I Think She Will

This show has single handedly saved 2021 but the final episode was disjointed, jarring and rushed - felt like I was watching an episode by a different set of writers.

I think I first heard of "Hacks" with Kevin Smith extolling its virtues on his podcast. I do love me some Jean Smart, so I mentally filed it away until the last few weeks and then watched the first season, which I enjoyed.

Ava (Hannah Einbinder) is a comedy writer who finds herself "cancelled" following an inappropriate tweet. Her agent sends her to work with Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) a legendary Vegas comedian, who performs her well honed act for an appreciative audience, to a great financial reward. Though they don't hit it off, Ava comes to appreciate Deborah's earlier work and tries to convince her to do a new act, with a more candid, autobiographical style of humour.

One thing I think "Hacks" manages to do very well is avoid falling into the pitfalls that might have derailed a similar version of the show. It's not a straight sitcom, despite the 30-minute episode runtime, but a comedic drama that leans quite heavily into the comedy but with some substance behind it. Another show might have presented either character; savvy, eccentric, antediluvian Deborah or chaotic, haughty, millennial Ava as being the "right" one, with the other as just a foil, but the show balances the foibles of both characters to keep you on their side, rather than a side.

The sparring between the two of them is a reason to watch, but then, with perhaps the only exception being Kayla - Ava's agents assistant, I liked when the supporting characters are featured. They're generally written as real people, with conflicts and motivations, rather than stereotypes or exaggerations, which might have something to do with why Kayla, who's much broader, than anyone else, feels a bit out of place.

Whilst I wouldn't say it's my new favourite (it's not even my favourite show on Amazon Prime about a female comedian) I really liked "Hacks" and look forward to starting season two soon.

...doesn't win all the awards-I mean, ALL the awards, then there really is no justice. Between Watchmen, Mare of Easttown, and now Hacks, the last three years have shown us that there might not be a better actress working right now.

Even when you're aware that something in the story is being saved for a dramatic and comedic hit at another moment, you're still hit in the gut when it does happen. And that's what the writers of Hacks are so good at. I'm not the best at articulating, but this episode and the whole series so far just works so well because if how it flows and how the scenes are acted. I mean, idk if it's perfect, but I give the show and especially this episode a 10 because it's fresh, captivating, effortless and very well acted and written.

Also, I think Kayla is a great character. She's essentially one of the things that throws a wrench in the other characters' plans, which then drives the plot while making it even funnier. Sometimes those types of characters can be a bit jarring but I think it works here and I hope the writers have more in store for her and continue to use her wisely. Looking forward to the next season.

The acting is excellent. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder are so good together.

But the Kayla character was incredibly annoying and jarring. The actress did well at being annoying, just felt like this storyline kept interjecting valleygirlness circa the 80s.