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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
We are back to catch up on Alec Berg and Bill Hader’s HBO crime comedy-drama series, Barry, Season 3. Following the “ben mendelsohn” episode, we now learn that patience is key. The fourth episode of the season is titled, “all the sauces”. It is written by the series supervising producer Jason Kim and directed by Berg.
In this review, I will be discussing Barry Season 3 Episode 4. There will be no spoilers here, as the title of this article suggests. Nonetheless, please read ahead at your own discretion to avoid any possible revelations.
Plot Synopsis
According to WarnerMedia’s pressroom, here is the logline for Barry Season 3 Episode 4— “all the sauces”.
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Discussion
NOTE: It should be known that I got to see the first six out of eight episodes of Barry Season 3. This is my second time watching these episodes.
At just a little over thirty-one minutes, we are given yet another excellent episode with Kim’s superb teleplay writing and Tiernan’s well-done cinematography (especially in scenes involving Barry’s interactions with a device or his partner). Even Greer and Vidale bring smooth editing and transitions via the editing department. In “all the sauces”, everything comes full circle when it comes to the series protagonist, Barry Berkman/ Block (Bill Hader), and for a reason currently out of his control. There are some parts of the episode that I feel are worth highlighting.
In one subplot, we have Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler) dealing with the outcome of the previous episode. The character is informed of how well he performed in the Laws of Humanity series; and it seems the whole town knows because Cousineau is encountering people from his past who would, prior to, not give him a second thought.
Then, there is Sally Reed’s (Sarah Goldberg) part of the narrative involving the Joplin premiere. She does not let anything get in her spotlight. That is until she learns of what people think of her show. This leads her down a strange slippery slope that could lead to something good or something bad for her career. (I know what happens but you will have to wait until the next two episodes to find out what that is.)
Lastly, we have Barry with a bomb given to him by NoHo Hank (Anthony Carrigan), as teased in the previous episode. What is important to note here, specifically, is the bomb theory, which was once proposed by Alfred Hitchcock. This theory supposes that the bomb must never go off until deemed necessary, and the suspense is our anticipation of the detonation.
As always, the writers’ room does an outstanding job at balancing comedy with drama. The characters continue to fight through the roles they’re socially subjected to — Cousineau being a hated individual in the Hollywood industry, Reed in her journey to fame, and Barry as a hitman — but it always comes at a cost.
The Crew of Barry
Barry is created by Alec Berg and Bill Hader.
Berg, Hader, Aida Rodgers, and Liz Sarnoff serve as the executive producers of the series. Julie Camino and Duffy Boudreau serve as the producers. Emily Heller and Jason Kim serve as the supervising producers. Artūrs Rūsis and Amy Solomon serve as the co-producers.
Sherry Thomas and Sharon Bialy serve as the casting directors of the show. Stacia Kimler is the casting associate. Mindy Rengrudkij and Ashley Albans are the casting assistants, while Rich King and Lou Verdi serve as the extras casting.
Darran Tiernan serves as the director of photography. Ali Greer serves as the editor, while Anton Vidale is the assistant editor. Emma Barrie serves as the executive story editor.
Wade Allen serves as the stunt coordinator.
David Wingo composes the music of the series. Liza Richardson serves as the music supervisor. Michael Brake is the music editor.
Eric Schoonover is the production designer. Chrisi Karvonides-Dushenko serves as the costume designer, while Jackie Martinez serves as the assistant costume designer. Meagan Smith serves as the costumer, while Keren Rosenthal serves as the costume production assistant. Andrew Leitch serves as the art director, while Curtis Moore and Rachel Scott are the assistant art directors. Rachael Ferrara is the set decorator.
Leo Corey Castellano serves as the head of the make-up department. Denise Dellavalle is the assistant head, while Ruth Haney serves as the make-up artist.
Katherine Kousakis serves as the head of the hairstyling department. Amanda Bourne is the assistant head, while Sarah Ault serves as the hairstylist.
The Cast of Barry
Bill Hader portrays the titular character, Barry Berkman/ Barry Block.
Stephen Root is credited as Monroe Fuches/ Kenneth Goulet, while Sarah Goldberg portrays Sally Reed. Anthony Carrigan plays NoHo Hank, while Sarah Burns is credited as Detective Mae Dunn. Henry Winkler portrays Gene Cousineau.
Elizabeth Perkins guest stars as Diane Villa. D’Arcy Carden plays Natalie Greer, while Michael Irby portrays Cristobal Sifuentes. Jessy Hodges plays Lindsay Mandel, Sally’s agent, while Miguel Sandoval plays Fernando.
Fred Melamed plays Tom Posorro, Cousineau’s agent of thirty years. Michael Bofshever plays George Krempf, Ryan Madison’s father; while Joe Mantegna appears as himself.
Annabeth Gish plays Julie, a woman whose husband was killed in the series pilot. Andrew Leeds plays Leo Cousineau. Nick Gracer and Turhan Troy Caylak appear as Yandal and Akhmal, members of the Chechen mafia, respectively.
Elsie Fisher plays Katie. Alexander MacNicoll plays Kyle, the son of the murdered man in the pilot. Joanna Sotomura plays Casey.
Eliza Shin stars as Sally’s publicist. Silvia McClure voices Fay. Rob Flowers appears as a gun dealer. Brooke Baumer and Bob Brunson play a woman and a man at the Joplin premiere, respectively.
Yurel Echezarreta, Fernando Huc, and Oscar Peña also star. Avital Ash plays Madeline from E! News, and Carmine DiBenedetto plays Taylor. Brittany Baker plays a reporter, while Daniel Montgomery plays Mike, a member of the press. Benjamin Hardy plays Phil.
Performances and Character Developments
The writers do a great job at balancing levity and gravity in Winkler’s, Goldberg’s, and Hader’s characters. With Cousineau, I laughed at how much he wants to leave Los Angeles due to him breaking his agreement with Barry. When he holds up two suitcases in front of his son, Leo (Andrew Leeds), they disassemble. This is much like the gun that he held at the end of the season premiere. I enjoy how much the actor portrays this character all while keeping a straight face.
Goldberg’s Reed is just as wonderful, especially when she is on stage at her show’s premiere. I think her reaction to critics and Rotten Tomatoes is interesting; I know of many people who care about scores and ratings and not so much about the substance and content of the media they consume. The character dealing with the revelation of how much Joplin is worth is crucial to her development. I love how she tries to cry but no tears are actually shed; this had me laughing and wondering if this is a performance from only Goldberg as Reed or Goldberg’s Reed performing within the performance.
Her dynamic with her co-star, Katie (Elsie Fisher) is another element of the plot that I want to take into consideration. This weighs down on her development even more, as Katie serves as someone who provides something of a reality check to see where Reed is at in terms of her humanity; and that will be a test of her character.
Hader’s performance in “all the sauces” is just as good, including his scene where he deals with the detonator. As the protagonist, he has done terrifically throughout the course of the series; and in this episode, I believe the detonator is his shining moment.
Final Thoughts on Barry Season 3 Episode 4
“all the sauces” is an interesting episode of Barry. Everything about it is preserved in different subplots, their goodnesses lasting as long as they can, much like sauces. The cinematography, screenwriting, and performances add essence to the flavor of the narrative. Stay tuned for the next two episodes of the season. The plot is only getting juicier, and I cannot wait to see how it ends.
Barry Season 3 is now airing on HBO!
Have you seen Alec Berg and Bill Hader’s series? If so, then what are your thoughts on it so far? Let us know! For more dark comedy and drama-related news and reviews visit and follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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