I remember the moment that I learned about the new HBO show, Barry. It is about a hitman, named Barry, who wants to become an actor, and his is portrayed by one of my favorite Saturday Night Live cast members, Bill Hader. The idea that Hader would play a want-to-be actor was fine, no doubt he could pull this off. Picturing him as a hitman was a different task all together. Based on an interview between Hader and Seth Meyers on Meyers’ Late Night talk show they both felt the same way I did. Hader talks about the genesis of the show here.

I was both excited and reticent for the show because it is a bizarre combination. After his performances in the masterwork Documentary Now Hader’s versatility could not be doubted. What you get in Barry is a veteran sniper who, after leaving the service, is mentally vulnerable and has his path guided by a trusted friend. As the series progresses it is clear that this confidant, played perfectly by Stephen Root, may not have Barry’s best interest at heart and the two of them are forced into a sticky situation when the travel to L.A. for a hit.

The series is a dark, black, comedy to say the least. When Barry is in the hitman zone it is very violent and intense, on the flip side is is hilarious during the acting class scenes. At no point in time is there a bad performance, and it would be difficult to not connect if you are a fan of dark comedy show. But that’s the rub. This is a show with an already small target audience and I cannot see it being able to break out to a broad audience. It is exciting to know that they have a second season planned and I can assure you that I am definitely on board.