On a strictly episode-by-episode basis, this season doesn't really stand out quality-wise from the previous two. Just like before, there's some good episodes and a few truly great ones, at about the same rate as before. It's also the least focused of the three, with each character essentially isolated to their own storylines with only less and less overlap as the episodes go on. But when taken as a whole entity, this is easily the show at its peak and that's saying something. The narrative it creates, reframing the entire central question of whether or not Barry will escape his violent life that the first two seasons asked as nothing more than a farce, is the most brilliant choice they could have possibly made. It tells you, the audience member who was hoping Barry would somehow live the life he wanted to, that you were wrong for ever having that hope. And that's a far more interesting answer to the question than I think a lot of shows in a similar position would go with. I cannot wait for next season.

Favorite episode: starting now