Admit It, Deborah! You’re Having a Panic Attack!

Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for Hacks Season 4 Episode 4.

Last week, in Episode 3 of Hacks‘ acclaimed Season 4, Ava (Hannah Einbinder) and Deborah (Jean Smart) took their tension and in-fighting back to the Max series’ promised land: Las Vegas. Deborah, realizing that she maybe should start being cooperative and not, say, do things like planting Ava’s underwear in their boss Rob’s (Dan Bucatinsky) office, or throwing out jokes that Ava worked hard on, decided to take the writers on a “retreat” to Sin City where they could get cracking on Deborah’s Late Night opening.

However, and expectedly, things did not go according to plan, with the famed comedian lashing out at Ava, taking a detour to a strip club, and getting pulled over by the cops (which does force Ava and Deborah to unpack some feelings). The episode ended on a positive note, only for Ava and Deborah to experience whiplash upon their return to the studio. Yes, they might have finally figured out the opening for the show and saw the power of teamwork in action with the writers, but it turns out, what happens in Vegas did not stay in Vegas, with the network getting wind of their shenanigans and animosity. Officially unable to be trusted, Deborah and Ava are assigned bumbling HR representative Stacey (Michaela Watkins), who must be present anytime the two are together in the building. Yikes…

The Pressure Finally Gets to Deborah

Episode 4 of Hacks’ latest season kicks off with a hardcore, Rocky-esque montage of everyone preparing for Deborah’s Late Night debut, which is two days away. Staffers get the supplies ready for the writers. Ideas for jokes and recurring segments scribbled on color-coded index cards fly on and off a board in the writers’ room. Costume designers prepare Deborah’s wig as set decorators put up the curtain and put pillows on the couch. Ava rigorously squeezes a stress ball until it bursts (what the hell are in those things?!) as she jots down script notes, and Deborah steps on and off the scale and starves herself. She even does some physical training as if she were indeed entering a boxing ring.

Though she might not be getting literally punched, hosting a late-night show every night takes a mental and physical toll, which Deborah experiences quicker than she anticipated. During the dress rehearsal, Deborah comes out with the confidence she always boasts on stage during stand-up, starting the show with an easy layup monologue joke about how, no, you don’t have to adjust your TV sets, this is actually a woman hosting a late-night show. But then, everything hits her, and everything goes silent, save for the rapid beating of Deborah’s heart. We are now experiencing what Deborah is experiencing for the first time: a panic attack.

Upon reading the line on the cue card about it being her “second act,” Deborah says she needs a break and walks off-stage. Everyone rushes to her safety (including Stacey, who is hilariously always one step behind everyone else), and Deborah is convinced she is having a heart attack. The medic says this is likely not the case, and when Ava gently suggests she’s having a panic attack, Deborah flies off the handle, as she sees that as a sign of weakness. Panic attack is the consensus, though, and the studio audience is released, and a mortified Deborah is urged to rest.

Ava Is Incredibly Stressed, but Mostly Worried About Deborah

Even though tensions between Ava and Deborah have only slightly lessened, Ava is clearly worried about Deborah and sincerely feels for her. She visits her in her dressing room (with Stacey right behind her, of course) and calmly gives her tips on how to manage her stress, suggesting she start naming her surroundings to ground herself. Deborah, more stubborn and short-fused than ever, dismisses Ava’s generous advice, and makes it clear that it wasn’t a panic attack. Anything anyone says with the best of intentions is being misinterpreted and weaponized. When Ava pivots to referring to it as a little stage fright, Deborah looks like she is ready to knock her out. In fact, she takes it a step further, blaming her “cardiac issue” on Ava and saying that the poor writing and bad opener are killing her. Stacey not-so-helpfully suggests a “volume jar” in an effort to get them to lower their voices. Oh, Stacey.

