Well, another season has ended, and I get to review the last two episodes here for you. Hacks is continuing to have its moment, so don’t count Deb (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) out yet! The show has been confirmed for a 5th season, so we’ll have another go for these lovely ladies. Showrunners know exactly where they want it to end, so they at least have one more season to get there. I’m biased, but if this one were to continue, that would be fine with me. And if it doesn’t…well, then these showrunners better get ready to pitch that Jimmy (Paul W. Downs) and Kayla (Megan Stalter) spin-off. Because I know that would be hilarious. But for now, let us dig into these final two episodes from season four.
Episode # 9 – “A Slippery Slope”
When last we left off, Deb had finally hit the swing of things with Ava alongside, only for some situations to leave Ava guessing. Bob (Tony Goldwyn) gives Winnie (Helen Hunt) the ax after bothering Deborah too much over a spin-off show. Which is hilarious given I would love for Jimmy and Kayla to get their spin-off show, but I digress. He’s putting his fingers in the pie, and Deb’s not amused, but most especially Ava isn’t either. Having a sex-pest lead star on? Gag. The ladies have finally hit a good stride, and this just feels icky. But what higher-ups want, higher-ups get, so he comes on. Deb slides in a dig that immediately gets nixed by the producers. Having to deal with a shitty guest is one thing, having your material censored is another thing entirely. And Ava, unfortunately, has no problem complaining about it.
“Dance mom is missing and she’s probably naked.”
Meanwhile, Dance Mom (Julianne Nicholson) is continuing to go off the deep end and having the time of her life. I didn’t know what boofing was, and frankly, I feel like I need therapy now. And so does Jimmy. He’s clearly having his own mental breakdown a la Ava style, though he manages to avoid the gate pole. This is not what he wanted for his business and for his life, is it? Kayla has her own offer from Daddy to consider, but when she realizes that Jimmy finally ordered the sign for their business, she knows she’s all in. And she’s got plenty of words for Deb and Ava about their own treatment of Jimmy.
“Fire her or the show’s done.”
Turns out Ava ran her mouth to the wrong friend at her old show, and they already had a hit job in the works. Ava gives them plenty of ammunition, and you just have to wonder what Deb’s going to do. Is she going to turn her back on the woman who helped deliver her voice so she can keep her dream job? Or is she going to stick to those who stick with her and ride or die? The Oscars are in town, and Deb has a special show, which is, of course, the proper time for all sorts of shenanigans. Winnie tells Ava to deliver a F*CK YOU to Deb, and Ava was sent downstairs by Deb but now her credentials aren’t working…Oh, Deb, what are you up to? It turns out, she made her choice. And it was the choice I figured she’d make. And I’m so happy she did. She went gorilla mode, just like Jimmy. But Bob is quick to remind her about that noncompete clause…well shit, Deb. What the hell are you gonna do now?
Season 4 Finale – “Heaven”
Lawyers and horses and all the king’s men couldn’t find a loophole for Deb’s contract. The noncompete is airtight. Jimmy is trying to keep Ava cool, get her to focus Deb on new material. She’s not exactly hurting for money. Deb can coast for the next year and a half and focus on creating what’s next. Ava is excited by the prospect, but Deb needs a break. She even tries to get Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins) back in the game, but after his resistance, she slinks back to Vegas to bury her head in the sand.
Cue the depression montage, including Josefina (Rose Abdoo) checking to make sure she’s still breathing. Deb works. She doesn’t vacation, she doesn’t lounge. She works. And if she’s not working, she’s going internally insane. Hence, the late-night shopping venture for sparkly hats and alcohol in her Diet Coke bottle. Absolutely breathtaking cinematography playing with lights and shadows, as Vegas shines but Deb fades.
Cue the rescuer Marty (Christopher McDonald), who encourages Deb to go to his resort in Hawaii and take a break. Try and rest, even if it’s hard. Her staff is excited that the resort section of her wardrobe will get attention, but nothing was better than Josefina telling Ava she looked like Ace Ventura, Pet Detective. Classic, absolutely gut-busting moment. But the plane doesn’t exactly land in Hawaii…
If you’re gonna go big, Singapore is the way to go. Call back to earlier in the season when Deb clocked during the marketing meeting that she was big with educated Singaporeans. Well, turns out she found a little loophole. A silly little translator loophole where it doesn’t count if she’s using a translator. Because then, technically, she’s performing for the translator, not the crowd. Silly, but it gets the job done, and now Deb can work. And for a while, the two are living it up! We see them enjoying their time, relaxing, dining, and embracing the finer things in life. And Deb’s little schtick works. It works so well that her run gets extended into a residency. But none of it is new. It’s the same old jokes. There’s no creative process happening at all. And Ava’s getting kind of tired of it. She pushes, she tries to get them to work on new stuff, but Deb throws up a wall. And then she just gets mean.
At that point, Ava knows it’s time to go home. So she packs up and prepares to leave. The next morning, her phone is blazing. TMZ is stating that Deb’s dead. What the fuck happened on the boat last night? Cue the panicked Ava running through the hotel, banging on Deb’s door. Turns out she’s fine and TMZ has obituaries prepped for when it’s time. Only it isn’t time, and not only that, but they blamed Deb for the death of late night. Ding dong, the bitch is back and she’s fucking mad.
Cannot wait for another season of this amazing show. We laugh, we cry. We get to see some amazing character growth for Deb and Ava, as well as Jimmy and Kayla. Now, if only we could get word on that spin-off…that’d be great.
