Deborah Vance Drops the Mic: "Hacks" Season 4, Episode 9 comes with twist

Deborah's Defining Stand
Ava's Story Comes Full Circle
Supporting Cast and Subplots
Live Events
What's Ahead for "Hacks"?
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"Hacks" never hesitated to play with expectations, but Season 4, Episode 9, "A Slippery Slope," breaks Max's Emmy-winning comedy to its most daring turning points ever. In a shocking move that is as funny as it is poignant, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) gives up her hard-earned late-night talk show- her "white whale" -to support her creative partner Ava (Hannah Einbinder), causing shockwaves in the world of the show and its viewership.The show's drama heats up when late night leader Deborah is lobbied by network exec Bob Lipka (Tony Goldwyn) to book a hit franchise star with a scandalous cloud of accusations surrounding them. Deborah's effort to lighten the controversy by a few safe jokes is censored by the network, frustrating both her and Ava. When Ava, in a moment of conscience, leaks the network's cover-up to a news producer, the fallout is immediate: Bob demands Deborah fire Ava or lose her show.For the first time, Deborah prioritizes loyalty over legacy. In a live monologue, she reveals the network's censorship and declares her departure, not wanting to betray Ava or her own values. As co-creator Paul W. Downs put it, "She proves not just to Ava, but to herself, what's most important". Jean Smart also weighed in, declaring the moment a "huge leap" for her character.Ava's path in this episode parallels her from the first episode, where she employed honesty to confront powerful industry leaders. The possibility of being terminated by Deborah- her friend and mentor -closes their relationship in a circle, but this time, Deborah opts for Ava over ambition. Critics have called out the episode for returning to the essence of the show: the offstage relationship between Deborah and Ava, and their readiness to risk everything for one another.Meanwhile, Jimmy (Paul W. Downs) and Kayla (Megan Stalter) have their own drama, with Jimmy formally naming their agency "Schaeffer and LuSaque"-a touch that honors their new partnership and the show's signature format of acerbic, character-based humor. Smart and Einbinder, in particular, are a central attraction, with actors such as Dan Bucatinsky bringing attention to real-life friendships off-set that contribute to the narrative's emotional resonance.The series concludes with Deborah contractually forbidden from performing for 18 months, which leaves her and Ava at a turning point. A finale teaser suggests the pair may embark on a long-overdue vacation together, indicative of a new beginning for the show's core relationship. As Hannah Einbinder pointed out, shooting these scenes was "very emotional," highlighting the implications for both characters and viewers."Hacks" keeps retooling, combining scathing industry satire with affectionate storytelling. With the Season 4 series finale airing May 29 and still no Season 5 renewal announced, fans are left waiting eagerly to see what comes next for Deborah, Ava, and the world they've created—on stage and off.

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