Bill Hader. © 2018-2023 HBO, Alec Berg Inc. and Hanarply. Created by Bill Hader and Alec Berg.
Season 1-3 Review Here!
Watched it on HBO through Max
The Final Curtains... Oh wow. One of the best television shows of all time concludes and it ended in a glorious way. From the start of the show to the end, it was a wild journey. There was a lot to pack in from this intense final season. From the direction of this show to the comedy and even to the technical elements. It's a wild ride and I can say for sure that this season is fantastic from start to finish. Let's go back to LA and return to the theater and crime worlds, one last time...or more time? Story: Now in prison, Barry seeks forgiveness from those he has wronged, like acting teacher Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler) and ex Sally Reed (Sarah Goldberg). Barry knows that the road to forgiveness is longer than one phone call from jail. However, his enemies are still hunting him down and Barry must find a way out before his time on Earth concludes. When I first started watching this show for the first time last year, I thought it would be a bleak dark comedy with less drama and more comedic moments. I was wrong. Totally wrong. It balances not one or two genres, but four genres all at once. Drama, Comedy, Crime, and Romance. Those are the core genres that this show carries and every season dives into each one of them in a smooth way. It's brilliant, not with just its visuals, but its writing. Plus, whenever Bill Hader directs an episode, it goes in a crazy dramatic, and dark way. Since it's a comedy, he applies his comedy to dangerous situations that make fun of it or makes it serious through the eyes of the main character. It's done brilliantly and with this final season, he takes everything from the past three seasons into this jaw-dropping final season. It's the culmination of every character who has been affected by Barry in a small or big way. From the first frame to the final frame of the series, it's a huge payoff and this season is the darkest season in this series. It's beautiful, tragic, and emotional. All of the emotions are in this final season As a 30-minute comedy/drama show, the pacing of this show is flawless and there wasn't a single issue with its slow moments or even fast ones too. It sucks you into the story, especially where we left off from the ending of season 3. The story is more tighter now with all of the characters separated after the fallout of Barry. The plot gets denser after a specific episode which changes the stakes and expectations of what's to come next. How the story progress takes its time but it's very well done by going back and forth to each character's issues. It's a very tragic story and it does take a spin with its plot in the opposite direction but for the better of the story and its characters. It's mesmerizing how Bill Hader handles the plot in a unique take that only show has the capacity to do so. The characters here are fantastically written with each actor bringing these characters to life. Each character gets a human moment which is very memorable and sad. I really loved Sarah Goldberg's performance as Sally. She did a wonderful job with her character Fallout and her chemistry with Bill Hader. Anthony Carrigan gives an Emmy performance, especially in the final episode which sold me. There's not even a conversation about Stephen Root's performance as Fuches. He did a fantastic job with his role but what really made me believe his misunderstood character is his overarching arc and by the end, it's a satisfying end to his character story. The side characters are all amazing in this show including some of the smaller characters due to their performances. The one character that still gave this show some comedic light is Henry Winkler's character Gene Cousineau. His fallout is very dramatic but gets more tragically dark yet funny for utilizing Barry to capitalize on his story. It's done in a dramatic yet hilarious way due to Winkler's performance and his arc is unexpected by the time you see him for the last time. Everyone in this show is fantastic but I cannot forget the main star himself, Bill Hader as Barry Berkman. Bill really makes this show come to life and all over the direction in a good way.
Bill Hader as Barry is one of my favorite television characters of all time due to his simple backstory with his unique arc, everchanging personality, and masterful performance from Bill Hader. It's a simple character but filled with every emotion that makes his character stand out. His character is pretty fucked up but his comedic side is where he shines the brightest. Even in the darkest moments, there's some comedy from him. In this final season, his character arc gets more intense yet calmer after a specific episode. Without spoilers, he develops a whole new Barry personality but his old personality is still taking over him, even with the changes. Even if you take out some of the best writing of the character Barry, Bill Hader gives a fantastical performance with his iconic wide-eyes performance, and dark humor monotone. He embodies the character and when we see him for the final time, it feels like a culmination of his character arc, performance, and comedy of this show. The brilliance of his character is so well done due to the writing of the show. I love how we get more time with Sally and the other side characters this season. Everyone gets a shining moment in the film and Bill Hader makes sure that no character should be left behind. Everyone gets a conclusion and it's done very well. The comedy of this show is amazing and while there's more drama than comedy, it's more visual now. Visual gags really help make the dramatic scene more fun or meaningful. It's a beautifully darkly written show that lets the actors be the characters and embody them while giving nuanced material that makes the scenes come to life. All of the writing, performances, comedy, and action, come from the man himself but he directed the entire final season to give that Barry signature.
