Ep 2. The Power of No

Barry season 2 episode 2, titled "The Power of No," continues the thrilling dark comedy story of a former Marine, hitman and aspiring actor, Barry Berkman (Bill Hader), trying to leave his criminal past behind.

The episode picks up where the previous one left off, with Barry and his acting class rehearsing a scene for an upcoming showcase. Sally (Sarah Goldberg), Barry's love interest and classmate, is struggling to perform her monologue and receives feedback from Gene (Henry Winkler), their teacher, on how to improve it.

Meanwhile, Barry is trying to juggle his acting ambitions with his criminal activities as he helps Fuches (Stephen Root) track down a new target, Esther (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), the wife of an Icelandic mob boss who wants her silenced.

Barry goes behind Sally's back and takes the lead in their showcase scene, which annoys her as it's her chance to shine. Frustrated, Sally confronts Gene, seeking acknowledgement for her talents and claiming Barry is holding her back. Gene responds with a motivational speech about the power of saying "no" to Barry's toxic influence and empowering herself.

In the middle of all this, the target unexpectedly shows up at Barry's acting class, interrupting their rehearsing. Trying to act normal, Barry cocks up and alerts Esther, who escapes before he can kill her.

The situation complicates further when the Icelandic mob boss contacts the Chechens, who are angry and vow to kill Barry and Fuches if they don't deliver Esther. The Chechen mob boss Goran (Glenn Fleshler) turns to Noho Hank (Anthony Carrigan), his hilarious and likable henchman, to deal with the situation.

As the noose tightens around Barry's neck, he's forced to make tough choices and confront his inner demons and decide whether he's truly committed to leaving his criminal past behind. Meanwhile, Gene encourages Sally to take charge of her future by refusing to play by Barry's rules.

The episode is another stellar installment in the Emmy-winning series, with its trademark mixture of violence, dark humor, and character development. Hader proves once again to be both a fantastic actor and writer, taking the audience on a wild ride through his conflicted protagonist's mind.

The direction by Bill Hader and writer-producer Alec Berg is crisp and confident, allowing the story to flow naturally without any plot contrivances or cheap gimmicks. The supporting cast also shines, especially Winkler and Carrigan's Noho Hank, who is one of the series' breakout characters.

Overall, Barry season 2 episode 2, "The Power of No," is a must-watch episode that successfully balances tension, comedy, and pathos, leaving viewers wanting more.