Hacks returns for a fourth season. The show's return follows an explosive Season 3 finale after amassing Emmy wins at the 2024 ceremony. Hacks follows the genre of comedy-drama television series. The show is created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky. The show premiered on HBO Max on 13 May 2021.
It revolves around the working relationship of an aspiring comedy writer who collaborates with famous stand-up comedians, including Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, and Carl Clemons-Hopkins. Following the series' success, the show has been renewed Season 4.
Hacks Season 3 ended on a dark note. Ava turned against Deborah in an unexpected twist in the final episode. Deborah had previously betrayed Ava by appointing someone else as head writer for her late-night show. Ava then retaliated by blackmailing Deborah, demanding the head writer position as leverage to use a secret against her that would ruin her career.
Let's look at the events that took place in Hacks season 3 and where will the storyline pick up from its fourth season.
Recap: Events that have taken place in Hacks Season 3
In Season 3, Deborah and Ava are now on better terms than they have ever been. They even call them to be friends. But, their friendship doesn't last long. By the end of the season, they are at each other's throats again. This time it's because Deborah has been given a second chance at her dream job: hosting a late-night show.
When Deborah gets the job hosting The Late Show, she asks Ava to become her head writer. Their working relationship has never been better. Deborah could never have gotten the job without Ava, so she wants to repay the favor by making Ava her head writer.
Following the offer, Ava quits her previous job in Los Angeles on a Daily Show-type series and turns to Daborah, but she soon discovers that Deborah cannot hire a head writer of her preference.
Ava is filled with remorse and leaves Deborah’s office and spots the station manager, Winnie Landell, sitting in a car park waiting for her car. Ava begs Winnie to give her the head writer job, admitting that she is not much of a late-night performer, but is the best candidate.
Winnie tells Ava that she deserves the job and asks Ava to persuade Deborah to choose her. It was never that Deborah couldn’t make a choice, the truth was something else.
What was the real reason behind Deborah being reluctant to hire Ava in Hacks?
Ava's past with Deborah, who has narcissistic tendencies, has left her blistered. And so, everyone who has been constantly following the show knows that this time it could be worse.
Deborah meets Biff Cliff, the network executive who canceled her unsuccessful talk show years ago. He warns her that executives often look for excuses to avoid doing favors, and favors are not usually given to women.
This advice forces Deborah to take extreme measures to make her talk show a hit. Deborah breaks Ava's heart when she announces that Ava is no longer the head writer due to a network mandate. In this intense scene, Ava hears and approaches Deborah. The drama-filled scene is emotionally charged as Ava demands her job back. However, Deborah does not budge as Ava gets her highest act of denial by refusing to take a risk on her.
It's then that Deborah blinks and says she's ready to give up on Ava and maintain the status quo. It drives home the realization that, as much as Ava kept opening her arms to help her, Deborah's real interest was always to see herself on top.
Hacks Season 3 ending opens up a new plotline for Season 4
Despite Deborah’s deception, Jimmy convinces Ava to stay on the writing staff: he knows it is still the best thing for her career and the show needs her onboard. On her first day in the writers' room, Ava waits for Deborah, who seems relieved that Ava is staying.
But this time, Ava will not give up so easily. Ava reveals that if Deborah doesn't make her head writer as promised, she'll expose to the public that Deborah slept with the network owner, Bob Lipka, before landing up with her current position.
Ava's decision eerily follows one of Deborah's moves. For a moment, a flash of respect crosses Deborah's eyes, but then her gaze gives way to fear of what Ava has become and what this might mean for Deborah's future in the industry.
To know about what the future holds for our two lead characters, we will have to wait until season 4!
All three seasons of Hacks are currently available to stream on HBO Max and Prime Video.
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