The directing here from Bill Hader is phenomenal. From his first directed pilot to the final episode, it's a massive improvement with every episode being very unique and engaging. Hader loves to do long takes with wide and close-up angles but it's so done very well. It's very beautiful and realistic at the same time. He lets the characters live in the scene and let the story sink in. It's done very well with tiny directing moments through cinematography, sound design, and visual cuts. Hader lets the scene unravel slowly with new information or information that we think we will get but it's done later. His scenes are slow but it takes time to get us into the scenes and be in the world of Barry. Plus, the amazing visuals on screen, make the story more immersive and grander in scope. The cinematography this season is fantastic with a lot of unique shots, lighting, interesting lens choices, and great visual gags. It's the best-looking season in the entire series. The sound design is fantastic as always with its beautiful gun noises, destruction, and use of dead silence to make it realistic yet informative of the context of the scene. I love the set design of the show this time around because it makes certain sequences have more depth with a particular critical plot moment in the season. It balances reality and comedy. No spoilers, but it works with the characters' situations and arcs. Overall, the technical side of this show is amazing and some of the best I have seen from a comedy show now these days. Plus, while there isn't a lot of action, the violent moments are very impactful and it impacts the feel of the episode whenever violence is shown particularly in this season. I love this approach and it works very well. Overall, the technical elements and directing are very fantastic and it defines what Barry really is, visually with storytelling being the front and center. I don't know how a simple black comedy turns into a dramatic yet comedic show that brings these characters into humans and has it so grounded yet unreal. Every direction is brilliant and the final episode caps it off very well with a satisfying ending for not just Barry, but every character who was affected by Barry. A farewell to the world around Barry. This show really made me invested in more prestige television shows and into more black comedy shows as well. Barry is phenomenal in every layer of television and filmmaking. It perfectly balances drama and comedy while still giving us a story that is impactful and engaging. So far, this is the best HBO show ever, and seeing this show end makes me sad not because it's ending, but what's going to hold HBO in the future. However, I'm hyped to see what will Bill Hader do next in his directing journey. He's a talented filmmaker and I hope his next project is going to be big. This is a show that I won't forget and it will hold a place in my filmmaking heart. What a grand way to end this show. The creative team did a fantastic job and I hope the best for those who made this show spectacular! Now Streaming on HBO and Max. Vizeit Score: "A+" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for continuing supporting my indie film website.) Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Cheif/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
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Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. © 2023 HBO, Naughty Dog, Sony Pictures Television, and PlayStation Productions. Directed by Craig Mazin. Show Created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann.
A Video Game Phenomenon Turned Into A Dark Gritty World With No Rules.
