Hacks season 4 opener review: The Vance and Daniels showdown

Hacks is back! And what an opening it was. Deborah Vance wastes no time in going toe to toe with her now nemesis, Ava Daniels. Yes, Ava made a power-play move last season to use blackmail to catapult her into getting the head writer position. And don’t think the iconic queen has forgotten. Nor is she about to let Ava get away with her shady involvement to rise to the top.

RELATED: HACKS FULL SEASON 4 REVIEW.

Jimmy Lusaque was completely blindsided by the fact that Ava Daniels had shimmied her way into the position of head writer. He advised her to just take the second-in-command position and work from there. Ava does not see the problem in fighting for what she wants, even if she goes about it in a dirty fashion. She’s only doing what Deborah would have done. The only problem is Deborah has been doing this for 50 years. You can’t beat a winner at her own game, but Ava Daniels begs to differ.

Meanwhile, the celebration is in order. Flowers are coming in by the handful to Debroah’s home, even by the likes of Lebron James. More bad news is coming for Vance when Marcus deliberates on telling her about leaving. However, she is having too much demolition fun to get some of her Ava anger out.

Shenanigans are being had all around the office. Deborah found the perfect opportunity to get some stabs at Ava for her shady dealings and found a way to take some of her purple panties to spread around the office. And in comes HR.

Be careful who you cross

One of the funniest human resource meetings I’ve ever seen. Deborah and Ava go into a back-and-forth battle asking hypothetical questions about their let’s just say colorful pasts and problematic behaviors. Poor Stacey the HR manager in charge of overseeing the meetings is a little in over her head with these too. And trust me it only gets worse throughout the season.

Winnie Landell is back in the habit and ready to guide Deborah to her late-night success. Unfortunately, the queen of comedy’s first press conference as the future late-night Queen goes awry. I think it’s something anyone in the spotlight goes through whether in comedy, politics, television and movies, or sports. She receives stupid question after stupid question and takes no issue giving sarcastic responses back. Deborah Vance is a tale as old as time and she’s not letting gender, age, or narcissistic people stand in her way.

So far the shenanigans are paying off for Deborah when Ava has to start taking mandatory tests for a urine analysis. Of course, an anonymous tip came in that she was taking illegal substances. Not a great way to kick off the first-ever female slot for an 11:30 late-night hour. The environment is filled with humor yet toxicity is wrapped in one.

On a happier note, the connection between Jimmy and Kayla has not missed a beat. They are the quirky duo this show needs when every other moment is filled with high anger and intensity.

Goodbye is the saddest word

Marcus reveals the big merger acquisition that Deborah Vance Industries will be sold to QVC because the network will not allow her to be a face for any competing product. Deborah is entirely livid thinking Marcus went behind her back on this deal. Now he wants to leave when she’s on top of the world and she feels shafted and betrayed. After 22 years of service, Marcus deserves a little success for himself too. Nobody has ever denied that the iconic Mrs. Vance isn’t selfish, but Marcus is the one person she should cut a little slack to. But, in fairness, Ava has her so on edge she’d probably fight with Santa Claus at the moment.

There are so many babysitters this season. Jimmy for one. I hope he has plenty of valiums in his back pocket. Kayla is a treat but man can she a pill, especially when she has a few drinks in her. All in all, I think they are a miraculous team, but dealing with her is like dealing with an overly confident sister who listens to no one but the crazy voice inside her head telling her to jump at all times.

At a party at Bob Lipka’s, Deborah has an awkward run-in with the man who runs Hollywood. He wanted to make it clear that Deb kept her mouth shut about their little one-time affair before his wife finds out. Deborah has no issue with that but she better teach Ava to keep her trap shut before she reveals too much information out of vengeance. Information that could tank them all.

Cece and Winnie come up with a brilliant idea to put Ava and Deborah on the Times cover about their creative collaboration. Some say Deborah doesn’t have a heart. Ava is at times too cynical. But there is a weird tension between the two that centers around needing each other and anger because they do.

No changes in Chapter 2

Going into the second episode Deborah has hired her Sedona psychic friend to be a producer on the show. What she knows about comedy I have no idea. I guess she’s there to release a good aura onto the crew. She’s a woman Ava had met before that said she had the purest aura. Now for some reason that aura is gone. The Deborah Vance effect.

