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WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for the Hacks season 4 finale.

In the final episode of the fourth season of “Hacks,” titled “Heaven,” we see Deborah preparing for a comeback following rumors of her death during a trip to Singapore that were later proven false. This decision comes after she walked away from her late-night show in the previous episode, when she refused to fire Ava. The conclusion of season 4 leaves many questions about the future of Deborah’s career and the successful series itself unanswered. Fortunately, HBO Max has confirmed that a fifth season of “Hacks” is in development, ensuring that the story of Deborah and Ava will continue.

In the final episode of Hacks season 4, there was no appearance of Hollywood self-mockery or introduction of new guest stars. Instead, the finale reverted back to the original focus of the series, shining a light on Deborah and Ava’s personal bond rather than their tumultuous professional rivalry. Following a quick update with Christopher McDonald’s character Marty, who made his first appearance in Hacks season 4, Deborah deceives Ava into traveling to Singapore for a performance instead of the promised vacation in Hawaii. The finale culminates as Deborah becomes enraged following a fake obituary published by TMZ.

Deborah’s False TMZ Obituary & “Rewriting” Reaction Explained

The False Advance Obit Suggested Deborah Killed Late-Night TV

In the concluding scene of Hacks season 4, episode 10, there’s a powerful shot of Deborah, visibly angry due to a fake TMZ obituary. She confides in Ava, whom she had sent home the previous night under the influence, that they need to work on correcting some negative online comments about Deborah’s life together, suggesting they should rewrite or revise them.

In her desire to maintain her standing and self-image, Deborah refused to accept being sidelined, despite Bob Lipka having bound her with a non-compete agreement in her TV contract. Initially, Singapore offered a platform for Deborah to carry on performing, but now she’s resolved to pen a new chapter in the public spotlight and reshape her own narrative.

Deborah informs Ava that on certain occasions, news outlets have mistakenly published obituaries ahead of time. Sometimes these premature obituaries become public knowledge, which is why Deborah isn’t shocked by the recent event. Initially, both Ava and Jimmy were scared by the news, but it seems like this wasn’t a deliberate action. This ruling out the possibility that Bob Lipka might have intentionally leaked the obituary to send a message to Deborah that her career is finished, although that could still transpire in Hacks season 5.

Despite the wording, Deborah found the opening paragraph of the obituary displeasing, as it stated, “Vance’s final years have seen significant highs and lows. The peak was becoming the first female late-night host and the trough was abruptly quitting the show on-air, which ultimately led to the downfall of the entire franchise.” Deborah’s main issue with this write-up is that it implies she “ended late-night” before she “retired.” Deborah’s proposed revisions aim to address her career accomplishments as well as her standing as a live performer and comedian.

Why Deborah Drunkenly Told Ava To Leave Her In Singapore

Deborah Shoo’s Ava Back To America After Getting A Reality Check

Following Deborah’s cunning plan to lure Ava to Singapore initially, Ava stays put as Deborah sells out performances and settles into a well-known hotel casino. Despite their location being far from Las Vegas, the nature of their partnership shifts back towards the show’s initial live stand-up acts from its season 4 focus on late-night television. However, things take a turn when Ava becomes concerned, expressing to Deborah that she has been pretending for too long in Singapore and needs to refresh her material, overusing the same jokes and relying heavily on alcohol every day.

Despite reconciling in the 4th season, episode 6 of Hacks, Deborah continues to treat Ava harshly, even when Ava was merely trying to assist. Deborah reminds Ava that she is her only friend, despite Ava being a 29-year-old adult woman. Instead of acknowledging the numerous sacrifices Ava has made for her throughout the years, Deborah lashes out at Ava with snide remarks, doing so because Ava touched a nerve that came from a sincere place. Eventually, Deborah’s fake death hoax prevents her from apologizing to Ava as she should, further straining their relationship in what is becoming a more and more toxic work environment.

How Deborah Performed Abroad With A Translator Loophole

She Claimed The Translator Was Performing, Not Her

It appears Deborah found a way to perform outside the U.S., using a translator, by giving the impression that the interpreter was the actual performer rather than herself. However, it’s not explicitly clear how she came across this solution, as the lawyer provided no assistance during their meeting at the end of the Hacks season 4 finale.

The situation also brings up an intrigue regarding why Deborah wasn’t able to perform with a translator in the U.S. or a location more nearby than Singapore. It seems plausible that the hotel casino in Singapore was the only one prepared to assume the legal risk of hosting her, given her circumstances. It is understood in the U.S., though, as per TMZ’s obituary, that Deborah had moved to Singapore.

The Demolition Of The Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel Explained

Hacks Pays Homage To A Historic Las Vegas Landmark

In the final episode of the fourth season of Hacks, a scene featuring Marcus, his family, and an ex-love interest unfolded. Notably, this scene was set against the backdrop of a real event – the destruction of a well-known Las Vegas hotel known as the Tropicana Las Vegas. The Tropicana opened in 1957 and was demolished in October 2024, thereby providing an exact timeline for the events depicted in the Hacks season 4 finale.

In 2012, the well-known comedy club, The Laugh Factory, made its home within the Tropicana Las Vegas. Deborah had graced the stage at this venue previously. Interestingly, the Tropicana is also recognized for its appearances in films like “The Godfather” and television series such as “Malcolm in the Middle”.

What The Hacks Season 4 Finale Means For Season 5

Deborah Will Likley Make A Major Comeback In Some Capacity With Ava’s Help

In the fifth season of “Hacks”, Deborah will retaliate fiercely to reshape her story and her obituary. However, she’ll have to deal with the remainder of an 18-month non-compete clause unless the fifth season of “Hacks” fast-forwards about a year beyond the events of the fourth season finale. In any case, it appears that Ava will continue to be part of the journey, despite Deborah’s persistent disregard for her and other original characters such as Marcus and Kiki may see more screen time in the upcoming season if the show returns to Las Vegas.

As a cinephile, I must admit that the leaps Hacks season 4 took to establish itself as a show deeply rooted in Hollywood feel a bit uncertain now that Deborah has lost her late-night show. The comedic material’s “reworking” seems unclear, unless Deborah discovers another miraculous opportunity for her to shine on stage once more.

As an ardent fan, it’s intriguing to speculate about Deborah’s future moves. Having navigated the limelight with a prominent network before encountering a setback, she might find herself more immersed in the digital and social media world. There’s even a possibility that Ava could pen a biographical film about her life, with Jimmy overseeing its production. Regardless of the path she chooses, Deborah is undoubtedly gearing up for a grand return in “Hacks” season 5, and it seems inevitable that Ava will play a significant role in her resurgence, no matter the medium.

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2025-05-30 05:39