‘Hacks’ Season 2
HBO Max’s Hacks was the little show that could when it premiered last year. The acerbic comedy not only won Jean Smart a well-deserved slew of awards, but co-creator and director Lucia Aniello (rightfully) beat out the folks at Ted Lasso for a Best Comedy Directing Emmy. Now in Season 2, the pressure is on for Hacks to effortlessly double down on everything that made it great. Hacks Season 2 is as stellar as ever. This season follows Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) and Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) as they try to reconnect in the face of Ava’s major act of betrayal. What Hacks does best is show the twisted ways in which these two comic geniuses love each other. Deborah might sue Ava for all she’s worth, but she’ll also travel to a series of fast food dumpsters in search of the younger woman’s father’s ashes. The connection that Deborah and Ava have is fascinating, funny, and heart-breaking. Hacks Season 2 gets this and the importance of good jokes.