WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Hacks season 4, episode 3.
Kiki’s guest appearance inHacksseason 4, episode 3, “What Happens In Vegas,” ends up offering Ava some useful advice about her ongoing feud with Deborah. Kiki, played by Poppy Liu, is one ofseveral returning characters inHacksseason 3, episode 4but makes the biggest impression on Ava, who is struggling to maintain Deborah’s ambitions and outdated expectations of her new writing staff. Kiki was more of a recurring character inHacksseason 1 before appearing as a special guest in a handful of episodes in seasons 2 and 3.
Thefirst two episodes ofHacksseason 4left Ava and Deborah hilariously and fiercely at odds with each other, resulting in a truce only for the sake of their new network late-night show. Ava’s power move to blackmail Deborah into making her head writer was a bold yet effective move, which Deborah begins to reluctantly accept in episode 3. Back in Vegas, Ava reconnects with Kiki, who knew her before she rose through the ranks as Deborah’s go-to writer.Kiki quickly reminds Ava of who she is and, more pointedly, who she’s not.
Ava’s Ambition To Prove Herself To Deborah Has Clouded Her Judgment
Image via Max
Ava excuses her actions as to how she got the head writer job on Deborah’s late-night show by saying she just did what Deborah would have done. In response, Kiki essentially says “yeah, but that’s not you,” and she’s absolutely right.Ava’s losing sight of herself with this new cutthroat dynamicand is risking a lot, particularly Deborah’s friendship, by playing hardball at Deborah’s own game. The real problem is that Ava expects some responsible mentorship from Deborah, which she’s not getting, and emulates Deborah’s worst qualities just to gain her respect and attention.
Viewers know all too well that Deborah’s ways of going about things have largely been flawed throughout every season ofHacks, which is why she got into such a difficult spot career-wise in the first place. Still, she needs Ava’s input and perspective to freshen up her comedy and reinvent her brand to reach younger audiences.
Both of them acting like the head honcho is not helping their winning dynamic but it does rightfully shake up their balance of power.
However,Deborah fails to treat Ava as the vital lifeline that she is(likely out of protecting her ego and pride, believing that she doesn’t need to rely on anyone when she truly does). Both of them acting like the head honcho is not helping their winning dynamic but it does rightfully shake up their balance of power.
Ava Doesn’t Have Anyone Like Kiki In LA To Keep Her In Check
Ava Is Being Personally & Professionally Tested Like Never Before This Season
With Marcus on his way out and everyone else who knows enough about Deborah and Ava’s dynamic back in Las Vegas,Ava doesn’t really have anyone to check her on the harsh reality of thingslike Kiki has done for her. Jimmy does sometimes but he also has to carefully balance his relationship with Ava and Deborah since they are both his clients.
What’s most clear fromHacksseason 4, episode 3 is that Ava and Deborah are brilliant when they are on the same page and disastrous when they aren’t. Deborah will have to admit that she was wrong to lie to Ava about the head writer job to truly heal their creative partnership and friendship. At the same time, Ava should realize that being like Deborah is not her best track towards success.
