Review: Hacks, "What Happens in Vegas"| Season 4, Episodes 3
Deborah tries to regain creative control by returning to the city where she isn't bound by rules
It is incredibly telling that Deborah immediately finds a reason to head to Las Vegas after network head Winnie laid all her cards on the table about the future of late-night television and the tight deadline to make the show a success. Since the pilot, Hacks has engaged in a tug-of-war between Deborah and Ava as they work toward a collective comedic goal while grappling with myriad clashes. Their shared drive and workaholic tendencies made them a surprising match-made-in-heaven, but throwing new collaborators into the mix has a way of disrupting the equilibrium—ditto the recent betrayal. Even with a truce in place, everything remains out of whack, so Deborah heads to the port in her storm to regain her sense of self.
Las Vegas probably doesn’t signify long-term stability for most, but Deborah is not your typical septuagenarian. Returning to the strip offers a reminder of how much power Deborah holds in the city she conquered after losing out on the first late-night opportunity and how much has changed since Ava first stepped into her life. Introducing the just-hired writers into this mix highlights how much dysfunction already exists while reinforcing the stakes of Winnie's ultimatum. The final scene back in Los Angeles elevates this episode from simply being another funny entry in her bawdy Vegas adventures, because there are ramifications to breaking the rules—even if Deborah gets away with breaking the law.
Rather than retreating to Vegas out of fear, this visit is Deborah’s way of lighting a fire under everybody, including herself. Deborah knows she can be number one, but there is a disconnect between self-assurance and how to make it happen. Part of this is the struggle to relinquish power to a writers’ room tasked with honing Deborah’s voice on the national stage. Adding the underlying tension between Ava and Deborah ensures this dream job continues to deliver one nightmare after the next and avoids repeating previous story beats. Thankfully, as with the first two episodes, some middle ground is found before the house of cards collapses under the bleak weight, with plenty of jokes and a reminder of the allure of late night.
