Every one of the ten reviews is positive, and nearly all of them land on the same thing: Bill Hader. Critics describe his hitman as weary, anxious and closed off, and credit the performance with holding together a series that swings between violent crime drama and a satire of hopeful actors in Los Angeles. The blend of tones is the second point of agreement; most critics find the two halves sit together rather than jar, and several note that the show cares more about Barry’s depression and his search for a purpose than about jokes. Henry Winkler’s acting teacher and the Chechen mob material draw particular mention.
The reservations are mild and few. Variety finds the caper elements somewhat derivative and the violence graphic, and sits, with The Guardian, at the lower end. The spread is otherwise narrow, from good to very good, with Collider alone calling it one of the best debuts in recent memory.