Barry season 4 is Hader's pièce de résistance. There's simply nothing like it.

Impeccable dark comedy. ... [Hader] has a master’s command of blocking and pacing, each episode an exercise in prismatic stillness, often giving way to explosive violence. ... It’s hardly the original premise, but it’s hard to think of a show that explores it with as deft and devilish a hand as “Barry.”

The knowledge that the end is nigh emboldens them to make huge swings from week to week, something which is a huge factor in making this season of the Bill Hader and Alex Berg-created series easily some of the best TV of the year.

Laughter sticks in the throat in a savage satire that never plays it safe. [24 Apr - 7 May 2023, p.6]

If Season Three proved there was more life in the concept than it appeared at first, Barry is still not a series built to run forever. Credit to Hader and Berg for recognizing this, and for making a final run of episodes(*) that feels true to the spirit and ideas that have typified Barry at its best.

There is certainly a relentless darkness about Barry that gets even darker in its final season. But Hader and Berg still throw in enough absurd moments and character-based humor to keep things from careening into full-on drama. But we’re definitely expecting the final season to be heavily dramatic, and we’re on board for it.

Hader directs all the episodes this season, which are suffused with plot. Probably too much plot. ... Surreal moments are ladled in without much explanation, but violence is the lingua franca and I’m never sure to what end.

Honestly the progression of all these characters, all of them, it's so profound. The performances are absolutely incredible and though I know it must end, it will be a melancholy moment. I never would have expected the roller coaster this show has given. Brilliant comedy giving way to award winning performances and gripping drama. Thanks for giving us this guys, master class.

I can’t help but feel that Barry tried to mimic the final season of Twin Peaks, but fell so, so short. It’s like anything abstract or nuanced got thrown out the window this season, in favor of hammering home one or two ideas ad nauseam. Characters become alarmingly one-dimensional, and Barry himself acts like an unironic caricature.

You know, the last scene of the first episode where Barry goes mcahine mode and just headshots the thugs on the street hooked me, but to be painfully honest, it's never gotten as good as that since. All the Hollywood inside baseball stuff is interesting but just that and nothing more, the cast is outstanding but the writting and story have left me cold more often than not. I'm not seeing the deeper meaning here, and the pyrotechnics are few and far between. I give Barry a meh out of 10.

They took everything that was special and enjoyable about Barry and turned it on it's head. Powerful? sure. Something I enjoyed or would even care to remember? No. This whole season was like the Sopranos boardwalk episode(s) but supposedly happened? Eh. I'll count 1-3 as canon.

Season 4 ruined everything, it was like someone else created it and intentionally destroyed it