Created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky – Starring Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder

Season five picks up right where things left off, with Deborah Vance having walked away from her late-night show and now stuck in a situation where she’s contractually forbidden from performing.

A crisis, which, for Hacks, is kind of par for the course.

This show has developed a habit over the last few seasons of painting itself into a corner and then figuring out a way out of it. That’s part of the fun — watching how it navigates these impossible situations. And with this being the final season, there’s an added layer of anticipation, knowing whatever comes next is building toward a real ending.

At the center of all of it is the relationship between Deborah and Ava.

Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder have developed great chemistry over time, and I’ve found I enjoy them much more as allies than adversaries. There’s still plenty of biting humor and back-and-forth, but the moments where they’re actually supporting each other — having real conversations underneath the jokes — are where the show really lands for me.

Smart is, as always, pitch perfect. She can do just about anything, and Deborah continues to be a character who gets to live in that full range — sharp, guarded, vulnerable, and completely in control all at once.

Einbinder, though, is the one who really stands out in a different way. She’s grown into this role over time, and what started as a strong comedic presence now feels like a fully realized lead performance. She carries both the humor and the emotional weight in a way that makes Ava feel just as central to the show as Deborah.

On the other end of the spectrum, Jimmy and Kayla (Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter) bring a different kind of energy. Their scenes lean more into that heightened, almost absurd style of comedy, and they give the show a nice contrast to the more grounded dynamic between Deborah and Ava.

The show also continues to just feel good to watch.

The music choices are sharp, the pacing is tight, and everything moves with a kind of confidence that comes from a series that knows exactly what it is at this point.

What’s interesting is how much the show has evolved from where it started. It’s moved beyond its original premise, but never really lost touch with it. Now, more than anything, it’s about the relationship between these two women — and when it leans into that, it really works.

If this premiere is any indication, the show is setting itself up to do what it does best one more time — create a problem, push its characters into it, and then figure out a way through.

I’m curious to see how it all comes together.

Verdict: Really Into This