I need to talk to someone about Hacks season 5 stat because it is just that good. I might be on my own in watching (almost all of) the hit HBO Max show's final ever season, but there's no spoilers here — as much as I can't wait for everyone to watch it (airing weekly from April 9), the new episodes are best savored knowing as little beforehand as possible.
What I can tell you is the overall synopsis. Legendary comic Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and frustrated writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) return to Las Vegas following mistaken reports of Deborah's death. They are determined to cement her legacy with a major comeback, working together to turn a post-gag order scandal into a triumph, as only they can.
Thankfully, Hacks season 5 is just as brilliant as ever... and dare I say even the show's strongest outing to date. I laughed out loud so many times I was on the verge of wetting myself, with some of our wildest fan dreams coming true in the process.
Where the laughs are huge, so is the heart. Deborah and Ava's unconventional friendship seems to have found an entirely new groove, working together to solve Deborah's problems rather than being torn apart by unnecessary friction. Does that mean Deborah's become easier to tolerate? Of course not — but we need some of that tension to stay.
Season 5 really does tick all the boxes, but what if I argued that the finest farewell Deborah and Ava could have given us already happened in season 4?
The 'you're my voice' scene is a better goodbye than anything Hacks season 5 could offer us
During Hacks season 4 episode 6, Ava goes AWOL after struggling with the pressures of writing for a late-night talk show. In the final scenes, Deborah goes so far as to wade through the sea, thinking that Ava might be so distressed that she'd do something to harm herself.
The scene above is the immediate aftermath, with Deborah coaxing Ava to come back to the show after Ava initially quit. Ava cites numerous trust problems, claiming she can't believe that Deborah wouldn't let her down again. "I don't know if I can do the job. I don't even know your voice anymore," Ava says. "You're my voice," Deborah responds.
BOOM. Tears are flowing, and the fractious friendship has never been more beautiful. Deborah has finally admitted how much she loves, adores, and needs Ava, making the two of them truly symbiotic.
The touching moment reminded me of the beachside scenes in Netflix's Grace and Frankie, with their vulnerable heart-to-hearts not only cementing the depth of their friendship but bookending the series from start to finish. Surely, this is the best way for Hacks to go out too.
But can we organically reach those emotions again? As viewers, having such a beautiful candid moment partway through the series took us by surprise, almost spoiled by Deborah's spiteful mood as the pair hit Singapore in season 4 episode 10. Has she cut her nose off to spite her face too many times for it to make an impact?
It's true that you'll laugh and cry more than ever before while watching Hacks season 5, but I think the "You're my voice" climax was what was needed as Deborah and Ava's final farewell. I've yet to see the final three episodes, but I truly doubt they can top the brilliance we've already seen.
