Hacks – Mrs. Table Review

So, the question I have after “Mrs. Table”, aka the episode where Ava and Deborah reunite once more, is did Deborah get off the hook a bit too easily? Honestly, yeah, she did. But then again, Ava was always going to forgive her at some point – she cares too much about her and desperately wants not only her approval but to help her to succeed – so perhaps that question is truly moot. Deborah was always going to realize she needed Ava to succeed and Ava was always going to accept that apology and come back into the fold. It was just a matter of what the impetus would be and how long it would take.

It was lovely to see Ruby back – and see just how far Ava still has to go before she can really be in an adult relationship – but my god, Deborah’s rehashing of Ava’s proposal was absolutely sickening. And, frankly, that’s not something I could ever forgive her for, so I’m a tad surprised Ava was able to overlook that stunt. It’s one thing to be a jerk, or to try to overwork someone until they break – not great, but not personally motivated attacks. But that? That’s vicious on another level. I was surprised Ava came back to work the next day.

And having the almost death of Barry the Corgi be the reason Deborah decides to go racing off into the night to save Ava – another thing in her life that she couldn’t protect (when, in reality, she was the reason Ava continually has gotten hurt in the past several months, so not quite a one-to-one comparison)? Yeah, not sure I buy it.

What did work for me in the “Deborah realizes that Ava is her person” section of the episode was her conversation with Rosie O’Donnell. The reminder that Deborah’s career had cratered out before Ava arrived and that all that success she’s achieved? That wasn’t a result of Deborah’s hard work and years in the trenches. No, it was because Ava unlocked something within her that made her good and relevant. That is something I can see sparking Deborah to chase after Ava and beg her to come back. Because Deborah’s role in Ava’s life isn’t really to protect her from the dark world – although she does, occasionally, do that. It’s to learn from her, to listen to her, and to use Ava to be her voice.

Because Ava was right: She is Deborah’s voice. And they don’t need to pander to the key demographics in a desperate attempt to get the show out of the ratings basement. What they need is to do what works for them. To write to Deborah’s strengths. And when that doesn’t quite work – which it won’t and I’m almost certain the talk show is getting cancelled by the end of the season – they can take a beat and see what it will take to reinvent Deborah. Who knows, maybe season five is going to be about Ava getting a chance to lead and have Deborah be her behind-the-scenes writing partner.

Whether or not I fully bought the thought process to bring Deborah back to Ava and have the duo reunite, I certainly bought Ava’s breakdown. That’s something that has been brewing for awhile. Every time Ava took a step forward in terms of being an adult and a real boss, she then took three steps back. The realization that her writing staff was more than willing to walk all over her once she gave them the leeway to was not a shock. Of course they did. And her inability to get past her own insecurities and lead? Also not a shock. In the past, Deborah would be there to balance her out, to remind her of her role and place, and to guide her back (caustically, of course). But without Deborah, Ava became an island and she had no idea how to find her way back. Perhaps that’s why it was so easy for her to forgive Deborah, despite “kinda hating” her still. Because with Deborah by her side, Ava knows who she is and what to do. When she’s being Deborah’s voice, she doesn’t have to rely on her own – which is where she often stumbles.

Does this mean things will be smooth sailing for the rest of the season? Nah, I doubt it. But I’m intrigued to see if the balance will be truly restored between our two leading ladies in the next episode. Or will there still be some tension and growing pains to work through? Knowing Hacks, I suspect it will be latter. But either way, I’m still glad Ava and Deborah are on the same side again. Because this show is so much more fun when they are.