If “Hacks” season 4 was the end of the line for Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), fans would have ultimately been left unfulfilled, but luckily for everyone involved the series has very recently been renewed for a season 5. After a surprise twist in episode 9, the finale took the two main characters, Deborah and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) to an even weirder place than previously thought possible while still managing to land a jump scare in there.
Although season 4 was more harshly criticized online, its RT scores remained in the 90’s, a tough feat for any franchise or standalone series/feature. Season 4 may have had some questionable moments, but looking at the big picture, this was a wild and tumultuous chapter in the story. Warning, beyond this point there are spoilers for the “Hacks”
season 4 finale.
Although season 4 was more harshly criticized online, its RT scores remained in the 90’s, a tough feat for any franchise…”
The season did start off sort of spinning its tires as Deborah and Ava’s tension reached new low points in their roller coaster relationship. It took almost losing Ava (professionally) to finally get the duo back on track – which led to the penultimate episode’s surprise twist when Deborah sacrifices her dreams to make a statement in solidarity with Ava…who still ends up jobless. It’s becomes clear that Deborah did not think through her decision when she finds out she can’t perform for 18 months. This is what leads into the finale.
The last episode was heavy on Deborah and Ava’s cyclical, co-dependent relationship…only this time in Singapore. The two enjoy the vacation at first but Deborah becomes complacent pretty quickly and Ava wants more than Deb’s performing through a translator loophole can provide. Our main critique of the episode is not enough time with Jimmy and Kayla, but they were at least used in the final sequence to start the ‘Deborah Died!’ storyline.
We got to see a great performance from Einbinder’s Ava as she navigates the twisted maze of the casino to get to Deborah’s suite.
In the few moments where you start to wonder ‘Would they actually kill her?’ the emotional stakes get really high until Smart’s Vance opens the door to reveal a disheveled but very much alive Deborah.
The real fire comes in these final moments when Deb’s obituary credits her with destroying the late night show and calls her the ‘r’ word…retired. This is a bridge too far as Vance, who snaps out of her vacation coma and vows to write material with Ava as they wait out her time in contractual jail.
Overall, this season had a lot of range and sets up what is quite possibly the endgame in season 5. Creators have maintained that from the beginning, they have only planned five seasons. That being said, when a series is popular enough, things change.
Deborah and Ava’s partnership seems stronger than ever and smart money says that the next season will start after a time jump and land is right after Deborah is out of TV jail. It makes sense for her to do more comedy specials, but what is the next level? Will Deborah aim to create Apatow level comedies with Ava?
What do you think? What will happen with Jimmy and Kayla’s company? Will Marcus have a bigger role in season 5? Will we get more than 5 seasons?
Did you watch the finale? Let us know what you think about season 4 in the comments below!