In the break room, we meet one of many killer cameos Hacks has this season: Merrill Markoe. Markoe, who was head writer of David Letterman‘s iconic talk show, is playing herself and serving as a consulting producer for Deborah. In a not-so-uplifting chat with Ava, Merrill says she does not envy Ava in the slightest, because the head writer position, which she knows all too well, is for lunatics, and basically, Ava is never going to relax as long as she has this job.

Meanwhile, Jimmy (Paul W. Downs) is feeling a bit out of place, at least with where he falls with Deborah. Yes, he’s her manager, but she doesn’t seem to have time for him. When he excitedly says he booked dinner reservations for them after her first taping, Deborah says she planned on getting dinner with her first guest and Winnie (Helen Hunt). Adding to that blow is the fact that Winnie routinely emasculates him, telling him that he’s prettier when he smiles. Winnie also tells — not asks — Deborah that she will be going to a cardiologist just to make sure Deborah is in the clear, which Deborah feels is completely unnecessary. Hunt, continuing to nail her role as the no-nonsense boss, says, “I’m not being nice. I just spent a lot of money at the dealership, and I want to make sure I didn’t get a clunker.” Surely, that added layer of pressure just did wonders for Deborah’s shaky confidence.

Deborah Confides in Comedy Legend Carol Burnett

In the waiting room at the heart doctor, Deborah is completely starstruck upon seeing Carol Burnett, who is as sharp, sweet, and wise as ever. Burnett’s cameo here is more than exciting — it’s beautiful and important. Burnett’s comedy legacy and impact cannot be overstated, and the chance encounter is especially fitting for Deborah, who is embarking on her own hosting journey.

Burnett’s moment with Deborah goes beyond being a thrilling cameo and respectful nod to a trailblazer, and serves as a crucial, eye-opening conversation for Deborah. She confides in Burnett about her stage fright (which she finally admits to herself), and asks if she’s ever gotten it before. After a few jokes (seriously, Burnett’s timing and delivery are just impeccable), she suggests that Deborah focus on one person in the audience and do the show just for them. She then tells her that she’s going to be great, as she always is, and to “knock ‘em dead, kiddo.” If you’re not crying by the end of that scene, well, then, maybe you should get your heart checked.

Ava Might Have Her Dream Job, but She’s Never Felt More Alone

At the studio, Ava sees Deborah right before the taping. The vibe is hard to articulate: Ava is sort of like a desperate guy asking a girl on a date, and Deborah is the girl who wants nothing to do with him. Deborah declines Ava’s generous invite to watch the show with her and the writers at a bar that night, and reminds Ava that they technically shouldn’t be talking because Stacey isn’t present. Oof — message received.

Ava is feeling many things, with “lonely” being at the top of the list. She doesn’t have the support and friendship of Deborah to comfort her and tell her everything will go great, and she’s exhausted and stressed from a job that so few people have ever had and can relate to. When Josefina (Rose Abdoo) sees her at the taping and jokingly says how Ava is the girl she used to live with who had a very dirty laptop screen, Ava holds her tight and doesn’t let go. Einbinder’s talents are on full display here, as Ava holds back tears and tries to put on a brave face. Josefina is a reminder of a simpler, more innocent time in Ava’s personal and professional life — a time that was filled with possibility. Now, Ava has the job of her dreams, but she’s never felt more alone.

Kayla and Jimmy Bring Levity to an Otherwise Heavy ‘Hacks’ Episode

While the episode as a whole is a particularly heavy one, Kayla (Megan Stalter) is someone you can rely on to make you guffaw. (That’s right, guffaw.) Without fail, the Hacks writers give Kayla a bizarre or out-of-left-field line to hit us with when we are just entering a scene and catching up with her and Jimmy. This time, Kayla holds up a box of raisins and, referring to the Sun-Maid mascot, asks Jimmy, “Would you do her? She looks kinky. Beautiful breasts…” She then proceeds to berate a nervous intern who gave her the wrong coffee order, shouts something in Spanish(?), and then demands Chapstick.

