Review: Hacks, "The Cube" | Season 5, Episode 8
Talent needs always come first in an episode that pushes Jimmy and Kayla to the limit
At no point did I ever think that Deborah wouldn’t sell out Madison Square Garden. Unlike MSG booker Amanda, I do not have to open a can of alphabet soup. Despite the lack of surprise, I cheered when Deborah got the call that the date had sold out in 10 minutes because the group's exhilaration is infectious. The journey to this outcome proves fruitful in exploring Deborah’s work ethic and remaining fears about being perceived as crazy. Deborah has never been one to do anything by halves, and not being able to promote the pre-sale via traditional methods won't stop her. Pairing Deborah’s cube stunt with Jimmy and Kayla debating how to move forward against insurmountable odds doubles down on the theme of going to any lengths for work, even if it is detrimental to themselves. Unlike the MSG ticket sales, I can’t quite foresee how this will play out now that Jimmy has been pushed into a corner (the mail room), which is exciting with only two episodes remaining.
Over the seasons, Jimmy and Kayla have maintained a level of absurdity that was first established when Kayla was Jimmy’s terrible assistant. But shifting away from overtly cartoonish extremes to a partnership that makes sense has grounded this part of Hacks. Kayla hasn’t lost her edge during this evolution, and you can count on her to do or say at least one ridiculous thing in a scene—case in point, everything she does with Jimmy’s carefully prepared meals. However, she has also shown strong instincts, and the shift from Kayla making Jimmy’s life harder to the one person who stood by his side has been a boost to the odd-couple dynamic.
