“Barry” has a very cruel sense of humor, and not just because of the violence. The series is unafraid to take characters who are in pain and make them the butt of a joke. This is the case with Detective John Loach (John Pirruccello), the partner of Janice Moss (Paula Newsome). Although they are both investigating Barry and the death of Ryan Madison (Tyler Jacob Moore), Loach keeps getting distracted. Having just broken up with his wife, Loach is unable to concentrate on his duties.
Loach is a sad sack who adds some awkward comedy to the investigative scenes; while Janice is an infinitely more likable character, Loach’s breakdowns put her in increasingly challenging situations. She isn’t sure how to proceed with the case when her partner can’t seem to pull himself together. While this makes Janice a more endearing character, it doesn’t give the audience much reason to sympathize with Loach on his own. By a certain point, both Janice and the viewers get a little bit irritated with Loach, and wish that he would simply just “get over it.”
Loach doesn’t add much to the first season of the series other than a few moments of comedy, but he plays a much more important role in season 2. After the shocking ending of “What?!,” Barry and Monroe Fuches (Stephen Root) find themselves performing a secret mission for the heartbroken detective.