The Barry Finale Let Cristobal Haunt Hank Until The Very End

This post contains spoilers for the series finale of "Barry."

The series finale of "Barry" (read /Film's review here) was filled with many unpredictable twists and turns but also managed to deliver a satisfying conclusion that was surprisingly heartfelt, even during some of the episode's most tense moments. As the show has gone on, the romance between Barry (Bill Hader) and Sally (Sarah Goldberg) has become a shadow of the blossoming relationship they once had, allowing for the tragic love affair between NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan) and Cristobal (Michael Irby) to take center stage. This last season has really been their story, and the events of the final episode, "wow," give them a fitting send-off that pays tribute to them both in a slightly ridiculous, but ultimately touching way. 

Since Cristobal's unplanned death back in episode 4, "It Takes A Psycho," Hank has gone on to build an empire in his deceased lover's name, going so far as to erect a gold statue in his honor. Prominently displayed in the lobby, Cristobal's statue is there for everyone to see, but it also serves as a constant, intentional reminder for Hank. It's just as much of a symbol of guilt as it is a shrine to his former partner. When things come to a head early on in the finale, Hank has to confront his past sins during a standoff against Fuches and his henchman, where suddenly it seems that Hank is battling his own demons instead of the small army of incompetent ex-cons standing in his way. 

Almost to a fault, "Barry" continues to subvert expectations, inventing a new kind of action choreography that never plays out in a conventional way. "Wow" was preceded by a classic setup where Sally and her son John were taken hostage by Hank to draw out Barry, making for all the trappings of a classic, bloody shootout. Instead, Fuches and his men arrive with guns pointed before Barry ever has a chance to play the hero. 

Fuches gives Hank an ultimatum, saying either they can all kill each other or Hank can admit that Cristobal's death was his fault, regardless of whether it was an accident or not. In prison, Fuches has been brutally molded, day in and day out, to become the man he truly is, and he wants Hank to admit that he's pretending to be someone he's not. Hank buckles under the pressure and breaks down from years of suppressed grief, with the statue of Cristobal leering behind him. 

It's an incredibly well-crafted shot that makes it appear as though the statue and the spirit of Cristobal are listening and judging Hank when he starts to tell the same story to Fuches that he's been trying to tell himself for years. But it wasn't an accident, and Hank finally breaks down in front of everyone, just before Fuches suddenly shoots him in the stomach, igniting the sudden burst of short-lived, almost comical violence that "Barry" has become famous for. 

Proving that the best moments in "Barry" always come at the most inopportune times, Hank passes away laying at the feet of Cristobal's statue clasping onto his golden hand. With his final breath, he becomes part of the memorial to the lover he had murdered, an image that would be almost laughable if it wasn't so unexpectedly heartbreaking.