Barry Berkman (Bill Hader) is a former US Marine who now works as a hitman for Monroe Fuches (Stephen Root). Barry is clearly depressed and directionless. He doesn't like what he does but there is nothing else for him. Fuches has a new job: go to Los Angeles and kill a man who is screwing the wife of a Chechnyan gangster. Barry follows the man to an acting class and fumbles into being in a scene with his mark. Hey, that was kind of fun. And his mark is a cool guy. Because Barry dawdled on the hit, the Chechnyans kill the mark and Barry kills some of them. Barry is now determined to stay in California and pursue acting, but his hitman past won't stay in the past.
This is a particularly dark comedy. Is it comedy? The situations that Barry finds himself in are outrageous, which is what makes them funny. Barry plays it straight while many of the other characters are goofy. Henry Winkler as Gene Cousineau the acting teacher is particularly good. Anthony Carrigan is quirky as the number two man among the Chechnyans. He has a mild delivery of every line, whether it be compliments or threats. He is an entertaining yes-man with a peculiar look: completely bald and no eyebrows. Sarah Goldberg plays Barry's love interest, Sally Reed. She is an aspiring actress and the most talented member of Cousineau's class. For her, everything is acting and advancing her career. As such, she and Barry are on-again, off-again through the season. The central character, Barry, is something of a mush. He doesn't know what he wants, which seems very strange. Here is a man who kills people for a living, but he can't say 'no' to some of the dumbest ideas. His timidity in facing people leads to some truly horrendous outcomes.
Not great, but not bad either. Good enough that I will start the second season.
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