"yikes" is the first episode of the fourth season of the American dark comedy crime television series Barry. It is the 25th overall episode of the series and was written 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 16, 2023, and also was available on HBO Max on the same date. The episode aired back-to-back with the follow-up episode, "bestest place on the earth".
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 is now in prison after his arrest. Meanwhile, Hank and Cristobal plan a new strategy, while Sally moves back to Joplin.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.274 million household viewers and gained a 0.05 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the new story arcs, performances, directing and character development.
Plot
Following his arrest, Barry (Bill Hader) is now in prison. He makes a phone call to Gene (Henry Winkler), asking him if he collaborated with Jim Moss (Robert Ray Wisdom) in his capture. When Barry says he loves him, Gene says "I got you" before hanging up. Gene meets with attorneys, where he intends to serve as a witness in the coming trial against Barry. Jim convinces him not to talk with the press to honor his daughter's memory.
As she arrives in Joplin, Missouri, Sally (Sarah Goldberg) is surprised by the amount of text messages she received during the flight. She is informed by Lindsay (Jessy Hodges) about Barry's arrest, also telling her he was with her when he killed Moss, which shocks her. After her mother Claudia (Romy Rosemont) picks her up, she has a nervous breakdown. In prison, Fuches (Stephen Root) is shocked to find Barry there. He tries to make a deal with authorities, where he can reveal more about Barry's crimes. Fuches states he can help them by using a wire, as long as he is given freedom. He approaches Barry to get a confession, but instead, Barry states that he was right about Gene and that he regrets taking acting lessons, apologizing to him. He leaves, which seems to move Fuches.
Hank (Anthony Carrigan) and Cristobal (Michael Irby) have now moved to a temporary remote house in Santa Fe, New Mexico and are considering retiring from their criminal lives. Informed about the struggles of importing sand for profit, Cristobal suggests using his criminal contacts to make money. Hank, who has been struggling with insomnia since the events in Bolivia, is not particularly fond of the idea. He is also surprised when he calls Barry and is answered by another person, eventually discovering his arrest. This prompts him to move back to Los Angeles with Cristobal. In Joplin, Sally is distracted by Barry's revelations and is also disheartened when she sees that her father Joe (Michael Dempsey) has turned her bedroom into a man cave. Per Joe's insistence, they watch her series Joplin, which Claudia is not fond of. She particularly criticizes how Sally used Sam's name as part of her abuse story for the series. Sally lashes out at her, calling her out for not helping her.
Back at prison, Barry lashes out at himself in a bathroom. A guard, Birdwell, tries to calm him down by claiming that while he knows his crimes, he does not think he is a bad person. Barry dismisses his claims, angrily telling him that he kills cops and he could kill him and his entire family. The guard then locks the room and takes out his baton. Barry then recalls a childhood memory where he was running in a field, before regaining consciousness on the floor, having been beaten by Birdwell. Fuches uses his informant status to drive away the guard and talk to Barry, disposing of his wire. He tends to Barry, apologizing for using him. That night, Gene calls a Vanity Fair reporter named Lon O'Neil (Patrick Fischler), intending to reveal how he caught Barry.
Production
Development
In April 2023, the episode's title was revealed as "yikes" and it was announced that series creator and lead actor Bill Hader had written and directed the episode. This was Hader's tenth writing credit, and his eleventh directing credit.