Warning: This article contains spoilers about the season 2 finale ofHacks.
There was a massive death on the season 2 finale of HBO Max’sHacks.
Well, that’s not entirely true.
Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder in ‘Hacks’.Karen Ballard/HBO Max
The special ended up doing gangbusters on QVC long live physical product!
It seemed like the Deborah and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) partnership was ready to take on the world!
Until Deborah cut the cord.
Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter in ‘Hacks’.Karen Ballard/HBO Max
Does that mean this could be the last we see of Deborah, Ava, and company?
Also, did Deborah know Jimmy was lying about the dead guy to save her special?
Was the lawsuit against Ava (which Deborah finally dropped) just a gag the whole time?
Jean Smart in ‘Hacks’.Karen Ballard/HBO Max
And are DVDs indeed the future?
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY:Okay, I’m a little worried.
PAUL W. DOWNS:You’ve got to text your vote to HBO at…
When you crafted this, how did you think about it?
DOWNS:We wanted to feel like there was resolution and it was really satisfying.
And I think when you feel really satisfied at the end, it can often feel like something final.
But Lucia said this, so I’m going to steal her quote.
We feel like this is only the second chapter in a larger story that we want to tell.
So what does the future hold for thisshowthen?
Is that still up in the air?
LUCIA ANIELLO: We haven’t been picked up yet as far as we know.
But you have story you all have been working on?
ANIELLO: For sure, yeah.
JEN STATSKY:We have season 3 already.
We have more than that.
We are very excited about what we have planned.
DOWNS:We have multiple chapters already planned.
Let’s get into the finale.
DOWNS:Ding, ding, ding!
ANIELLO: Yeah, she sniffs it out.
Deborah’s a very astute performer and mover in the world and she knows.
How seriously is she considering getting rid of him before the show, when Janet goes backstage?
DOWNS:I think it’s very serious.
And for someone to have an opportunity if it does work to then merchandise it is once-in-a-lifetime, potentially.
So I think she’s really, really considering it until she sees just how cunning he can be.
Let’s jump to the end with Deborah and Ava.
If Deborah doesn’t push the proverbial bird out of the nest, what is Ava’s future?
DOWNS:At least not maybe reach her potential that she would have on her own.
Was the lawsuit always just a gag to Deborah?
What was the point of that for her?
ANIELLO: It was real to Deborah.
She was legitimately suing Ava, and I think that Deborah is also a needler.
She likes to kind of torture people, especially if they’ve wronged her.
I’m going to hold it over your head.
I’m going to torture you with this lawsuit that is real."
And so it was real to Deborah.
It’s beautiful in some ways and loving, but it’s also twisted.
DOWNS:She definitely learned the lesson of don’t violate an NDA.
When you sign one, you’ve got to be careful.
It is like the rug has really pulled out from underneath her.
STATSKY:It’s pulled out from the audience too.
You all took some shots at DVDs.
Why do you hate physical product so much?
ANIELLO: The plastic, the waste, the unnecessary waste.
Like Jimmy, we’re environmentalists.
I just feel like all my favorite movies and TV shows are going to somehow disappear one day.
STATSKY:Oh, I get that.
DOWNS:Well, you know, that is a Deborah thing.
She’s like, film is forever, and DVDs are forever and beyond because they don’t biodegrade.
Deborah does, but do we?
And to kind of put that to the test.
And in terms of Susie Essman, we love Susie.
But she also is capable of doing some more dramatic stuff.
And it’s just like, why is that?
And so we think that’s true of not just standup comedians.
It’s also true of women in all industries, but the arts especially.
So her as a director, I think it was an example of that yet again.
And that was absolutely our intention.
That’s the moment of Deborah being an intense egomaniac.
She’s just vain.
It’s not if you’re a woman.
DOWNS:These two people found each other and they’re kindred spirits.
But also, there is that big question of how do you get them back together?
Because what is it like when you’re not with your closest collaborator?
What is that like?
What is life like?
ANIELLO: And what do you learn about yourself?
DOWNS:I guess what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, maybe?
I don’t know.
Did I just come up with that?
And so she’s continuing on that path to redemption and being reestablished in the culture.
But obviously that will come with its challenges, both personal and professional.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
