Barry
Barry Season 3 Episode 3 recap: Confession on “ben mendelsohn”
Barry Berkman openly confessed to Gene Cousineau about the truth of the disappearance of Janice Moss on tonight’s episode “ben mendelsohn”. Full Barry recap.
This Barry Season 3 recap contains spoilers for Episode 3 “ben mendelsohn”.
Disillusioned Gene Cousineau
Henry Winkler as Gene Cousineau, Bill Hader as Barry Berkman, and Eli Michael Kaplan as Gordon Cousineau. Photograph by Merrick Morton/ HBO
Tonight’s Barry episode opened with Gene Cousineau experiencing a thousand yard stare into nowhere… Before a makeup artist’s question about having ‘any kids’ brought him back to reality. Gene speaking about his grandson that’s 7 reminded him why he agreed to do a show with Barry post-kidnapping.
The series showrunner, Brian, reminiscences about how Gene threw hot tea in his face when he worked as a P.A. on Murder She Wrote because his omelette had chives.
Cousineau honestly doesn’t remember the incident and is surprised to learn he will receive a line on the show. All because of the Barry newspaper story about how Gene Cousineau changed his life as a veteran.
Barry jumps in, imposing his presence on a speechless Gene. “Mr. Cousineau, what do you say?” and Cousineau gives a lifeless “Thank you”. The familar Barry logo then flashes across the screen.
NoHo Hank Calls Monroe Fuches
Anthony Carrigan as NoHo Hank on Barry Season 3 Episode 3 “ben mendelsohn”. Photograph by Merrick Morton/ HBO
Faced with heat coming down on NoHo Hank’s Cristobal Sifuentes following Ferando’s raid on their operation last episode, NoHo Hank decides to make a call to Chechnya. Who picks up on the other end but Monroe Fuches!
NoHo Hank tries to implore Fuches to return, even mentioning Barry is not angry anymore. However, Fuches declines, finding his new life on a farm as a type of goat whisperer and a beautiful girlfriend in Chechnya to be the wholesome life he’d been searching for all along. Fuches calls it “his little slice of heaven” and that it turns out he’s a “natural at everything goat.”
Sally Reed does Press Interviews
Sarah Goldberg as Sally Reed on Barry Season 3 Episode 3 “ben mendelsohn”. Photograph by Merrick Morton/ HBO
We then cut away to Sally Reed getting prepared to do press interviews about her new series Joplin. Sally is worried about the types of questions she’ll be asked but instead is greeted with vapid, empty interviews. A complete satire of Los Angeles Hollywood press.
Sarah Goldberg as Sally Reed on Barry Season 3 Episode 3 “ben mendelsohn”. Photograph by Merrick Morton/ HBO
The interviews are short and fake, with simple clickbait questions. “Who do you think should be the next Spiderman?” which Sally responds with the episode namesake Ben Mendelsohn.
Sarah Goldberg as Sally Reed and D’Arcy Carden as Natalie Greer on Barry Season 3 Episode 3 “ben mendelsohn”. Photograph by Merrick Morton/ HBO
Every interview another buffet of empty calorie buzzwords and hashtags. “#YouGoGirl” avoiding any real substantive questions about Joplin the series… If the press members even watched it.
Barry openly confesses to Gene about Janice Moss
Gene Cousineau asks Barry man-to-man, “Did she (Janice) suffer?” in their trailer pre-shoot. Barry’s smile vanishes from his face and he shakes his head to indicate “No.” Gene then asks if Janice Moss figured out it was Barry that she was looking for. Barry closes his eyes uncomfortably.
Meanwhile, Gene realizes it could have all been avoided by not inviting Barry to his cabin. Gene asks who the guy who took him to the woods was, and Barry calls Fuches “Nobody” at first. But instead decides to be honest with Cousineau because he feels ‘they have a good thing going’. Barry calls him a ‘family friend’.
Cousineau asks if it’s Barry’s uncle and that’s who got Barry into “this line of work.” The former acting teacher than realizes the monologue Barry first gave him when they met was all true. Cousineau then remembers he “said it again at the dinner table” with Janice present. Gene then blames himself, believing if he never mentioned it, the love of his life, Janice, would still be alive.
Barry tries to make Gene feel better, telling him “Don’t put that on yourself. She was really good at her job. The whole thing is just unfortunate… You know?” Cousineau looks back at Barry with furious eyes full of rage.
Barry then comments that he believes based on Mr. Cousineau’s teachings that, “You can be the version of yourself that you want to be be.” Cousineau says he never said that to Barry and feels responsible for making Barry what he is now. Barry replies that he’s responsible for the “positive side”, and that meeting Mr. Cousineau changed his life for the better.