Pilot (Series Premiere) Review: I wasn't expecting that one of the best video games of all time turning into a series would be that good. But it sure is that good because of one reason. The reason is that they actually faithfully adapted it from the video game. Not just atmosphere, action, and characters. But the story itself with a person who is a fan of the video game. This is the best video game adaption in film/television ever and there is a lot to discuss. Pack up your backpack because we are about to go to travel across post-apocalyptic America and try not to get killed by clickers. Story: 20 years after an infectious disease has taken over most of the world's population, Joel finds himself traveling through what's left of the US with a girl who may just have the answer to bringing mankind back to life. The only problem is they aren't the only ones trying to survive through these desperate times. It's up to Joel to protect this girl in order to save humanity. As a huge fan of the video game, I was nervous going into this show. But with the original creator and Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) behind the camera, I had their trust and faith in adapting this beloved game into a show. But man oh man, after the pilot ended, I knew that immediately this is the best video game adaptation of all time. Without spoilers, the first half of the episode is a recreation of the opening act of the game but with added context. But the new content in this show helps expand the world and get more emotionally attached to these characters. I really love the opening sequence in this show. While it wasn't in the game, it builds up the tension of the rest of the show but also adds social commentary on the virus, health, and society when they begin reacting to some kind of fungus virus. There are brilliant moments in this show that help build the atmosphere and tone of the show. The aerial vehicles shown were haunting and it made the scene a little bit scary. When the infected are starting to kill people, that's when the show starts to show the dread of this virus. While the pacing is slow at first, it's done right to build up the relationship with these characters. When Joel, Tommy, and Sarah start leaving the house, that's where the pacing starts to pick up. The first half of the show is just amazing and it still holds the emotional impact from the first game. What really sold me at the end of the first half was that while I know what was going to happen, I still feel the impact because of the performances of these characters and their relationship together in the beginning. The old common quote "If ain't broken, don't fix it". They kept it faithful but added the style of Mazin to keep it fresh. Craig Mazin really directed the hell out of this show and maintained the core of what TLOU worked. It's beautifully done and the heartbreaking scene still hits hard. But there's more in the second half.
The second half of the show is also amazing and the production design of the show is absolutely masterful. I really loved how the world and society are now just tired and dying. The greenery and brownish show how this world is collapsing. The VFX on this show is incredible for television and I loved how they relied on sets rather than just VFX. It shows that the executive producers really gave a shit about making an actually good adaption and they overachieved it. There are some plot moments that have changed and it's fast-paced in the second half. But those changes really add dramatic tension to some of those moments. For the characters, it added personality and character to what they have gone through. I really love those raw moments when it's people trying to survive for just one damn moment. There are clever directing and editing moments that reshape Joel for the better and it adds to the relationship between Joel and Ellie. The plot is mostly the same as the games but with some new content and altered moments that really help keep this story fresh while being faithful to the original story. This is what adaption should be and they achieved it very well. On its entertainment value, it's very great and I really loved the dramatic action sequences in this pilot. I cannot forget about the performances and cast because the casting director really nailed it. Pedro Pascal as Joel is so fucking good. While he kind of looks like Joel, his performance really captures who Joel really is and I was so into his portrayal of this character. Gabriel Luna as Tommy is the perfect casting choice because of his performance and voice. Literally, it sounds almost like the exact voice from the video game and I bought his personality. Bella Ramsey is also fantastic as Ellie and she captures how Ellie would react and the voice is legit perfection. She really captures the character very well and it goes for the rest of the cast as well. The only actor from the video game that came back to reprise their role in live-action was Merle Dandridge as Marlene. Her performance was so natural and it felt so uncanny at some points because it's the exact character and actor from the original video game. Everyone in the cast did a wonderful job including Nico Parker as Sarah by bringing a powerful performance. I can smell an Emmy nomination for the best guest actor. I cannot praise enough the production of this pilot. The world feels so lived in because of its production design once again. The sets are amazing and I dig the cinematography in this show. I can't lie that the cinematography looked like a Netflix show for a bit in the beginning but once it got to the night scenes in the first half, it looks incredible. I hope in future episodes they go crazy with the cinematography and lighting. While it's just the first episode, I cannot praise the world they have built and I'm happy they are exploring more of this virus because I love when shows or movies explore the creation and lore of this virus. I cannot wait for what's to come into this show. It's going to be a wild ride from start to finish.
I would say the only nitpicks would be the cinematography in the beginning but besides that, I can't find any more critiques. There will be some critiques in the future but I hope they continue to give us a wild faithful adaptation. This is a groundbreaking television series not just for video games but for television as well. It's completely faithful to the original game with heartbreaking performances, beautiful production, and amazing direction to make this show as fresh as possible. I cannot wait for more episodes every Sunday and I hope they make it more heartbreaking because why not. This show is too good. Thank you, HBO for making an actual amazing video game adaption, unlike Uncharted. Big bruh moment for Sony. Now Streaming and on cable only on HBO and HBO Max. Vizeit Score: "A+" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2023. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. |
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