10 Reasons Why You Should Watch ‘Hacks’

Are you looking for a new comedy to watch? Look no further than HBO Max’s latest hit Hacks, which recently finished its first season.

The show stars Jean Smart as Deborah Vance, a comedy legend in desperate need of new material to save her Las Vegas residency. She hires Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), a young unemployed writer who thinks Deborah is a hack.

Hacks marries dark humor and heart as it follows the two protagonists’ changing relationship and professional struggles.

If the description alone isn’t enough to get you hooked, here are ten reasons why you should watch Hacks:

1. The Jean Smart Renaissance

Between Mare of Easttown, Watchmen, and Fargo Season 2, Jean Smart has lit up our TV screens over the past few years in supporting roles. She finally takes the well-deserved spotlight again as comedy legend Deborah Vance in Hacks.

Smart’s performance as Deborah is bold and unapologetic, while still incorporating a layer of vulnerability in the role. Deborah is a stand-up comic, but she walks the line between tragedy and comedy in her everyday life.

Playing Deborah requires delivering cutting quips and heartfelt admissions in equal measure. It’s a difficult role, but Smart manages the balance between comedy and drama expertly.

It’s a safe bet that Smart will be on this year’s Emmy ballot for her phenomenal performance.

Like her character on screen, Smart has a storied career and shows no signs of slowing down. Whether you’re just now catching up on her hot streak of recent roles or a long-time fan, you won’t want to miss her on Hacks.

2. Plenty of Laughs

Hacks is a dark comedy that stands out from other shows in that subgenre because of its willingness to mix more traditional joke-telling with situational humor. After all, Deborah is a stand-up comic, so why wouldn’t the show use that to its advantage?

The pilot offers a perfect example of this blend when Deborah chases Ava down with her car after their disastrous first interview. It’s an absurd and funny scenario on its own, and then you realize she only chased after her to give her an improved version of the jokes she pitched.

The scenes of Ava and Deborah just riffing and coming up with new jokes are just as funny as the humorous situations they find themselves in.

Between the two comedians at the center of the story and the colorful characters they interact with, there’s no shortage of humor on Hacks. Don’t be surprised if by the end of the season you find yourself quoting some of the show’s memorable one-liners.

3. Strong Character Development

To put it nicely, Ava does not start as a likable protagonist.

She’s quick to put her career ahead of her relationships and views other people as a stepping stone. Deborah can be equally shameless in her quest to defend her hard-earned career and maintain control over the people around her.

This starting point is what makes watching their character development so rewarding. Hacks charts their professional journeys alongside their personal growth. Both women learn from each other, and it changes how they see their work and relationships.

The character development never feels cliche or rushed; it’s earned throughout the season.

Ava helps Deborah become more emotionally vulnerable and open to dealing with her difficult past instead of just making jokes about it while repressing her real feelings. Deborah helps Ava become more self-confident and value herself instead of constantly seeking external validation and self-sabotaging.

4. Compelling Relationships

The central relationship on Hacks is between Deborah and Ava, who learn to appreciate one another despite some immense differences. Watching the unlikely pair bond is hilarious and sometimes heart-breaking.

Smart and Einbinder have unbeatable chemistry and complement each other perfectly.

However, their relationship isn’t the only one essential to the show. On Season 1, we see Deborah and Ava work through their issues with the other important people in their lives.

Deborah and her daughter DJ (Kaitlin Olson) face off again and again as they work through their tumultuous mother-daughter relationship. Ava manages a tense relationship with her parents after her dad suffers a stroke, and she struggles to navigate their new normal.

There’s also Deborah’s COO Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins) who struggles to balance his devotion to Deborah and her business and his budding relationship with Wilson (Johnny Sibilly).

A variety of relationships on the show allows the viewer to relate to the characters in different ways throughout the season.

5. Standout Supporting Characters

Deborah and Ava may be the leads, but Hacks boasts an all-star cast for all of its characters.

Clemons-Hopkins as Marcus is the closest the show gets to a third lead in his breakout role as Deborah’s COO. The story follows his journey as he struggles with workaholism impacting the rest of his life. He’s often the more put-together foil to Deborah and Ava’s wild antics but is no less compelling and has some great deadpan line deliveries.

