Why Deborah & Ava Are Going Back To Vegas -

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Hacks season 4, episodes 1 & 2.

The ending of Hacks season 4, episode 2, “Cover Girls”, finally eases some of the tension between late-night host Deborah Vance and her head writer Ava Daniels. After Ava blackmailed Deborah to get her rightful job as head writer back in the Hacks season 3 finale, Deborah was so furious that she started demoing her kitchen early with a sledgehammer. Paul W. Downs’s Jimmy applauds Deborah for her loyalty and female progressiveness for reinstating Ava as head writer before learning the truth behind their squabble. Their feud creates several hilarious and unsettling moments but may have permanently scarred their winning dynamic.

Deborah, who has wanted a late-night gig since she was a kid, realizes after several attempts to get Ava fired that the show must go on. Network head Winnie, played by a formidable Helen Hunt, reminds Deborah that the show is way behind schedule, leaving Deborah no choice but to concede to Ava. Deborah is competitive to a fault, as shown when she beat her old comic friend Susan and her grandchildren at a carnival game in Hacks season 2. By the end of episode 2, Deborah and Ava call a truce to make their late-night show a success.

Deborah Takes Ava To Vegas For A Late-Night Writer’s Retreat

Deborah & Ava Need To Focus On Making The Show A Hit

Hannah Einbinder as Ava who is sitting at her desk in Hacks

The end of Hacks season 4, episode 2, finds Deborah and Ava putting their differences aside as they rush to the airport, presumably in Burbank, for a charter flight to Las Vegas. Without any advance notice, Deborah drags Ava from her shopping mall apartment complex in Glendale to catch the flight, announcing that she’s hosting a writer’s retreat for all of the newly-hired late-night writers for her show. Her goal is evidently to write some great material for their debut episode and to establish the chemistry of the writer’s room. As head writer, Ava will have to prove that she’s capable of the job.

Deborah is setting Ava up for a challenge fairly and squarely, tossing her into a room of experienced vets and promising comedic voices with a message: “You wanted the job, now do it.”

Deborah pulling Ava out of LA back to her comfortable stomping grounds in Vegas is also a way for her to regain power over their dynamic. The only leverage that Ava has over Deborah is the fact that she “bumped into” Tony Goldwyn’s Bob Lipka, the CEO of the media conglomerate that owns Deborah’s network and show, at the golf tournament in season 3. Knowing that Ava will actually send it to the press, Deborah is setting Ava up for a challenge fairly and squarely, tossing her into a room of experienced vets and promising comedic voices with a message: “You wanted the job, now do it.”

Marcus Selling Deborah’s Company DV Industries To QVC Explained

Deborah’s New Network Deal Has A Non-Compete Clause

Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins) looking disappointed while talking on the phone in Hacks season 3 episode 7, 8 — Image via Max

After 22 years of loyalty and an outstanding work ethic, Marcus is officially leaving Deborah for new opportunities in Hacks season 4. He admits to Deborah that he doesn’t know what he’s going to do next, which terrifies him but also proves that he’s leaving Deborah and selling her company, DV Industries, to actually help her. Without directly saying it, Marcus is probably mentally over working for Deborah and wants to explore new options. What better way to give his notice than by telling Deborah he’s solved a non-compete business issue for her while making her even more money?

A composite image of Ava and Deborah hugging in front of Deborah upstaging Ava in Hacks.

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In previous seasons, Deborah’s “side hustle,” in addition to her Vegas residencies, was selling products on QVC under DV Industries. Marcus was the CEO of DV Industries and helped Deborah make it very financially successful. Because of Deborah’s new network deal, she’s not allowed to sell products on QVC. However, if her business was sold to QVC, then they could still use her name and likeness to sell products, such as those infamous jeggings. Selling the company would mean a big payday for Deborah but no job for Marcus. Deborah offers Marcus an honorary executive producer role but it’s clear Marcus is ready to move on.

The Real Meaning Of Why Deborah Confronted The Coyote

Deborah Is Up Against The Biggest Pressures & Challenges Of Her Career

Jean Smart as Deborah Vance smiling in Hacks

Coyotes are seen throughout Hacks season 4, episode 2, first in Deborah’s nightmare and outside her home, then toward the end of the episode as Deborah drives home. Coyotes, typically symbolic of trickery, amplify the tense and unsettling vibe that lingers beneath the first two episodes of Hacks season 4 as Deborah enters the pinnacle of her career. With a new opportunity comes new threats of losing it or having it taken. The coyotes generally represent the various threats, pressures, and expectations that Deborah will face as the face of late-night while hinting that in LA, many forces are out of her control.