WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for the Hacks season 4 finale.TheHacksseason 4 finale wraps up the most divisive season yet of the Emmy-winning comedy series starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder. Following Deborah’s shocking decision to quit her late-night show in defense ofAva inHacksseason 4, episode 9, she struggles to find purpose as an entertainer and performer, restricted by an 18-month non-compete clause in her network TV contract. Deborah finds a clever loophole that allows her to perform in Singapore via a translator, dragging Ava along after tricking her into thinking they were on their way to a vacation in Hawai’i.
By the end of the season 4 finale, Ava tries to confront Deborah about her excessive drinking and self-destructive bout of escapism in Singapore. In true Deborah fashion, she tells Ava to go home as the two appear to be feuding yet again after a season full of personal and professional disputes. This all changes in the final moments after Ava wakes up to a TMZ article claiming that Deborah is dead. Ava finds Deborah alive in her hotel suite and shows her the online obituary, igniting a fire in Deborah, who disapproves of how the Internet will remember her after she actually dies.
Hacks Season 4 Should Have Ended With Episode 9’s Great Twist
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On the heels of the announcement thatHackswill return for a fifth season, theHacksseason 4 finale ends after a momentary scare that Deborah had actually died. The news proves to be a false alarm that makes for an emotional beat for Ava, who, once again, is pulled back into Deborah’s orbit after an apparent fallout. At this point,it’s hard to categorize Deborah and Ava’s dynamic as anything but codependent and toxic, equipped with unhealthy doses of separation anxiety and verbal abuse (Deborah tells Ava she’s weird for being 29 and having no friends besides her).
Hacksseason 4, episode 10 feels as if it’s on its own island, acting as a sort of epilogue toHacksseason 4, episode 9, which arguably should have closed out the season on a high note.
Compared to the rest ofHacksseason 4, episode 10 feels as if it’s on its own island, acting as a sort of epilogue toHacksseason 4, episode 9, which arguably should have closed out the season on a high note. The cameras, bright lights, and various guest stars are nowhere to be found,taking the series back to its roots and focusing primarily on Deborah and Ava’s unique bond.
A furious Deborah announces to Ava that they have some “rewriting” to do, referring to her unflattering obituary while opening the door to new opportunities. However, it’s rather unclear what Deborah exactly means before the scene cuts to black, raising all sorts of questions forHacksseason 5.
Hacks' Season 4 Finale Overwrites The Show’s Updated Tone & Setting
Hacks Season 5 Can’t Undo The Exciting Hollywood Themes It Introduced In Season 4
I thoughtthe new Hollywood-centric direction forHacksseason 4 was a brilliant development for the series. Not only was Deborah able to accomplish a childhood dream, but her character also painted a portrait of the first woman mainstream late-night host for a world that has yet to have one. Season 4 took on the added responsibility of honoring real-life women pioneers in television, such as Carol Burnett, Merrill Markoe, and Rosie O’Donnell. It also established a showbiz feel that allowed for the likes of Jimmy Kimmel and Kristen Bell to pop in for cameos as themselves.
MyHacksseason 5 hope is that this “rewriting” Deborah refers to will be done in the form of a biopic that Ava can co-write and Jimmy can produce.
Now that Deborah is out of a late-night show, it’s more unclear than ever what direction the next season ofHackswill go. Compared to theHacksseason 3 finale, which was fueled by shock, suspense, and outstanding tension,Hacksseason 4 doesn’t necessarily arrive at a confident landing spot, suggesting that season 5 details are still very much in the works.
The reemergence of both Marcus and Marty in the finale episode is great after they were sorely missed throughout season 4. Hopefully, if Deborah does return to Vegas, they will reestablish themselves as more recurring characters, along with mostly forgone characters such as Kiki and DJ Vance. That said,I’m uncertain about taking the show entirely out of Los Angelesright when it was starting to feel like a fantastic replacement for another HBO showbiz comedy series,Curb Your Enthusiasm, which ended last year.
MyHacksseason 5 hope is that this “rewriting” Deborah refers to will be done in the form of a biopic that Ava can co-write and Jimmy can produce. This would tie up Jimmy’s loose end as a budding movie producer and allow Deborah to still create without performing on stage. Ultimately,I would like to seeHacksseason 5 feel more like seasons 1-3, but not at the cost of walking back the multiple positive strides the show made in season 4.
Hacks Season 4 Finale
Cast
Hacks, released in 2021, is a dark comedy series that explores the evolving relationship between Deborah Vance, a legendary comedian in Las Vegas, and an ambitious, outcast young writer. The show delves into the complexities of mentorship and creativity in the entertainment industry.
