Hacks is now the series it always wanted to be | Television

When it started three years ago, Hacks, which received several Emmys and Golden Globes, was the product of a time still in the grip of pandemic restrictions. Created by the couple Lucia Aniello and Paul W. Downs with Jen Statsky, it was a small series, pretending to take place in another world, in which few characters were together in the same scene. It told the story of a veteran comic stand-up –​​ without great artistic satisfaction, but making a lot of money that allowed him a comfortable life in Las Vegas –​ and a young screenwriter who brought him a new sensitivity to revive his career. The second season brought more trips and other scenarios, but the series still maintained certain limitations in the scope of production, with moments when it was noticed that the ambitions went beyond the means. The third, which premieres this Friday on HBO Max, looks very different, and more in line with what it should have always been.

The main dynamic is the same between star Deborah Vance, whom the respected and impressive actress Jean Smart brings life brilliantly​and his creative partner Ava Daniels, played by Hannah Einbinder – Smart had to wait almost until he was 70 to have a prominent role as This one; Einbinder, daughter of Laraine Newman, original cast member of Saturday Night Live, It’s a comic stand-up who had his first major work here.

The return of the series, whose previous series of episodes dates back almost two years ago, was made difficult because Smart underwent a surgical intervention, to which were added the simultaneous strikes of actors and screenwriters and also the fact that Aniello became a mother while she had just completed a of the five episodes signed this season.

At the beginning of this third season, Deborah returns to the top thanks to Ava. After having created a ‘comedy special’ together – in which Deborah goes beyond the easy joke of the times when she worked in casinos and presenting telesales, starting to reflect on her life and her mistakes –, both return to their lives. Ava returns to Los Angeles to be a screenwriter on a show following Last Week Tonight; Deborah remains in Las Vegas, enjoying her fame. Circumstances end up bringing them together again – and the toxic and volatile relationship that serves their comedy returns to the center of everything.

This time, the protagonist, who in the 1980s was close to having her own talk show night, a trauma that she never got over, she returns to the race to become host of a program of the same kind whose presenter is leaving. It’s not just in terms of means and the visual aspect that this season seems different from previous ones: there is also greater emotional depth. Furthermore, the joke and enjoyment of the series remain on point, exploring the differences in sensibilities between a new comic and a more veteran one. The latter has a history of racist jokes and other types of prejudice in terms of gender and sexual orientation, despite its proverbial acceptance in the community. gayyour biggest fans.

This season, those surrounding the protagonists also deserve more attention: Meg Stalter as Kayla, for example; or Carl Clemons-Hopkins, who plays the manager of Deborah’s company. In addition to these names, guest actors include Helen Hunt, Christina Hendricks, Christopher Lloyd, George Wallace, Tony Goldwyn or J. Smith-Cameron.