Barry

Barry Berkman, a former U.S. Marine and low-level hitman from Cleveland, travels to Los Angeles to execute a hit on an actor connected to a mobster's wife. However, upon following his target into an acting class taught by Gene Cousineau, Barry becomes drawn to the community of aspiring actors and discovers a new passion for acting. This newfound pursuit offers him a chance to escape the loneliness, depression, and violence of his former life, though he finds it difficult to cut ties with his handler Monroe Fuches and the criminal world, including figures like the Chechen mobster NoHo Hank. The series explores Barry's internal conflict as he attempts to reconcile his violent past with his desire for redemption and normalcy through art. Throughout the series, Barry's struggle deepens as he tries to balance his dual life, safeguarding secrets from those around him while wrestling with guilt and trauma from his military service and hitman career. Themes of identity, morality, and the search for connection emerge, especially in Barry's complicated relationships with his acting mentor Gene Cousineau and fellow student Sally Reed, who becomes his romantic interest. The show mixes dark comedy and crime drama, exploring the absurdity and tragedy of Barry's circumstances within the backdrop of Hollywood's acting community.