Warning: the following contains SPOILERS for Barry.
Barry season 3, episode 1 “Forgiving Jeff” sees NoHo Hank getting interrogated by Detective Mae Dunn and being forced to identify Fuches in a photo, but instead of Monroe Fuches, Hank tells the cops that the man is called “The Raven.” Prior to this moment in the show, from Barry season 1 to season 2, no such name has been assigned to Fuches, and no one in the entire cast of HBO's Barry has been called the Raven either. That said, there's a reason for why Hank chose this seemingly random alias.
Hank's interrogation is a display of how calculating NoHo Hank can truly be. Detective Dunn corners Hank by showing him photo evidence that links both Hank and Fuches to the monastery shooting, forcing Hank to give up information lest the police think that he's hiding something. Hank successfully shifts the blame from himself by inventing the identity and backstory of the Raven off the cuff. Although this doesn't totally erase Hank's connection to the case, the Raven redirects the police's attention into following a long thread that ends in the mountains of Chechnya, where the Chechen mob keeps Fuches in a safe house. By using the archetypal story of an assassin with a dark/mysterious past to mislead the cops, Hank makes LA a safer place for not just the Chechen mob, but Barry as well.
Barry's NoHo Hank, despite being cornered for information, puts on a convincing show, but his insistence on the detectives taking the name “The Raven” seriously, even suggesting that they look it up on Wikipedia, betrays Hank's true intentions. The symbolism behind the raven is complex, but it is commonly associated with ill omens and death. While a group of ravens is commonly referred to as a flock, traditional terms for a flock of ravens include a "conspiracy", a "treachery", and an "unkindness". A raven may also refer to a dark-haired person who's also thievish, which also describes Fuches. Moreover, with its deep ties to various religions, traditions, and ancient stories, the raven remains to be one of the most prominent cultural symbols on the planet, and today, ravens continue to inspire the superhero genre, fantasy worlds, video games, and works of literature. Hank choosing the Raven to flesh out his lie reveals Hank's main weakness: the need for social connection. While the lie gets the police off Hank's back, Hank's insistence on someone understanding why the name makes sense nearly gives Hank and Fuches away, which could still happen if Detective Dunn looks into Hank's seemingly senseless rants.
There could also be another strategic reason for why Hank chose the alias. Considering the prominence of the raven as a symbol of death, it wouldn't be surprising if several hitmen call themselves “The Raven” in the world of Barry, which would further complicate the police's search for Fuches. Hank's Raven story implies that not only does Hank look like a classic Bond villain, he might also be as devious as some of 007's archenemies. Indeed, as Hank also led the police to believe that the pin that Hank gave to Barry is a calling card from the Raven, Hank could later use the pins to plant evidence and further mislead Detective Dunn's investigation.
Barry's former handler Monroe Fuches is now known to the LAPD as “The Raven.” Hank's story also links Fuches' face to the murder of Detective Janice Moss and the monastery shooting. As the police dig deeper into the Raven's case, Barry season 2 could reveal more about Fuches' past.
Barry releases new episodes Sundays on HBO Max.