Barry and Living Without Masks

Barry? Is it a redemption story? A tragedy with a tragic hero destined to die? A farce? A dry comedy mocking all the things we believe and glorify about hitmen? Why not all?

The draw of the television series is that it pits absurd situations against bleak reality. Much of the show is about the personas the characters wear for their audiences, so the premise of the acting/theater circuit is a perfect conduit for wearing masks.

James Baldwin once said “love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.”

Perhaps what makes Barry Berkman such an endearing yet terrifying character is his desire to remove the mask. He is the only character trying to shed his masks despite how ugly he is underneath. As an audience, we do not begrudge him for the violent deeds he commits. The other characters—Sally Reed and Monroe Fuches, as an example—we can begrudge them for choosing to wear the villainous mask while Barry is simply trying to remove it.

Sally easily masks her earnestness and kindness that once made her so relatable for a full tilt diva, thus setting her career on fire. She blames everyone rather than accept that in the world of show business, she is easily replaceable. Fuches literally creates a new identity as Ken Goulet with the intent to destroy Barry, his mentee. Gene Cousineau creates a kindly, genial persona to get back into the acting world, while NoHo Hank lives a double life to be with his closeted love. Not one of them admitted who they really were and layered mask upon mask to ensure no one ever discovered the deception.

This is what sets Barry apart. The very first episode he lays himself bare and reveals what kind of man he has been and what kind of man he wants to be. Love is his driving force—he fell in love with the theater at first sight. That love extends then to Sally and Gene and even to his targets. He cannot operate the way he used to because he took off his masks and it is too hard—even when he tries—to put it back on.

While everyone is demanding Barry to fit a particular role—hitman, boyfriend, protege—he is steadily fighting to be himself.

I root for Barry because his redemption arc, while full of hiccups and false starts, is genuine. The same cannot be said for the others. Informants, traitors, divas, liars, they all wear their masks. Barry is flawed, goofy, mediocre, but truly sincere.

I guess he’s not a tragic hero. He might just be a hero.

Seasons 1 through 3 are available now on HBOMax.