Jean Smart and the ‘Hacks’ EPs Weigh in on Deborah’s Big Emotional Stand for Ava and That Lesbian Cr

Decider'Hacks' Season 2 Episode 3 on HBO Max shows us Deborah (Jean Smart) forgiving Ava (Hannah Einbinder) before going on a lesbian cruise in Episode 4. | Decider'Hacks' Season 2 Episode 3 on HBO Max shows us Deborah (Jean Smart) forgiving Ava (Hannah Einbinder) before going on a lesbian cruise in Episode 4.

Hacks Season 2 was a wrench in Deborah Vance's (Jean Smart), budding friendship with Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder). Ava admitted that she was a bully, narcissist and sent a bitter email to Deborah. She worked non-stop trying to hide the truth. Deborah responded normally by throwing crystal geodes at the traitorous employee and then by filing suit against Ava. Deborah claims the suit is not. Ava thinks it's a little.

The hit HBO Max series doesn't stay in Deborah's shadow. Ava is (sorta) forgiven by the time of hacks Season 2 Episode 3, 'Trust The Process'. When Deborah's tour manager Weed (Laurie Metcalf) — note that's a nickname that Pete Wentz gave her — mistakes Ava's father's ashes for a tennis ball canister full of trash, Ava understandably freaks out. Deborah insists that Weed stop the bus from turning around so Ava can return to her father.

"Deborah can be self-centered, and sometimes she is rude. But I believe she places herself there and cannot even imagine how it might be. Jean Smart said that she couldn't believe anyone being so selfish as to refuse [Ava]'s help. "Even though she is a burden on my time and my work schedule, it was a terrible thing to have happened." It's funny, though.

"And she loves Ava. She loves Ava, and can't let her suffer. She hates attending funerals but she goes to the father's because she wants [Ava] to feel better.

Max. Photo by Max.

This is a great moment to see Deborah's soft side. It also propels the plot forward. Instead of keeping Deborah and Ava at odds throughout the season, it's possible to watch them laugh and get along as hacks Season2 Episode4 'The Captain’s Wife'. Deborah is taken on a cruise with lesbians in this episode.

Jen Statsky, co-creator of Hacks and showrunner told Decider that the idea to put Deborah and Ava on a lesbian cruise was conceived during discussion about Hacks Season 2.

"We do an annual blue sky writers room session right before the season ends. That idea was brought up by Statsky and everyone loved it. Statsky stated that it was great fun. "We want new storylines to feel fresh but have them feel Hacks in their tone. There's a quiet conversation between Ava & Deborah, where they discuss the details of sexuality. But it's also very large and joyous.

"And there's an ingy," added Paul W. Downs, Hacks creator, showrunner and star. "We knew going in that it was going to have a dingy, and we decided, "Okay, let's do this one."

"It was not an easy task to pull off this dingy, but we did it," said Lucia Aniello, Hacks showrunner and co-creator of the episode.

Downs stated that it was difficult to film on a cruiseship during an ongoing global pandemic.

Statsky stated, "That episode was production-wise our most difficult to shoot."

Max. Photo by Max.

Jean Smart stated, "We had to jump through many hoops just to get aboard the ship. The ship was already docked." The ship was never taken out on the open ocean.

"That episode is going to be a great classic. It's so much fun. Smart stated that it's "just out there." It was great because we were lucky. You felt like you were on a cruise. It was a beautiful two-day period. You need to have one of those steel drummer bands. It was great fun to see people drinking little cocktails, and then walking about in shorts and bathing suits.

"And then, we shot interiors of the ship throughout the city. The team searched for a restaurant or bar that looked like it belonged on a cruise liner. This was a very difficult task. They did an incredible job. Then, the set designers got to work to make it all believable. The theater was amazing! They did an amazing job!

We don't yet know if Deborah is actually suing Ava for a little or a lot. Their friendship may be over, but it doesn't necessarily mean that the lawsuit against Ava has been dropped.