THE STORY – In the aftermath of mistaken and unflattering news reports that she passed away, Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels return to Las Vegas more determined than ever to secure Deborah’s legacy as a comedian.
THE CAST – Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Paul W. Downs, Megan Stalter, Robby Hoffman, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Mark Indelicato & Rose Abdoo
THE TEAM – Lucia Anello, Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky (Creators)
Over the course of “Hacks,” we’ve seen the relationship between Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) deepen despite the many turns their dynamic has taken. They’ve insulted, slandered, sued, and blackmailed one another, but they’ve also made each other better artists and people because of their push and pull. Watching Deborah and Ava resist the undeniable truth that they’re soulmates and hurt one another in a way only they could before inevitably finding their way back to one another was the driving momentum that fueled the first four seasons of the show. But after the events of “A Slippery Slope” and “Heaven,” it would be lazy writing to introduce further friction into this relationship after seeing how far these two are willing to go for each other. There’s still plenty of drama and blindsides to be found, but there’s almost no trouble in paradise for our main duo. It may not make for the most dynamic season of the show, but this choice makes the eventual send-off to this relationship we’ve watched evolve over the years hit that much harder.
Twelve months after Deborah quit her late night show on air and faced an 18-month ban on any comedy-related activities, she was falsely reported as dead. Thus, this season revolves around the famed comedienne looking for any way possible to secure her legacy. An EGOT? A record number of ticket sales at a legendary venue? A massive statue of herself, whose legs mark the entrance to a Vegas casino? Though she has been put in a box by Bob Lipka, and by the press as a whole, it still feels like the sky is the limit for Deborah because she refuses to envision a future in which she doesn’t get what she wants. The tricky part, then, is figuring out what it is she does truly want. While this is a fairly compelling throughline that pays off brilliantly in the last two episodes, a handful of episodes feel aimless and only tangentially related because of this core question of the season. Nonetheless, “Hacks” has largely stuck the landing with this surprisingly poignant final season.
Full disclosure: I do think this is one of the show’s weaker seasons. What I have always found remarkable about “Hacks” is how consistently laugh-out-loud funny but reluctantly tender the show can be. This season knocks the sentimentality out of the park; though the air of finality doesn’t permeate through every single episode, any time we focus on Deborah and Ava’s bond is time well spent. However, not every episode is particularly funny. An episode spent on Deborah’s flirtation with rock star Nico Hayes (Christopher Briney) is oddly dull, with a B-plot about sex work that feels slightly out of touch and makes for a legitimately bizarre conclusion. The writing of this season is a bit more hit-or-miss this go-around, as some of the lessons these characters are supposed to learn after every episode are a lot more signposted and forced than they should be. This does ultimately hold the final season back from being on the level of the show’s second or third outing, but it’s thankfully the only major problem this season faces. And while there are ups and downs in the first six episodes, the last four are unambiguously fantastic and ensure that we end this wonderful show on a high note.
The two biggest reasons this show has been such a delight to watch are Smart and Einbinder, who are both performing at the top of their game. Though neither actress quite tops “A Slippery Slope” or “Bulletproof” in terms of individual showcases, respectively, this is perhaps the best season for their chemistry. Smart’s laugh alone would merit her four Emmys for this role, and she continues to shine here. This season has Deborah at perhaps her most vulnerable, and Smart demonstrates a clear knowledge of the line between earnest and saccharine. Meanwhile, Einbinder has been renowned for her tongue-in-cheek millennial-isms, her one-of-a-kind line delivery, and her deliciously awkward physical comedy, and she amps these all up brilliantly in this season. Yet it is the pathos she gives Ava that makes her the true heart of the show. You can feel how much the character cares for Deborah solely through her gaze. Alone, they give phenomenal comedic performances. But together, they create the kind of magic that actors try their best to reproduce but will likely never be able to. Saying goodbye to this show hurts so much because we’re bidding farewell not only to one of the decade’s best comedy series, but also to one of the decade’s best on-screen duos.
Speaking of duos, Jimmy (Paul W. Downs) and Kayla (Megan Stalter) are faced with the unfortunate reality that even though they have put everything on the line for their clients, Schaeffer & Lusaque is simply not making ends meet. The pair doesn’t share nearly as many funny moments together as they did in prior seasons, but their arc throughout this season makes perfect sense as a way to wrap up their series-long storyline. They continue to entertainingly bounce off of one another, but as with Deborah and Ava’s dynamic, there’s even more heart to it this time around. Truly, “Hacks” has always excelled in its characterization, and season 5 is no different.
The final season of “Hacks” is not my favorite outing of the show, but that would be hard to do when the series has had four phenomenal seasons of television. The writing is a bit of a step down from previous seasons, but the writers had the understandably hard task of not being able to pry apart the show’s core relationship this time around. Watching the conclusion of one of the defining character dynamics of the decade, one where their roadbumps have only made them closer and stronger, has been a beauty to behold. Rather than focusing on the drama in these characters’ presents, the uncertainty of their futures is what drives the plot forward. It makes for a different season of “Hacks,” but for my money, an immensely satisfying one that gives these characters the endings they’ve earned.
THE GOOD – Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are endlessly watchable together. The show ends strongly and is unafraid to tug at your heartstrings.
THE BAD – Certain episodes lack nuanced writing and can feel a bit hamfisted in their messaging.
THE EMMY PROSPECTS – Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, & Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
THE FINAL SCORE – 8/10
