I’m delighted to say that the third season of Hacks is as good as, if not better than, the previous two seasons.

An argument can be made that the show essentially repeats the same plot beats of the first and second seasons but with raised stakes. That would be a fair critique. There’s a rhythm to Hacks that’s not difficult to predict: Deborah will do something unconscionable or boomer-ish (not woke), Ava will berate her, and Deborah will learn and grow from the experience. In the meantime, Jimmy—Deborah’s agent—will continue to be awkward, regularly let down by his assistant (partner) Kayla. And yet, Kayla’s ineptness will always save the day.

Here’s the thing though: while the above stuff does happen, it happens differently in season three. Ava, who comes back to work with Deborah to help Vance land a permanent Late Night gig, is not the same Ava of Season One, or for that matter, Season Two. She is a successful writer of a John Oliver-like TV show. She is aware of how talented she is. That doesn’t mean she isn’t burdened with anxiety and insecurity, but it has a different flavour. When it comes to Deborah, Ava doesn’t need to berate her; a single eyebrow cocked in a certain way will have Deborah walk back whatever “cancel”-level act she has just committed. The one massive fight they do have (not saying when or the subject) is the fight of equals—maybe not in Deborah’s mind, but certainly in Avas. And it’s all the more spectacular because of it.

The point is that the show is the same, but the texture is different. The Marcus arc is further evidence of this.*

Frankly, even if it did rehash the same themes—and one could argue that the Jimmy/Kayla relationship does just that—I love these characters so much that I don’t care. I mean, I do care. I couldn’t watch 10 seasons of these characters being self-destructive, especially Deborah, but the show hasn’t come close to reaching that limit.

Also, fuck off to the people who say that Hacks would be better off without Hannah Einbinder (OK, it was a couple of comments I saw on Reddit). Why are you watching Hacks if you’re not fully committed to the Deborah/Ava relationship!?

*I really enjoyed his journey across the season. They needed to do something with Marcus, and they absolutely did.