20 Best TV Shows Of 2018

15. Barry

Barry Bill Hader
HBO

In Barry, which Bill Hader created with Silicon Valley and Seinfeld writer Alec Berg, the SNL veteran portrays the titular character, a serial killer from the Midwest who moves to Los Angeles for a hit, but quickly falls in with a local theatre group.

Hader's comedic talents have been evident for some time now, but it's rare he gets to show them off alongside his actual dramatic chops too. The Skeleton Twins gave us a glimpse, but Barry is the best showcase yet for Hader's abilities as more than just a funny guy.

The show is blackly comic as the two strands of Barry's lives intertwine, despite his desperate attempts to stop them. It's laugh-out-loud funny at portraying both aspects, and supporting players like Henry Winkler and Sarah Goldberg only add to that. Where the series truly shines, though, is when it gets to the tragedy of Barry's work, or his efforts to become an actor, with Hader expertly conveying the poignancy and weight behind his life decisions.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.