3 Hard to Watch Shows that are Worth It: Barry, Under the Banner of Heaven & Better Call Saul
Under the Banner of Heaven, Barry, and Better Call Saul are all pretty hard to watch at times. That's a common thread with these three flicks. Some shows challenge you and oftentimes those are the ones that are the most rewarding.
The challenges in these shows are things like conversations about depressing and violent situations, deep analysis of and focus on trauma, and attention to details in ways that bring the pace of the show to that of a snail.
A scene from Under the Banner of Heaven.
The thing is, these ‘challenges’ really pay off for the viewer in the end because the show dives deep into the issues. They are dealing with heavy, real-life issues and dive deep enough so they are not only telling an amazing story, they are respecting the seriousness of the subject matter.
Hard to Watch Aspects of These Shows
Barry: Violence, dealing with death, not being able to categorize the show as one thing, suicide, domestic abuse
Better Call Saul: Violence, slow pace and highly focused on the details, suicide, legal manipulation
Under the Banner of Heaven: Murder including of a 15 month old, religious extremism, domestic abuse
I only describe them as ‘hard to watch’ or ‘challenges’ to speak to a viewer who is more casual, looking for more immediate rewards from what they are watching. These may not be the best shows to watch for a viewer like that, but for someone like me, it is what I love most about shows and movies.
I need to feel invested for me to care. I’m not one for cheap tricks and cool spectacles in this form of entertainment. I like to dive deeper into these worlds and sometimes a little bit of a challenge is essential to the integrity of the story. This is especially true when the show's subject matter deals with high-stakes scenarios.
Under the Banner of Heaven: A Dark Portrayal of Mormon Religion
The premise and focal point of the show is a heinous murder involving a 15-month-old baby and her mother. This almost deterred me from the show because I have a 16-month-old daughter and I just didn’t know if I had the capacity or the head space to watch something like this.
I thought it might bring too much anxiety. It ended up being high-level artistic entertainment on the Hulu screen and me and my wife were both able to enjoy it. For me, the story was so built out that I was able to have an enjoyable escape in the same way I do listening to true crime podcasts, despite the heavy subject matter. This show should definitely come with a trigger warning to new parents.
It was a sensitive subject matter unraveled in a very meaningful and balanced delivery.
Barry: Laughs That Dissolve Into Shock
It’s surprising to even me, but I think this might be a tougher watch than Under the Banner of Heaven — a show where a baby gets murdered. Under the Banner of Heaven focuses more on the psychology and generational effects of the Morman religion, but Barry focuses more keenly on the psychology of the individuals who die, and those closest to them.
It is very dark but has comical elements. The funny moments in Barry are funny for about 5 seconds, until I realize how sad and dark they actually are. For example in season 3, when Barry is being chased by the motorcycle crew in the great scene on the highway and into a car dealership, there is real humor in how Barry is reacting nonchalantly to a situation that should be dire to him. Plus the sound editing of bystanders reacting, gunshots booming, and motorcycles speeding somehow becomes comical — but it’s also terrifying when you really consider the reality of it.
You laugh for a second then it turns to a “damn, that was an active shooter scenario.” Then you’re kind of mind blown by how the show brought out such a mix of emotions that you can’t help but appreciate it.
Better Call Saul: Less Dark Than Breaking Bad
In comparison to Under the Banner of Heaven, Better Call Saul is a breeze to watch in terms of darkness, which is a surprise because it's a descendent of a notorious hard-to-watch show, Breaking Bad.
Remember the scene in Breaking Bad where Jesse's girlfriend chokes to death? Or when Todd shoots the child? Or when Todd make Jesse watch him murder Andrea? That was pretty brutal.
Saul is suspenseful, not necessarily gut wrenching. The deaths and tragic scenarios are more spread out and less concentrated than Under the Banner of Heaven and Barry. But when they happen they hit hard.
These Shows Are As Good As It Gets
All of these shows were released on a week to week basis. Now that they are all finished (better call Saul just finished part 1 of its final season, with part 2 releasing this summer), go binge watch them and comment here how you feel about them!
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