The character is also developed through his interactions with other characters, including a vendetta against deputy headteacher Sian Diamond (Jaye Jacobs) which concludes when Sian slaps Barry, a romantic relationship with Gabriella Wark (Naomi Battrick), and the breakdown of his relationship with Kacey after she struggles with her gender identity.
Barry is also used to highlight the topic of sexting after he shares explicit images of Rhiannon Salt (Rebecca Craven).
Following a short absence, Barry returns for a handful of episodes leading to Au's departure from the series.
Au thought it was suitable that Dynasty reported Barry and opined that the character's exit needed to be drastic.
[1] The children join Waterloo Road's new Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) in hope of making them exemplar students.
"[1] Au felt welcomed by the cast and crew of Waterloo Road and enjoyed working in Greenock, where the drama is filmed.
[9] Au noted that following his father's imprisonment, Barry has "been trying to fill his shoes" because he wants to maintain the family's reputation.
[2] Au believed that Barry's "swagger and intimidating persona" could conceal his "underlying fears, resentments and anxieties" relating to his father.
[2] Writers devised the family as being "very individual and loud", which Au said forced the actors to "take it by the horns and go with it".
Au explained that their relationship is fraught because Barry dislikes Dynasty's "crazy attempts to distance herself away from the family".
[8] After enrolling in the school with his sisters, Barry soon establishes a feud with Jack MacAlister (Taylor Rhys) and they fight.
[11] Despite promising to keep the relationship subtle, Barry humiliates Jack in front of school by sharing a sexual video of him and Olivia.
[2] Kacey telling her family that she is a boy creates tension between them and Sian tries to mediate, irritating Barry and Carol.
[2] Au enjoyed working with Jacobs and off-screen, they bonded over their shared theatre training and music interests.
The character was then romantically paired with Barry, who she meets while on a night out with Rhiannon Salt (Rebecca Craven) and Imogen Stewart (Kirstie Steele).
[15] Barry tries to impress Gabriella by inviting her on a lunch date in an effort to display his "romantic side".
[15] Following Sian's departure, a new science teacher, Sue Spark (Vanessa Hehir), is introduced to the series.
[17] Barry agrees to control Sue's classes in exchange for money as well as keeping her engagement to deputy headteacher Simon Lowsley (Richard Mylan) a secret.
[17] She explained that Sue agrees to Barry's deal due to her lack of confidence and because she wants to "impress" her husband and keep her job.
Au explained that Barry steals the money because he wants to keep his family together and is envious of Kacey receiving the school's support for her boxing ability.
[3] Barry struggles to understand Kacey's "growth and development" as a boxer and believes that she is being self-centered by following her ambitions.
[3] The actor pointed out that Barry does not enjoy to "being on the end of Carol's wrath" and predicted a "thunderous effect" when the truth is revealed.
[20] Au wanted to detail the emotional side of Barry's personality in the episodes as he felt it would give a better view of the character to the audience.
[20] The actor wanted to explore the character in great depth and hoped to expose the "tightly-kept struggles, hurts and emotions" that he has suppressed because he felt that it was a pivotal characteristic of Barry.
[20] Au also expressed an interest in seeing Barry interacting with his father "on whichever side of the bars" because he felt the relationship would be "electric and a great dynamic".
[8] He filmed his final scenes in October 2013 and after shooting, producer Lizzie Gray made a speech for Au and he received presents from the crew, including a signed photo of the Barry family and Barry's shoes, which the actor thought was apt since he had "enjoyed walking in them for so long".
[8] Two years after his exit from the series, Au reflected positively on the role in an interview with Paddy Shennan of the Liverpool Echo.
[21] Daily Mirror's Clemmie Moodie opined that Au managed to "effortlessly nail [his] delivery every time".
[2] When Barry stole Kacey's fundraiser money, Au received a mix of positive and negative comments from the audience, which he predicted.
He commented, "To get a mixed bag response with people questioning Barry's choices is a wonderful thing to see.