes are only heightened further when Sally warns that she invited a big agent to the showing, in the hopes he will be impressed by the scene and take her on.

Barely able to keep himself together behind the curtain, viewers are shocked when, on cue, Barry emerges onto the stage crying and distraught to deliver his lines perfectly. The scene becomes even more dramatic as we realise Barry is ‘talking to Chris’ wife’ when he says his lines, telling the woman that her husband (the Queen) is dead, which is why the line comes off so efficaciously, captivating the audience.

5/10 - Gene’s ‘Date’ With Detective Moss

Henry Winkler’s style of deadpan and often light-hearted comic relief in Barry makes for many funny moments throughout the show, and this is perhaps not seen any more clearly than during his dinner ‘date’ with Moss. Having forced the detective to meet him for dinner (under the guise of coffee) at a restaurant in exchange for information regarding a case, Mr Cousineaou proceeds to smooth-talk his way through the night.

The scene is further elevated by the juxtaposition of the no-nonsense attitude of the detective, played brilliantly by Paula Newsome, against Gene’s flirting: ‘’you’re the detective, and I got the confession’’.

4/10 - Barry Tells The Class About His First Kill

Pressured by Gene in front of the class, Barry shares the story of his first-ever kill with the class. Creating powerful contrasts like the show so often does, this scene has our titular antihero revealing the story of the first time he killed, while two of his classmates, Nick and Sasha, do a re-enactment of the story.

The scene sees Barry increasingly distraught as he describes the shooting, and just as he is about to discuss the aftermath of the killing, his fellow actors recreating the scene skip ahead of him, with Nick playing Barry’s character, ‘sobbing’ after taking the shot. What makes this scene so memorable is when Barry has a flashback to the moment just after he killed the men…where he is celebrating with his army buddies.

3/10 - Barry and Fuches Reunite

One of the more dismal aspects to Bill Hader’s character in the show is that the only other character he can open up to also just so happens to be the most toxic, and has a terrible influence on him. With that said, the season 2 scene that sees Fuches reunite with Barry in Lululemon is still quite endearing, as the two hug and cry after an emotional talk.

Unsurprisingly, given the sleazy character of Fuches, there is more to the scene than what is presented, and just as the viewer begins to shed a tear for the two, the show cuts to an FBI agent listening in on the moment, through a wire worn by Steven Root’s character.

2/10 - The Ronny Fight

Perhaps the most iconic episode of the second season, the fight scene between Ronny and Barry in episode five is unforgettable. Tasked with a hit, Barry breaks into the target’s house, only to slowly realise his intended kill is a former taekwondo champion.

The ensuing fight is very unique in its own right, avoiding many of the traditional styles of directing on-camera combat. Most notably the camera moves frustratingly slow in following the fight, and the viewer often must deduce what is happening from the noise alone, as much of the combat takes place just out of shot.

1/10 - ‘50/50 With Cristobal’

After trying and failing miserably to have one of his men kill Barry, NoHo Hank is confronted by the titular hitman who is about to kill him. The whole scene unfolds like some sort of slapstick comedy sketch, despite the serious nature of what takes place. We can attribute this to the hilarious interaction between the characters, such as when Barry decides to spare Hank, and the Chechen immediately drops his steely façade and vomits on the rooftop.

The bromance between Hank and Cristobal is one of the funniest storylines to emerge in season 2 of the show- so when Barry points out Hank could destroy the Bolivians with his new ‘army’, fans of the show absolutely loved Hank’s response: “50/50 with Cristobal’’