By Sarah Osman

Hacks has been one of the best sitcoms in recent years.

Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart in Hacks Photo: courtesy of HBO Max

One of the fun parts of living in LA as a film/TV critic is that, on occasion, I am invited to Hollywood-esque events. The most recent one I attended was a press conference for the fifth and final season of Hacks.

What to Expect from Season Five

The fifth season picks up where the last one left off: Deborah (Jean Smart) has been reported dead by TMZ. Spoiler alert: she’s not. But boy, is she mad. This false report makes Deborah reflect on her legacy and what she wants to leave behind. Throughout the season, Deborah is given a number of chances for reflection — at a reunion special for her sitcom, Who’s Making Dinner?, and at a fan convention where the “little Debbies,” as she calls her fans, make their opinions known (even Ava gets a fan herself). And, in a slight nod to real life, Deborah dates a much younger rock star. This storyline was reportedly inspired by real-life rock star Harry Styles’s real-life love for Jean Smart. The entire series has dealt with the issue of legacy, so it’s only fitting that it’s at the center of the final season.

Meanwhile, Ava (Hannah Einbinder) dates a sex worker/magician. And, in true Ava fashion, the sex worker part is not what bothers her. Also, Ava and Deborah aren’t enemies this season — they’re on the same page. Einbinder reflected on Ava’s journey:

I think what I can observe about Ava’s growth is just that she has changed and been affected for good, I think, by Deborah. And I think the difference between a 24-year-old person and a 30-year-old person is actually quite huge…Ava really went through it on this show. And it’s just been so beautiful.

One of Hacks’ virtues is its focus on real-world issues. Throughout the series, sexism, inter-generational communication, and censorship have been examined. This season has an episode focused on one of society’s biggest perils: AI

There has not been a lot of comment about the AI episode, but series creator Paul W. Downs explained, “The AI episode doesn’t mince words and doesn’t leave their take open-ended because when it comes to the creative process, that’s something we don’t need to optimize.” Einbinder was a bit more blunt: “The people who make this stuff are losers. They’re not artists.… They’re trying to rob real creative people of their gifts. And you can’t. And even if you try, you will never be cool.” Well said, Ms. Einbinder.

Without spoiling too much, you can also expect some fun guest stars, plot twists, and different locales. Tonally, the final season becomes goofier.

“Season four got a little bit dark,” Smart commented. “But I think we earned it.… But season five, we get to get back to being profoundly silly, which is really, really fun.”

And if you’re sad about the show ending, you’re not alone.

“Cried in the first interview today!” Einbinder said. “Y’all thought Cynthia and Ariana were crying? Y’all have not seen real tears. It’s about to be crazy!”

The cast and creators also reflected on the queer legacy of the series.

“Fabulous Dabulous is a new turn of phrase we started using on set this season,” explained series co-creator Lucia Aniello. “It means super fabulous. And I think that’s what the end of the show ends up being — fabulous dabulous. It’s about continuing to strive for queer joy in every moment.”

My Thoughts on the Fifth and Final Season

As Smart said, season five is indeed sillier than the previous season. Even in its darkest moments, there’s always been levity in Hacks. But this season features more absurd scenes, all of which are hilarious.

While the heart of the series has always been between Deborah and Ava, Hacks wouldn’t be Hacks without the supporting characters. Season five shows just how much each of these characters has grown. Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins), Deborah’s former COO, tries to renovate and open his own Las Vegas hotel (which Deborah has some very Deborah-esque ideas for). Deborah’s manager (Paul W. Downs, also a co-creator) and his partner, Kayla (Meg Stalter), find themselves in financial straits, and Kayla shows the greatest growth of all the characters in the show.

Hacks has been one of the best sitcoms in recent years. I completely understood why the cast and creators burst into tears as they talked about its windup; I almost did myself, when I found out this was the final season. But, as a friend of mine and fellow Hacks fan pointed out, all good things must eventually come to an end — even the fabulous, dabulous ones.

Sarah Mina Osman is based in Los Angeles. In addition to The Arts Fuse, her writing can be found in The Huffington Post, Success Magazine, Matador Network, HelloGiggles, Business Insider, and WatchMojo. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and is working on her first novel. She has a deep appreciation for sloths and tacos. You can keep up with her on Instagram @SarahMinaOsman and at Bluesky @sarahminaosman.bsky.social.