Warning: This will reveal spoilers from Barry’s latest episode, “it takes a psycho.“The latestBarryepisode, “it takes a psycho,” displayed one of the show’s latest and most shocking twists it’s ever had - killing off Cristobal Sifuentes. In light of the show killing off one of its biggest mainstays since season 1, star and showrunner Bill Hader admitted that the writing staff did not initially want Sifuentes dead while developing the fourth season’s fourth episode.
Because Sifuentes was not only one of theHBOshow’s most likable characters but also wanted to play it straight following the collapse of his drug operation, the writers were none too pleased with Hader when he suggested that the show kill him off. Not only that, but it was also Hader’s idea for Sifuentes' death to be at the hands of his partner and lover,Anthony Carrigan’s NoHo Hank.
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While talking with Sean Fennessy ofThe Ringer, Hader delved into what happened when he brought up the idea of killing off Cristobal to theBarrywriters. “I came into the writer’s room, and I said, while we were doing press and episode three was coming out, ‘I think Cristobal’s gonna have to die, and I think Hanks’ got to be responsible for it.' Except for Duffy Boudreau, everyone kind of fought me on it.” Hader added the counter-proposals regarding Cristobal’s fate that were thrown at him instead of dying. “It was one of those things where I left the room, so they could all vent. I came back in, and it was pitches of like, ‘Can’t Cristobal be a kept man, like he’s a part of this new regime, but he’s unhappy?’ and I was like, ‘Would Cristobal do that? I don’t think Cristobal’s that kind of person. He’s pretty strong.'”
Saddest of all, Cristobal’s death manifested itself because Hank was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He had to continue running a perfectly legal sand operation - knowing it would lead to his eventual death - or return to the Chechen mafia to run the drug operation. He took the latter hoping Cristobal would understand that he was saving both of their lives. Despite his involvement in drug rings, Cristobal is a good person who stuck to his guns - as evidenced by his standing up to his father-in-law when confronted about his affair with Hank in season 3 - so Hank’s hopes all proved to be wishful thinking.
All indications going intoBarryseason 4were that not only would the dark tone from season 3 continue, but it would only get worse from there. Cristobal’s shocking death is living proof of that. Not just because it’s the one twist that hardly anyone would have seen coming, but also knowing that his fate was sealed the moment he left Hank. Not because Hank was a possessive partner but because he knew the Chechens would kill Cristobal if he elected to leave. The effectiveness of Cristobal’s death was not just in how surprising it was but also in how tragic it came to be since Hank was responsible for it.
Cristobal’s death should also be a fair warning to audiences that no one in this show is safe. WithBarryexpected to end after its fourth season, and with the unexpected time jump that occurred at the end of its fourth episode, so much can happen between episodes five and eight.Gene Cousineau may remain paranoid and unstablefollowing his betrayal of Barry and Barry’s escape. Sally is trusting her life in the hands of a cold-blooded assassin. Barry Berkman has who knows how many enemies on the outside at this point. Cristobal’s death served as arguably the show’s biggest twist, but it may have just been the first domino.
Barryseason 4 will air its final episodes on HBO and stream them on HBO Max on Sundays.