Jimmy is rightfully disturbed by this outburst, though Kayla explains that they need to make sure everyone knows they have power. Jimmy, however, argues that, as the people representing the host and head writer, they need to lead with love and lead by example. (Jimmy and Kayla spin-off, when?) Jimmy’s ego gets a bit of a blow (again) when Ava also turns down their dinner invite in between frantically prepping alternate punchlines and approving last-minute bits.

Lights, Camera, Action, Deborah

If the pressure and tensions weren’t high enough, a magnificent tracking shot (from Paul W. Downs, who also directed the episode) follows Deborah as she walks from her dressing room to the curtain. Smart impressively captures Deborah’s nerves and her efforts to keep them at bay as people tell her she’s going to do great, her social media person tries to capture content for socials, and Polly Draper‘s Diana tells her that she will have a better show if she starts with her left foot. Jimmy lovingly adds how his dad is looking down on her and is so proud.

As we get closer to the curtain, the sound is drowned out by deafening silence and Deborah’s quick and pounding heartbeat. Watching Deborah walk onto that stage, to rapturous applause and support, is a big emotional beat for not only Deborah, but for Hacks‘ loyal viewers. For three seasons, we’ve completely fallen for Jean Smart’s character as we have watched her make as many strides in her career as she has major setbacks. This is the moment that we’ve all been unofficially working towards since Hacks’ pilot, making it feel like we can collectively breathe a (small) sigh of relief.

The most beautiful, heartfelt moment of the episode comes when Deborah lands on the line in her monologue that triggered the panic attack in dress rehearsal. Feeling unsteady again, she remembers Carol Burnett’s advice to focus on one person in the audience and pretend like you are doing the show just for them. Suddenly, the audience disappears, and a light shines on a smiling Ava, who stands at a podium right behind the camera. Deborah has never felt safer or more confident than she does in that moment, and seeing the two of them share a “Can you believe we got here?” smile is such a tender release for both them and us.

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Deborah and Ava’s Post-Show Plans Get Derailed

Deborah’s first show is a success but instead of being relieved, Ava still looks lost. She hangs around as Deborah records some affiliate commercials, holding out hope that the host will want to talk to her and potentially rekindle sparks from their old relationship. Ultimately, Ava decides not to keep the writers waiting and heads to the bar, since the person that she really wants to be with doesn’t seem to want anything to do with her. Ava brings the champagne and energy to the bar, but quickly sees that she is the only one in the group with any energy whatsoever. The writers are exhausted from their many late nights trying to craft the perfect first episode, and really only showed up at the bar because they were afraid to tell Ava, their boss, that they were too tired. Ava reads this on their faces pretty quickly, and tells them that they can all go home and get rest. The writers leave instantly, and Ava’s now emotionally and literally alone.

But Deborah’s got that big dinner with Winnie, right? Well, since the guest declined and Winnie’s kid threw up 100 gummy worms, the celebratory dinner will have to get a rain check. Something that is so revealing about Deborah is how much difficulty she has being alone. (Remember in Season 1, when she called Ava to interrogate her about her three chicken parms she ordered for room service? We know that’s not really why she called…) She calls up Damien (Mark Indelicato), who shows up instantly and is a sweaty, terrified wreck. He doesn’t know how to behave or what to say since it’s just him and Deborah, and goes as far as ordering the quail because Deborah made a remark about how that’s always a great choice.

To make things even more depressing for Ava, her car is about to be towed because she parked in the wrong parking lot. She frantically explains how she actually is a customer and runs into the sex shop to buy something and avoid further humiliation. In a wonderfully feral, slapstick-y scene, Ava cuts in front of a couple (Medalion Rahimi and Alexander Koch) and tries to buy a little bottle of lube so she can get a receipt and show the tow truck driver, but the sex shop has a credit card minimum, so she panic-buys a dildo. (Haven’t we all?) This leads to the cashier explaining the best way to use said dildo, and Ava hurries him through the conversation, grabs the receipt, and makes a run for it. However, it’s too little, too late, and the car is being towed. She does the walk of shame back in, and can’t even return it because they have a no-return policy. The couple she cut in front of takes a liking to her and offers her a ride back to her car, which she graciously accepts.

