WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Hacks season 4, episode 3.
Hacksseason 4, episode 3, “What Happens in Vegas”, brings the celebrated comedy series back to Deborah Vance’s stomping grounds as her heated feud with her new late-night head writer Ava Daniels continues. Following the two-episodeHacksseason 4 premiere, which picked up right in the thick ofHacksseason 3’s shocking finale, Deborah takes her writing staff to Vegas, eager to get her new late-night show off the ground. It soon dawns on everyone that this is more of a professional trip than the “retreat” Deborah advertised.
As the episode plays out – and Deborah and Ava’s truce holds on for dear life –Ava tries to lighten the vibe of the anxious writers room after Deborah sets some rigid expectationsearly on. After Deborah finally concedes to Ava’s idea that if the writers have fun, the late-night material will come out of them more naturally than trying to forcefully squeeze it out of them like old toothpaste.
As with everything else, Deborah goes big andtakes the group out on the town to race sports cars, a fancy dinner, and a raging nightclubwhere she DJs in front of a screaming crowd. These scenes and more keep the momentum going afterHacksseason 4’s impressive start, resulting in Deborah and Ava finding themselves in the back of a cop car.
The Battle Of Ava’s Pride Vs. Deborah’s Ego Is Making TV Magic In Season 4
Image via Max
Deborah and Ava try to cool their engines for the sole purpose of focusing on making Deborah’s late-night show a success. Ava’s cultural progressiveness, matched with Deborah’s old-school mentality, has always been a fun source of conflict but has much higher stakes this time around. Deborah is constantly challenged by an increasingly zero-tolerance workplace culture at the TV network, which is already driving new season 4 character Rob, played by Dan Bucatinsky, up the wall and through the roof.
Deborah and Ava are simultaneously driving on two conflicting roads: one that aims to destroy each other and another that benefits them both.
Despite their attempts to get through the weekend without conflicts, Deborah and Ava are simultaneously driving on two conflicting roads: one that aims to destroy each other and another that benefits them both. These shaky, shifting gears aresetting Deborah’s late-night show on a fast track towards disaster. Rob has no choice but to have Stacey from HR, played by Michaela Watkins, present at all of Deborah and Ava’s one-on-one meetings.
Deborah and Ava are rarely without the intermediate forces of Marcus, Damien, and Jimmy inHacksseason 4, episode 3, leaving them to confront and deflect each other head-on. I’m expecting a more genuine, emotional make-up session between them soon, maybe as soon as episode 4 or 5, becausethe late-night show will absolutely fail if they don’t resolve their grievances. This would be necessary but also a shame, since Deborah and Ava’s tense yet comedic feud has produced some of the most gripping scenes of the series.
Episode 3 Introduces Several Rising Comedic Actors & Fresh New Faces
Although fan-favorite supporting characters Jimmy and Kayla sadly take a rest in season 4, episode 3, their absence allows some classic characters from previous seasons to appear, as well as some promising new faces. Most notably, Kiki, played by Poppy Liu, returns after only appearing in one episode ofHacksseason 3, “The Roast of Deborah Vance.” Rising actor Maxwell Almono, known forPulseandThe Cleaning Lady, also hasa hilariously deadpan, scene-stealing moment on the party bus as the Vegas-based drug dealer Louie.
Actress Lindsey Normington also appears inHacksseason 3 as a stripper named Cherry, not to be confused with her stripper character Diamond from theBest Picture-winnerAnora. Marcus’s mother’s friend Luenell, played by Miss Loretta, also returns for the first time sinceHacksseason 3, episode 4, “Join the Club.” Hopefully, Deborah’s new handful of writers will have larger roles asHacksseason 4 plays out, particularly the hilarious “riff killer” played by Danny Jolles and the comedically nervous writer played byHolmes, one of the soon-to-be stars of the upcoming Prime Video seriesOvercompensating.
Hacksseason 4, episode 3 offers another strong and well-crafted development in Deborah and Ava’s love-hate relationship while continuing to put comedy first.
I almost forgot to mention the return of Lauren Weedman’sMayor Jo, who drunkenly bails Ava and Deborah out of a supposed DUI.Hacksseason 4, episode 3 offers another strong and well-crafted development in Deborah and Ava’s love-hate relationship while continuing to put comedy first. Last year’s Emmy winner for Outstanding Comedy Series,Hacksstill holds its ground as the funniest show on streaming/television, with season 4 steadily on course to be the best season yet.
New episodes of Hacks are released every Thursday exclusively on HBO & MAX.
Hacks Season 4, Episode 3
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.