Barry, borderline delusional, mentions “That they’ve both done terrible things but we’re helping each other make up for it. I mean you got a line!” While Gene Cousineau returns back a death stare.
Bolivians ponder “cutting losses and going back home”
Cristobal Sifuentes convinces Fernando that they’ve got the Chechens on the run based on shooting empty tents last episode. Fernando agrees surprisingly and decides to take his elite squad back to Bolivia.
NoHo Hank points finger at Fernando
NoHo Hank attempted to convince the rest of the group that Fernando is the issue with their Bolivian rivalry. “Cristobal is a nobody. He’s like fourth in the line of command. Fernando is the real threat here.”
NoHo Hank claims he “knows someone crazy” for their planned operation against Fernando’s Bolivians… Meaning Barry.
Monroe Fuches calls Barry Berkman
Bill Hader as Barry Berkman on Barry Season 3 Episode 3 “ben mendelsohn”. Photograph by Merrick Morton/ HBO
Fuches makes a phone call to Barry while he’s already dressed on set, pre-shoot. He tells Barry he heard from Hank that “he’s fallen on hard times and he’s sorry to hear that.” Fuches tests the waters by asking if Barry is “going to come find him”, which Barry replies, “No.”
Fuches attempts to steal an apology from Barry but it doesn’t come… Which infuriates Fuches. He becomes increasingly sarcastic and bitter, “offering apology options” until Barry tells Fuches he doesn’t have time for this. And that he and Mr. Cousineau are fine now and handled the situation like adults. “So please don’t call me again.”
Laughing off his explanation, Fuches yells at Barry that he and Mr. Cousineau will “never move past that” because Barry “destroyed that guy’s life. Barry responds that now he’s making up to him through “acting”. The call ends with Fuches angrier that ever. Fuches and Barry’s relationship is even more on the rocks than last season if it was possible.
Fuches still resents Mr. Cousineau’s impact on Barry, unconsciously stealing his influence from him.
Gene Cousineau Punches Barry
During a set shoot, Barry in character puts a hand over Mr. Cousineau’s shoulder telling him, “What I did was terrible… And I’m truly sorry.” Leading Cousineau to punch Barry for real in retaliation.
The rest of the crew of course sees the moment as fantastic acting work, while Barry grabs at his jaw in pain. Cousineau walks off set and leaves.
NoHo Hank offers Barry job
Bill Hader as Barry Berkman on Barry Season 3 Episode 3 “ben mendelsohn”. Photograph by Merrick Morton/ HBO
A saddened Barry decides to take NoHo Hanks offer after declining previously on set. NoHo Hank sells Barry as the man man to do the job against the Bolivians, calling him the “Greek freak of assassins”. A fun reference to the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Monroe Fuches moved by fable of revenge
Fuches is inspired by his girlfriend speaking of an old fable of revenge. Where all former enemies are gathered with one common goal… In Fuches case, Barry.
Though his girlfriend mentions the tale is just fiction, “it’s not real”. Fuches responds, “But it could be.” Show Credits roll as Fuches is clearly thinking of returning home…
Watch Barry Season 3 Episode 3 “ben mendelsohn”
Release Date: Sunday, May 8
Air Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
Episode: “ben”
TV Channel: HBO
Barry Live Stream: HBO MAX.
Live Streaming Quality: HD Quality
Barry Season 3 Episode 3 Trailer
Barry Season 3 Cast Members
Bill Hader as Barry Berkman / Barry Block
Stephen Root as Monroe Fuches
Henry Winkler as Gene Cousineau
Sarah Goldberg as Sally Reed
Anthony Carrigan as NoHo Hank
Sarah Burns as Detective Mae Dunn
John Pirruccello as Detective John Loach
Michael Irby as Cristobal Sifuentes
Avital Ash as Madeline
D’Arcy Carden as Natalie Greer
Elsie Fisher as Katie Harris
Miguel Sandoval as Fernando
Joanna Sotomura as Casey
Jessy Hodges as Lindsay Mandel
Barry Season 3 Episode 3 was Directed by Alec Berg and written by Emma Barrie
More coverage of Barry Season 3:
– Read Barry Season 3 Early Review: Bill Hader’s best acting work ever
– Catch up on last season with our Barry Season 2 Finale recap: ‘berkman > block’ is darkest episode yet
– Discuss your theories with fellow Barry fans on our brand new Barry Forum.
– Go to the Barry articles section for more news, reviews, and recaps of the HBO TV series.
