Warning: This article contains spoilers about the season finale ofHacks.
When it comes to comedy, there’s slapstick and there’s now… the Slap.
But there was nothing funny about the emotional eruption that took place in the season finale ofHacks.
Jean Smart on ‘Hacks’.HBO Max
(Ava’s pitch-perfect response: “Who slaps people?!")
But that shocking nadir ended up acting as the storm before the calm.
Suffice it to say, it will not all be smooth skies ahead.
Jean Smart on ‘Hacks’.HBO Max
I feel like this is something we need to see.
LUCIA ANIELLO:I fully agree.
PAUL W. DOWNS:That’s a good show right?Bitch PM.
Hannah Einbinder and Jean Smart on ‘Hacks’.Anne Marie Fox/HBO Max
JEN STATSKY:Yeah, send it in.
We’re happy to just, be non-writing EPs on that one.
DOWNS:It may be time for AI-generated shows.
Maybe there’s some AI that could write it.
So just in the background,Bitch PMis happening.
DOWNS:I have a feeling that we’re not done with the fallout fromBitch PM.
So it’s not going away anytime soon.
I feel likeI’ma writer onBitch PMnow, because now I’m about to ask about the slap scene.
But obviously, this is a pivotal scene.
Tell me how you all wanted to stage this both emotionally and physically.
STATSKY:Yeah, you’re right.
This is an extremely pivotal scene.
And so this wound is so fresh to her now.
And so their emotions are super heightened in that scene.
So that is why she responds the way you see her respond with the slap.
It was a very intense day on set.
ANIELLO:There were a few different parts of it that were challenging.
One of which was actually the choreography of the slap itself.
The thing I wanted to be very careful of was we didn’t cross-shoot it.
So we shot one side and then turned around and shot the other side.
Jean would run to her and be like, “I’m so sorry if that one hurt!
DOWNS:While Hannah was like, “hey hit me harder.”
ANIELLO:They’re both Tom Cruises.
They both love doing their own stunts.
They both love getting in there and going crazy.
DOWNS:They’re going to be strapping themselves to a plane next season.
DOWNS:Can I brag for you for a second?
And Deborah is shot from her mirror.
She can’t look back at Ava.
ANIELLO:And also she does that again after the slap.
After Ava leaves, she also turns back towards the mirror, but can’t meet her own gaze.
It’s because it’s over.
And I think that’s really the thing she’s mourning very quickly in that morning moment.
DOWNS:The hardest part for me was carrying that bouquet because it was 65 pounds.
The next day I was like weirdly sore in my back ‘cause it was so heavy.
ANIELLO:You had to carry it for like two hours.
DOWNS:And I did many takes.
So every single take I had to be in whether it was my coverage or not.
ANIELLO:It was the craziest flower bouquet I’ve ever seen in my life.
We made it exceptionally large on purpose.
And she’s thinking about what Ava has brought out in her just speaking more truth to her past.
And so she makes the choice because Ava has stirred that in her.
And she needed Ava to awaken that in her.
Why is that the thing that gets her?
You’re a psychologist.
You’re certainly not a writer.”
She’s never actually said, “You’re good.”
She’s even said, “You’re not a writer.
You don’t know how to work hard.
You don’t know how to really do it.”
And then when she gets home, Ava hears that refrain from her mother.
“Oh, you think you’re a better writer than God.”
Nobody wants to hear from Ava.
It’s making me emo just talking about it, you know?
By the way, I couldn’t help but notice there areEntertainment Weeklycoversall over Ava’s bedroom wall.
So, what does that say about Ava that she grew up a loyal EW reader?
ANIELLO:That’s exactly right!
She’s always loved entertainment.
She’s loved cool shows.
She’s loves knowing what’s hot and what’s cool.
And what does that more thanEntertainment Weeklycovers?
Speaking of which, why don’t we get Jean and Hannah on a cover?
I mean, Deborah, giving Ava a noogie?
I think it’s fresh.
You never see women doing that.
We’ll have to focus group the noogie and see how that tests.
ANIELLO:I think you’re exactly right.
They’re in a really good place right now, but there’s trouble afoot.
And I want her to come out on the road.
I can only imagine that will feel very devastating.
We saw Deborah make Marcus CEO.
You’re afraid of the mainstream.”
DOWNS:We want this to feel really true to life.
And I think the truth is, is that in relationships you have moments where you backslide.
You take one step forward and two steps back.
ANIELLO:And it’s easy for them to backslide.
It’s easy for both of them.
It’s what they’ve done for years without the other person there.
So it comes naturally to both of them.
So they certainly haven’t gotten to a place where they’re not going to do that.
And I don’t know if any human does.
Does any human evolve so beautifully that they’re incapable of reverting to their old ways?
So does this come from personal experience from one of you, orallof you?
So certainly it’s just such a weird job for parents to understand.
And I get why it seems scary going from gig to gig.
And I was like, “No, I didn’t get laid off.
It’s just seasons.
We’re just on a break in between seasons.”
Like, who would choose to do this?
You know, maybe people who can’t do anything else, I guess?
But I think we also understand a little bit.
You should be in it!"
My parents are so supportive.
I saw this show, you’ve got to do a guest spot on the show."
And I’m like, tell you what, from your mouth to the showrunners ears!
