You're charming

"you're charming" is the third episode of the fourth season of the American dark comedy crime television series Barry. It is the 27th overall episode of the series and was written by Emma Barrie and directed by series creator Bill Hader, who also serves as lead actor. It was first broadcast on HBO in the United States on April 23, 2023, and also was available on HBO Max on the same date.

The series follows Barry Berkman, a hitman from Cleveland who travels to Los Angeles to kill someone but finds himself joining an acting class taught by Gene Cousineau, where he meets aspiring actress Sally Reed and begins to question his path in life as he deals with his criminal associates such as Monroe Fuches and NoHo Hank. The previous seasons saw Barry try to decide between both lives, which culminated in his arrest. In the episode, Barry's actions unleash consequences, as Hank hires hitmen to kill him in prison. Meanwhile, Gene finds that his exaggerated description of his relationship with Barry may have severe consequences to Barry's incoming trial.

According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.208 million household viewers and gained a 0.03 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim from critics, who praised the episode's humor, character development, performances and Hader's directing. For the episode, Bill Hader received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Plot
As their crew is ecstatic over the arrival of the imported sand, Hank (Anthony Carrigan) and Cristobal (Michael Irby) meet with "Toro" (Guillermo del Toro). Toro has agreed to send hitmen to kill Barry (Bill Hader), specifically two brothers named Nestor and Chuy Flores who host for a well-known gadget review podcast, though Hank observes that none of the gadgets work.

District Attorney Buckner (Charles Parnell) informs Gene (Henry Winkler) and Tom Posorro (Fred Melamed) that Barry is making a deal with the FBI. He advises Gene to not say anything, believing that the evidence will be on their side. As they drive, Gene tells Tom about the one-man performance he gave to Lon O'Neil (Patrick Fischler), causing Tom to crash his car. He angrily chastises Gene for his actions, telling him they must stop the article from being published. In prison, Barry has informed the FBI agents about Hank and Cristobal's relationship. They intend to honor their deal, informing him that his companion, Sally (Sarah Goldberg), will have to be questioned as she must leave her life behind. Barry is visited by Lon O'Neil, who wants to hear his side of the story based on the accusations that Gene made. An angry Barry leaves their conversation, telling him that Gene should shut up. Lon then decides to visit Jim (Robert Wisdom), telling him he spoke with Gene.

Sally has started an acting class, intending to serve as teacher. The class is aware of the recent media push against her, but state that they support her, which delights her and motivates her to be more free-spirited in her methods. Fuches (Stephen Root) is informed by Hank that their problem with Barry will end that day, with Hank advising him to keep his mouth shut. Hank is shocked to discover Batir (JB Blanc) in his compound. Batir warns him that he can join him in his criminal organization again or Hank will be killed. Meanwhile, Gene and Tom break into Lon's house, wreaking havoc throughout the house. Lon's wife is actually inside and informs Gene that Lon went to visit Jim, disturbing Gene. Gene arrives to talk with Jim, who confronts him for speaking with Lon. Jim remarks that Lon won't talk with anyone after talking with him in his garage. Lon arrives home, with no evidence of anything, now speaking only in German.

While hearing monologues, Sally is taken aback by a performer, Kristen (Ellyn Jameson), who arrived unprepared. She humiliates her in front of the class as Gene once did to Sally until Kristen confidently recites the "I am big! It's the pictures that got small" line from Sunset Boulevard. Sally's attitude is lambasted by her students, with Sally excusing it as she learned it from Gene's lessons. After a break, Sally finds that her whole class has left, except for Kristen. While she does not like her, Kristen has booked a gig and wants Sally's help to prepare. Back in prison, Barry calls Hank, telling him that he must catch Gene, claiming he has vital information against Hank. Hank confronts Barry on his lies, stating he knows that he talked to the FBI. Barry exchanges insults with a calmed Hank before hanging up, with Hank cutting him out of his life.

Having watched Rain Man and seeing a connection to the characters, Fuches decides to warn the officers about the hit on Barry, but his claims are dismissed. Barry has been escorted to meet WITSEC Agent James Curtis (Dan Bakkedahl), who wants to make it clear that he wants full cooperation from Barry. Barry notices one of the officers accompanying Curtis appearing nervous and identifies him to the agents as someone sent to kill him. The hitman, Nestor (Fred Armisen), fails in his attempt, blowing off his own finger with his faulty gadget gun pen. His brother Chuy, hiding in the ceiling, kills all of the agents and officers in the room. Barry takes a gun, kills Chuy, and sneaks away, while the prison is placed on lockdown. The guards and warden Reynolds (Richard Riehle) arrive at the office, seeing the massacre took place, also discovering that Barry is nowhere to be found.

Development
In April 2023, the episode's title was revealed as "you're charming" and it was announced that Emma Barrie had written the episode while series creator and lead actor Bill Hader had directed it. This was Barrie's second writing credit, and Hader's thirteenth directing credit.

Casting


The episode featured a guest appearance by Guillermo del Toro, who appears as a criminal known as "El Toro" to help Hank and Cristobal in killing Barry. Del Toro had expressed admiration for the series and is friends with Hader, asking for a part in the series. Hader wrote the role specifically for him, and del Toro accepted, bringing his own cane to use in character.

Ratings
The episode was watched by 0.208 million viewers, earning a 0.03 in the 18-49 rating demographics on the Nielson ratings scale. This means that 0.03 percent of all households with televisions watched the episode. This was a slight decrease from the previous episode, which was watched by 0.216 million viewers with a 0.04 in the 18-49 demographics.

Critical reception
"you're charming" received critical acclaim reviews from critics. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an approval rating of 100% based on 6 reviews, with an average rating of 8.7/10. Steve Greene of IndieWire gave the episode an "A" and wrote, "So, in its own way, this week's 'You're Charming' finds Barry tapping into some of its old spirit again. From the opening sequence providing a 'Hey, that guy looks kinda like Guillermo Del Toro... Wait, that is Guillermo Del Toro!' moment, all the way through the ever-reliable Richard Riehle nailing the 'Oh shit. Where the hell is Berkman!' button, the weirdness here has gone back to being an inherent part of the show rather than something that merely happens to the people at its center." Josh Spiegel of /Film wrote, "'you're charming' is another suitably tense episode, and one that once again makes clear that while few of the characters on this show are truly good people, Barry Berkman has quickly become the worst of them."

Alan Sepinwall of Rolling Stone wrote, "'You're Charming' was a potent reminder of how consistently funny Barry can be when it wants, even as the episode's two centerpiece scenes involved emotional trauma and then shocking violence." Ben Rosenstock of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "'You're Charming' is structured around the hit, with most of the half-hour deriving its tension from the dramatic irony of us knowing what Barry doesn't. We see him go through with the deal, spilling the beans about Hank and Cristobal's 'crime utopia' and fully assuming everything will work out for him, including Sally's cooperation. Fuches even tries to save Barry's life from his separate cell block, though his warnings about something going down in special housing get ignored."

Matt Schimkowitz of The A.V. Club gave the episode a "B+" and wrote, "There were times in this episode the show felt a little expository, as if we were seeing more setup than payoff. Still, I can't stop thinking about it as a whole. There's so much magic in this episode: the camera work in the opening shot, the home invasion, Sally's close-up, the cameos that never feel overplayed, Han Zimmer's Rain Man theme needle-drop... There's no scene without something original or strange or worth seeing. These killers tap into their ugliest versions as those around them chew Skittles, serve them jalapeño poppers, and enjoy their podcasts. That's crime utopia, and it remains sublime television."

Accolades
Bill Hader submitted the episode to support his nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.