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Currently 86 on Metacritic with 7 reviews. Premieres Thursday, May 12, 2022, on HBO Max.
Trailer link here:
Discuss.
ReplyThat scene on Episode 2 was a masterpiece of directing and writing, and Einbinder/Smart were terrific on it.
And I also loved the way they concluded the big conflict so quickly. Another show would drag it throughout the whole season. The writers understand the character of Deborah Vance perfectly.
ReplyCopy URLI honestly had mix feelings about the first two episodes. There were parts that I loved (the diner scene in particular was acting heroin) but Ava being so overly contrite and deferential in both episodes, Deborah inspiring her son in law during the fight and then he wins, Deborah showing absolutely no character growth after assaulting an employee, etc. just didn’t sit right. Like I get that shows like this work because you need the terrible character to remain terrible. And that isn’t to say what Ava did wasn’t petty or in breach of her contract. But Deborah’s reaction to feeling like a victim for the truth is an extension of problematic Hollywood with the roles reversed. And Kayla’s character to me is completely unfunny and insufferable and while I know she is beloved for some absurd reason I just can’t stand her.
I genuinely thought Hacks had a chance at winning best series and I don’t think that is a remote possibility after the first two episodes. I do think Jean Smart and Hannah Einbender have a shot at winning, though.
Ultimately, it’s too early to say one way or another but I found the first two episodes lacking. Hoping for a stronger run of episodes from here on out.
And as someone with a CA state real estate license, you get sued and lose if you fail to disclose toxic mold and you can’t even sell a house without getting it inspected first. She would have been liable for a lot more than 500k had someone bought the house and she failed to disclose that info and it was always going to be found upon inspection.
ReplyCopy URLHacks S2 Ep 1
“There Will Be Blood”
Jean Smart absolutely crushes in this episode. Wow. Talk about a show stopping showcase! I was not that impressed with her in S1 but if she’s continuing like this in S2, I might have a headache between Smart and Cuoco. The scenes at the boxing ring and the end are peak Television. The episode is such a great symbolism of underdog and belonging. Hannah Einbeinder is a lead although she doesn’t have that much to do. The direction is spot on and the music choice is really good. But it’s Jean Smart all the way.
Rating: A+
ReplyCopy URLHacks S2 Ep 2
“Quid Pro Quo”
Well, this episode wasn’t as good as the first one but was nice nevertheless. If Ep 1 was Jean Smart then Ep 2 is Hannah Einbeinder. She gets a lot of screentime and does well, especially to show guilt and remorse and shock and dread. And Jean Smart also executes it perfectly. The ending was unpredictable and that made the episode really stick. It was such a huge laugh when it’s revealed that Deborah is doing THAT to Ava and she then says “Don’t worry! It’ll be a good learning experience for you” and then bursts into laughter. The dinner scene was okay imo (not that great) although the email had a lot of truth to it. I’m loving the new shades of Deborah and how unpredictable yet predictable she is. This season in the first two episodes is a step above the first one. Can’t wait to see how it unfolds.
Rating: A-
ReplyCopy URLThe diner sequence with the email reading in the second episode was one of the best-acted sequences on the show to date. As freely as the laughs are presented here, the dramatic moments land beautifully when they occur more sporadically. A lesser series would have dragged out the email business all season long, but these writers have bigger fish to fry than that, so kudos. This also shows that Hannah Einbinder is capable of much more than previously known and completely holds her own with Jean Smart. I knew that by the end of last season, despite my issues with her character. They deftly took on Ava’s criticisms in the first episode with nice payoffs. It’s justification for those claiming that Einbinder is hanging on a wing and a prayer to Smart’s coattails. This is a classic two-hander where one character doesn’t succeed without the other. #JusticeforAva. Einbinder is also totally co-lead, but I’m not gonna be an intolerable “category fraud” person knowing that she would never, ever win a lead actress comedy Emmy over Smart. At least in supporting, Einbinder has a fighting chance in a year where the “Ted Lasso” ladies are on hiatus or something. The lawsuit angle is genius. Totally forgot about that 470-page NDA Deborah made Ava sign lol.
ReplyCopy URLThe diner sequence with the email reading in the second episode was one of the best-acted sequences on the show to date. As freely as the laughs are presented here, the dramatic moments land beautifully when they occur more sporadically. A lesser series would have dragged out that email business all season long, but these writers have bigger fish to fry than that, so kudos.
YES, that scene was really phenomenal. I thought Einbender nailed the whole episode – the dread before, the relief after, it was A+. AND funny.
ReplyCopy URLI wasn’t planning on posting my review for these episodes until I finished with my time out from the forums but then Russell T. Davies announced my favourite television character of all time is returning on screen so considering I already logged in for that, I might as well (this better not become a weekly thing though Russell lol).
For me these two episodes really exemplify the magic that I was enraptured by in the first season and that’s the show’s understanding of comedy. This is a show filled with irreverence and dark humour and it just carries it beautifully. So many comedies with similarly leaning premises often falter with the former by just regurgitating toilet jokes and profanities but what makes Hacks so special is just how sharply written and entirely relatable its insults are. You’re going to feel more ticklish if someone is tickling you slowly and then increasing pace than if someone is essentially tapping you. The way the show makes light of dramatic and more tender moments is just seamless. That second episode (which I have to add was incredibly brought to life by Lucia Aniello in ways that really stunned me) was one 30 minute example of that. That scene where Ava is confessing to Deborah about the email you feel quite tense and sorry for her and would naturally assume that Deborah is going to be heartbroken by the betrayal but then she asks who is going to star in the pilot and then throws a tantrum when Ava says it’s Helen Mirren (because why wouldn’t a show starring her get picked up to series) was a highlight and really gave Smart a good physical comedy showcase. It was mentioned above how perfectly these writers understand Deborah Vance as a character and I have to agree, especially with how it’s handled in relation with the dark mentorship this show is built on. As foils to one another Deborah and Ava do learn and develop off of each other but what’s so smart (pun unintended) with this show is how they’re not actually that different from one another and that we’re only really learning that as the show goes on and both of them begin to realise that as Deborah did in this episode. That closing scene in the car was a hilarious twist but it also gave an incredible amount of depth to Deborah in such a short amount of time. She’s not the type of character who focuses their entire energy on a conflict like this 24/7 (and thankfully neither does the show) but she still likes to get her own back at people who have hurt her whilst still using them to further her own needs.
Just like Deborah with her new set this season has really started off with so much exciting energy and I really hope it holds up through to the finale.
ReplyCopy URLFYC: Better Call Saul, The English and The Good Fight in all categories including Emily Blunt, Bob Odenkirk, Christine Baranski and Rhea Seehorn.
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