Olson, a talented comedian herself, is perfectly cast as Deborah’s immature adult daughter DJ, who toes the line between sympathetic and loathsome. Olson delivers DJ’s absurd dialogue with enough sincerity that it becomes all the funnier.

Kiki (Poppy Liu), Deborah’s personal blackjack dealer, is one of the kookier characters who serves up some memorably weird lines as she tries to give Ava questionable advice. Kayla (Megan Stalter), the unbelievably incompetent assistant to Ava’s agent, will keep you equally surprised as she keeps inserting herself into all of their conversations to comedic effect.

All of these characters are a joy, and I would love for any of them to get their own standalone episode next season.

6. Female Empowerment

Hacks is a show about many things, but at the core, it’s about two women trying to exist in a world that often works against them. Deborah’s old-school approach of “overcoming” sexism through personal success rather than dismantling it contrasts with Ava’s desire to confront it head-on.

The show uses Deborah and Ava’s generational differences in their responses to sexism to highlight how much things have changed for working women in the past few decades, and how much work is left to be done.

The result is a story of two women learning from each other and empowering each other in the process. This is especially true on Hacks Season 1 Episode 8, “1.69 Million,” when Deborah has the opportunity to confront her past experiences with sexual harassment with Ava’s encouragement.

Ava finds a new appreciation for everything Deborah had to overcome to get where she is, and Deborah gets a necessary push to realize she has the power to confront situations directly.

7. The Unique Setting

Anyone who has had the pleasure (or horror) of taking a trip to Las Vegas knows it’s a one-of-a-kind place. Hacks manages to capture the many quirks of Sin City despite not filming most scenes on location.

Although Deborah has lived there long enough to embrace the city, Ava struggles with her move from Los Angeles. We get to see life in Las Vegas through her eyes as she literally lives in a casino.

Las Vegas isn’t the most popular setting for television shows, but it’s a unique setting to explore that opens up the story to unusual characters and situations. If you enjoyed GLOW Season 3, which was also set in Las Vegas, you’ll feel right at home watching this show.

Without spoiling anything, on Hacks Season 1 Episode 5, “Falling,” when Ava spends the night with a mysterious stranger named George, provides the best example of just how quickly things can turn on a dime in Las Vegas.

8. An Interesting Look at the Entertainment Industry

Hacks provides an interesting look at the entertainment industry that’s funny while still providing real criticisms. From Ava getting “canceled” for a viral tweet to Deborah’s struggle with ageism, the show runs the full gamut of ridiculous to serious.

It would be remiss to make a show about two comedians and not comment on the challenges they face in an industry that’s not always kind to people, especially not women. Hacks explores the industry in a way that feels authentic to the story without becoming too preachy.

Hacks can be reminiscent of BoJack Horseman in the way it points out the entertainment industry’s hypocrisy and issues through a story that’s still very character-driven and personal.

For viewers interested in the behind-the-scenes drama of the entertainment industry, Hacks satisfies that interest while still maintaining a high level of storytelling.

9. A Short Time Commitment

If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t like to commit to a long binge, Hacks is the perfect choice with only 10 half-hour episodes.

Hacks sets up high stakes at the beginning of the season, so there’s a level of tension throughout the story that creates a binge-able quality. You could easily zip through it in a weekend without feeling burned out or tired of the plot.

If binge-watching isn’t your thing, you could also stretch it out over weekly viewings. Since the show doesn’t rely on too many shocking twists or cliffhangers, it’s not something you have to worry about reading spoilers for.

10. A Confirmed Second Season

There is nothing worse than a show ending on a cliffhanger only for it to get canceled. Fortunately, Hacks fans will get to learn what happens next for Deborah and Ava.

HBO Max already announced the show will return for a second season with an air date still to be determined.

Although the first season of Hacks would be enjoyable on its own, it does end with the promise of a new adventure and some new drama. By the end, you’ll be looking forward to spending more time with these characters and counting down the days until Season 2.

—

Do you plan on watching Hacks? Let us know in the comments.

Hacks Season 1 is streaming now on HBO Max.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

20 Women Changing TV’s Narrative