Just like in the first episode, Ava has a major problem staying in her lane. The head writer has no delay in giving her boss criticism about hiring her psychic as a consulting producer. Not only that but they go teeth to teeth about the writing team that needs to be hired. Deborah wants a well-established and experienced team of writers. Ava wants fresh voices who have a keen sense of what is funny in today’s mainstream media. Out of 800 applicants she picked 12 of the most outstanding but the boss lady her her favorites set in mind.

A desperate new hire

Back in Jimmy and Kayla’s world, it’s what you would call a hot mess. That’s the epitome of Kayla Schaffer’s entire personality. And you have to love her for it. One of my all-time favorite characters on the show because you never know what you’re going to get. She has their office rampant with dogs for the audience for a new Lassie project. And you can imagine what an uproar that is for poor Jimmy.

Without an assistant for either Jimmy or Kayla, his life is becoming a ping-pong match between Deborah and Ava. He should honestly be paid triple to have to deal with these two. Though entertaining as it may be to witness the sarcasm and no-holds-bar attitude between the coworkers, you can’t help but feel that Jimmy needs an extended vacation in the Caribbean. Manager of the year just for existing.

If there’s one person who doesn’t have a problem with managers it’s Damien. He’s such a treat every time on screen and Deborah orders him to find bear urine to rid the coyote issue at her LA home. Meanwhile, Kayla finds Ava in a strange apartment at a mall complex. At first glance, it seems like the stupidest place to pick for her client but when she explains it it makes sense. Kayla’s way of thinking is insane to the naked eye but the woman is much smarter than she lets on. While Ava’s new residence may be at an outdoor complex, a late-night writer’s job is so busy and now she has access to all food and amenities she may need at the touch of a hat.

Why has Hacks been such a successful show for HBO Max?

Hacks is a show that centers itself around women and sheds light on the female voice of comedy. Female comedians have not often gotten the respect they deserve, and it’s high time that they do. Hacks gives women like Wanda Sykes, Kathleen Madigan, and others the attention they deserve. Life has not always been easy for women in comedy, but Hacks I believe is helping the industry rise above the misogynistic views of the past.

The best new character of the season by far to me is the new assistant for Kayla, Randi. Just a diamond in the ruff. The character completely stole my heart with her love of Sandra Bullock and the movie Speed. She’s about as quirky as Kayla is and as dismissive as Jimmy is of Randi, I think he will fall for her in the end. Just as he did with Kayla.

Bitchabahd Crane

After going to see some potential talent Deborah finally spills the beans to Ava. She was never the right person for the late-night position, even if she offered it to her in the first place. Ava is a niche writer and late night is full of the middle class who may not see her kind of comic-relief funny. Ava thinks she’s wrong and wants to prove her wrong. And I hope she does because a show without these two wouldn’t be the same.

The acting and chemistry between Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder is unearthly. I hope there are many more seasons to come, and I understand why this show takes all the awards. It’s more than just comedy. It’s hope and love and satisfaction when all those things come together.

Randi has not just become Kayla’s assistant but Jimmy’s assistant as well. The three of them make a crazy rag-tag team that works. Mismatched, fun-loving, and to some just plain wrong. Regardless, Jimmy is in such desperate need he goes for the pitch. Randi may be full of talent and connections but she’s new to the entertainment business. I hope this works out because she’s the funniest person I’ve seen on the screen so far.

Deborah and Ava were summoned to Winnie’s place to talk about their eccentric relationship, to put it mildly. Whatever the issue is between them the Hollywood executive needs them to fix it now. They need a big hit, bigger than Karokee Carpool. It’s one thing for Deborah to get the late-night gig, it’s another thing to keep it.

By the end of the episode, Deborah calls a truce with Ava. Now it’s time for a writers retreat in Vegas. Sin City is never going to be prepared for what’s coming.

The next episode of Hacks premieres next Thursday on Max. All episodes will be weekly until May 15th with two more releases together again!

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About the author: Shay has been writing as a journalist professionally for years. Her most common topics to cover are drama and horror but she looks forward to getting her feet wet with new and exciting genres and projects. @ShaySleighs