Damien and Deborah Bond Like Never Before

Back at the restaurant, Damien gets quality time with Deborah that he’s never had, and honestly, never really wanted. He doesn’t have any connection to or interest in comedy, but is really good at his assistant job. This intimate setting with Deborah, plus the added pressure of taking Marcus’ (Carl Clemons-Hopkins) position, is far more stress than Damien can handle. However, it does allow for Deborah and the audience to get to know a character that typically gets sidelined.

Indelicato perfectly captures Damien’s awkward attempt to balance being professional with being personal when Deborah asks how he’s enjoying Los Angeles. He explains how it’s extremely competitive to be an “LA gay,” versus being just a “gay in LA,” because everyone has incredible bodies, and he just has no idea how to get those muscles. After blurting out that he needs “an ass like a house,” he puts his hands over his mouth in a cartoonish manner and apologizes, admitting that he’s never had alcohol before. Not only does this lead to him opening up even more to Deborah in the car, but he convinces her to stop at a gay bar so he can show her off and get some gay street cred.

Ava Gets New Love Interest(s) and a Call From the Hospital

Ava gets a ride from the sex shop couple, and it’s obvious that they are into her. When Ava asks how she can repay them, they tell her they would love to take her to dinner, which catches Ava by surprise. Of course, the “why the hell not” attitude that makes Ava the lovable mess that she is leads to her agreeing to swap numbers with the strangers. As she drives home, she gets a phone call, hilariously assuming that it’s Emily from the sex shop already calling her… but it very much is not.

In a severely cringeworthy moment of miscommunication, Ava realizes she is speaking to a nurse at Cedar Sinai, who called because she was Deborah’s emergency contact. Deborah’s heart is fine, but when a fan forced poppers under her nose while she was dancing in a cage at the gay club (yes, you read that correctly), she hit her head and collapsed and was sent to the hospital. Ava, crippled with anxiety and blinded by her love for Deborah, does a massive (and very illegal) U-turn and heads straight to the hospital.

Deborah and Ava Have Never Needed Each Other More

Okay, I know I’ve said this several times already, but “I Love L.A.” is just bursting with feelings. The ending scene rivals Deborah and Ava’s sweet moment during the taping and Carol Burnett’s cameo for the most moving moment of the episode. Deborah still acts a bit reluctant to see Ava at the hospital, but Ava isn’t stooping to her level. She misses and is worried about Deborah, and isn’t going to hide it. When Deborah, recovering in a hospital gown, realizes her TV in her room doesn’t work, Ava sneaks her to the waiting room and changes the channel to Late Night, just in time to catch the end of the monologue. Deborah, at the end of her monologue, talks right into the camera, and tells the audience that any little girl watching can grow up and do what she does, and she’ll keep the seat warm for them. Yes, Deborah is talking to the people at home here, but she’s also reminding herself that she can do it.

The waiting room is packed, some realizing that Deborah is the one on the TV, though most oblivious, with Deborah and Ava able to share the tender moment almost privately. Ava congratulates Deborah, and a tearful Deborah says it back to Ava, finally giving us a glimmer of hope that these two might be able to make amends after all. Labi Siffre’s “Bless the Telephone” perfectly embodies the tone of the episode as it delicately cascades over the credits. Will Deborah Vance make history? I think she will.

New episodes of Hacks Season 4 premiere Thursdays on HBO and Max.

Hacks

Deborah and Ava have a much-needed moment of connection in Hacks Season 4 Episode 4.

Release Date

May 13, 2021

Network

HBO Max

Showrunner

Lucia Aniello

Directors

Lucia Aniello

Pros & Cons

• Deborah finally makes her Late Night debut, a moment that Hacks has been working toward since the start.
• Kayla and Jimmy offer much-needed comedic relief in a drama-heavy episode.
• Deborah and Ava share some beautiful, tender moments throughout the episode, which hit especially hard in a season in which they’ve aggressively been at odds.