Hacks

Season 2 of HBO's award-winning comedy takes us on tour with Deborah and Ava, plus a bevy of guest stars. NOW STREAMING: ...

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Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder and the creators of HBO Max's Emmy-winning comedy break down Season 2's first big reveal.

“Despite it being the biggest thing in the world to Ava, it felt so right for Deborah because rich people are constantly in litigation,” jokes Statsky. Smart calls the development “hilarious — she’s like Donald Trump, she just sues everybody for everything.” “Part of why they continue to work together, even after all the pain they’ve put each other through, is because they both care so much about the work,” says Aniello. “Nothing matters more, even if it should.” This final part “is just so brutally honest,” says Aniello. “Deborah finally let somebody try to be close to her, and now she hears what she actually thinks of her. “There’s something about the intimacy of being so close to somebody that you can hear them breathing.” “But also, you hopefully still see that, no matter what they go through, there’s still love between them there, and that they really do make each other better.” “And the worst kind: one who thinks she’s the victim. “We always knew it’d be very personal and damning to touch upon her relationship with her daughter,” Statsky says. “Their relationship could be repaired if Deborah would just tell her she’s proud of her, but she won’t even do that.” “The truth is, Deborah Vance is a bully,” she reads. It reverberates throughout the entire season and has a huge effect on the relationship and love they have for each other.” Adds Einbinder, “It got me back into the moment of the scene. At dinner, Ava informs Deborah that their agent has made the email null and void.

It took too long but Jean Smart is now widely recognized as one of the best TV actresses working today. The range of her work in “Fargo,” “Watchmen,” and ...

The writing on “Hacks” is better when it avoids set-ups that could be called sitcomish. The premiere features almost all of the supporting players from season one, including Kaitlin Olson’s DJ, Chris McDonald’s Marty, and Mark Indelicato’s Damien. And it’s nice to see Carl Clemons-Hopkins given a rich arc again this season as Marcus battles the intense burden of perfectionism that he puts on himself as Deborah’s closest ally versus a perception of happiness that includes clubbing and dog ownership. Like Deborah, Ava is trying to figure out who she is, constantly moving toward better habits—she tries to go sober and limit technology in her life this year—but realizing that forcing change never works. Deborah and Ava’s manager Jimmy (the very funny Paul Downs) gets some hysterical beats as he tries to wrangle both of his problematic clients and a kooky assistant (Megan Stalter) who makes his life much harder. She’s a woman who guards her vulnerability whenever possible and yet has to access that part of her on stage every night. The range of her work in “ Fargo,” “ Watchmen,” and now “Hacks” is stunning, and the character she’s crafting on this HBO Max Emmy winner for directing, writing, and actress could be career-defining.

'Hacks' premiere recap: Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder break down the first two episodes of Season 2 — watch video interview.

Then, grade the episodes and drop your thoughts in the comments! Eventually, Deborah has time to reflect and decides to let it go so they can continue with the tour. I didn’t mean to hit her!” (Watch the video embedded above for the full breakdown of the big fight scene and more.)

A review of the second season of Hacks, the Emmy-winning HBO Max series starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder as sparring comedians.

Like the woman she plays, Smart is every inch a pro, and Einbinder continues to hold her own opposite her co-star, handling more emotional moments with ease. The good news is that the performances by and chemistry between Smart and Einbinder stay on point. Actually, Deborah probably keeps her around because she loves Ava, and Deborah tends to punish the people she loves most. The new episodes find Deborah and Ava on the road, touring small venues and dealing with the consequences of a defamatory email Ava sent to some TV producers eager for dirt on Deborah. Once Deborah finds out, she decides to sue her writing partner for violating her NDA, giving the season the plot thread it needs to generate continued conflict between the two. Damien, also on the road with the pair, asks Ava why Deborah doesn’t just fire her instead of keeping her around and being mean to her (but only sometimes). “I don’t know, I guess because I’m her joke writer and I’m funny,” Ava answers. But especially in the first couple of installments — HBO provided six out of the eight that will roll out two per week starting today — there’s a fair amount of trying too hard, and it is indeed awkward.