Hacks Season 3 is the best one yet
Television Review - Max
Hacks won me over at the end of the first episode.
Jean Smart plays Deborah Vance, an aging comedian who is losing her residency in Las Vegas. Hannah Einbinder plays Ava, a 20-something Gen Z’er who got fired from her writing job because of an unseemly Tweet. Ava and Deborah share a manager, and he sets Ava up with a job writing new material for Deborah.
They butt heads all through the first episode, and honestly, the Boomer v. Gen Z dynamic wasn’t doing much for me. They both felt kind of like caricatures, and I wasn’t entirely on board. Ava is also not on board and leaves in a huff. And then Jean comes out and wins me over.
She and Ava rewrite the Tweet into something way funnier. And then Deborah tells Ava that she’s hired. Deborah asks for 20 jokes by the next day and then says, “And nothing about pantyhose or The Challenger explosion. I’ve done ‘em all.”
As a middle-aged woman who has loved Jean Smart since the 80s, I was on board. The first two seasons did not disappoint. The dynamic between Ava and Deborah was largely antagonistic, but you could see how the two were influencing one another. By the end of season 2, there was a more obvious rapport between them, and the finale was such that even if it didn’t move into a third season, it felt like an acceptable stopping point. That said, I was thrilled when Max announced a third season because there is much more to explore in their relationship.
Season 3 explores it brilliantly.
First, I want to discuss some of the other characters before I dig into the (non-spoiler) details about Deborah and Ava.
DJ (Kaitlin Olson), Deborah’s daughter, has yet another phenomenal episode. We see her as she is now dealing with the aftermath of Deborah’s show, trying to sort out what she knew about her mom and what she knows now that Deborah chose to disclose more personal information. In the past, she has always seemed like a screw-up, and in this episode, we can see so much more of what makes her Deborah’s daughter. It is a genuinely fantastic episode and one that brings much more depth to her character.
Deborah’s right-hand man, Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins), also gets some growth this season. In season 2, we see him abandon a promising relationship when he realizes that he needs to spend more time with Deborah than with his boyfriend. While he’s not on screen nearly as much this season, we do see growth in his character, and where he is when the season wraps is very satisfying.
We also have Jimmy (Paul W. Downs) and Kayla (Megan Stalter) back as well, and their dynamic is much better this season. The weird reversal of sexual harassment always felt out of touch with the rest of the show, and that is dialed way back. Kayla is still plenty unhinged, but in a way that feels fun and interesting rather than creepy and gross. They add a lot to this season.
The one character who feels like they get the short shrift this season is Marty (Christopher McDonald), Deborah’s erstwhile lover. He’s not absent, but his inclusion this season seems more contractual than story-driven. His arc felt finished in season 2, and I wish they had just left the character out this season. No disrespect to McDonald, who is always fun to watch, but there didn’t seem to be a point to him this time around.
And finally, let’s talk about our stars and how much I adored them this time.
As mentioned above, there is a lot of antagonism between Ava and Deborah in the first two seasons. We get glimpses of how they change one another, but it’s never fully explored. While these two women definitely experience moments of tension in season 3, there is far more understanding between them, and when the tensions rise, they discuss.
Beyond that, we see how they have influenced one another, particularly Deborah, even when they aren’t together. There is a powerful scene in episode 3 when this is on display. And while it could have come across as forced, it was instead organic and showed legitimate growth. Any time a show allows a character to change certain aspects of their beliefs while maintaining the core of what we love about them, that is a massive success.
But the most beautiful episode, by far, is episode 5. I will be back to write much more about this one when it comes out in a few weeks, but the chemistry between Jean and Hannah is impeccable in this, and Deborah gives a monologue about aging that is genuinely one of the greatest bits of writing I have ever experienced on the topic. I was a sobbing mess at the end of that episode and I can’t wait to really dig into it. Suffice it to say, I am so grateful that we finally get to see these two women treat each other with respect and admiration while still maintaining the Boomer/Gen Z dynamic that we have seen over the first two seasons.
While season 2 ended in a way that allowed Hacks to feel finished but still open to a third season, season 3 ends leaving me desperately needing a season 4. There was undoubtedly a way for this to be the final season, but the very end makes it seem as though there is just a bit more story to be told. The show definitely is nearing its end, but I will be disappointed if it doesn’t get one last season to tie up a few storylines that are not quite finished. It won’t ruin the season for me, but it will absolutely leave a sense of incompletion.
So, definitely go stream the first two episodes of Hacks tomorrow. This thoughtful, funny show deserves to get all the way to the end, whatever that looks like. Plus, I want every generation to love Jean Smart as much as I do.
Hacks season 3 premiers May 2 on Max.
I AM SO JEALOUS YOU ALREADY SAW THIS!!!!! I can't wait.
It’s on my list.