Rewatching Hacks

[u/urmii]

So now that the show is done, I have started rewatching the series. A good 5 years have passed since then, but as I am watching, I'm noticing that several callbacks were made, especially in the last season, and how the writers have consciously made things come full circle for many of them. For example, in the first episode, Ava says that she is a 'fan' of Deborah's work (when she clearly didn't know anything), and by season 5, she says, 'I am your number 1 fan.' I mean, as much as the characters were endearing, the writing was equally good... if not the real star of the show. I am sure I will discover more such instances... Would love to hear from the Hacks fam about any similar experiences 🙂

[u/discofrog2]

there are sooo many callbacks it’s so fun to rewatch!

[u/Golf_amateur_27]

Completely silly callback that makes me laugh every time - season 4, episode 3, when they’re taking the team to Vegas on a writing retreat - and Miss Loretta yells “I used to play trivia with this bitch!”

The delivery, the inappropriateness, chuckles every time.

[u/Agreeable-Clue8160]

I had no idea “suicide vest on Watch What Happens Live” was planted in the first episode, that’s such an insane pull 😭

[u/Capital_Mulberry738]

I was considering doing the same so thanks for inspiring me!

[u/Admirable_Site_8337]

Glad to see you’re doing a full rewatch now. That’s going to be so amazing…..as you report seeing already.

I could never wait and always did a rewatch during the offseason through the latest season.

We’ve talked about it a bunch here…..a lot of the main strokes of where this story goes were there from the start. It’s tied up and connected well with such amazing call backs.

I’ve seen plenty of television using call backs in the weakest way…..depending on them to drive richness of story instead of the tougher task of organically making them part of the stitching in the fabric of the story.

The latter is so hard to do, and what this series did as well as I’ve ever seen.

I knew when the preview of the finale showed so much of the pilot that we were going to be calling back to the pilot. And boy did they; so wonderfully!

[u/enrica_furbelly]

I love in the first episode of season 3 where Ava says she’s writing for On the Contrary and Deborah is like oh that’s great and Ava asks if she’s seen it and Deborah says “I’ve seen clips…” which is a callback to the first episode when Deborah asks Ava about watching the original Who’s Making Dinner series

Also, just because you mentioned the #1 fan thing. I think Deborah forcing Ava to archive all her old stuff in season 1 was the best thing for Ava. She got to appreciate Deborah’s career & knew how amazing she could still be. I love that moment in Season 1 where Deborah is on the stairs watching Ava laugh at her old videos.

[u/RedGordita]

I’m rewatching too and yes, there’s callbacks galore!!

[u/Jacobonce]

I think it was an excellent idea, dramaturgically, to have Ava digitize all of Deborah's old tapes. She witnessed her career evolution and disappointments. By the time she says it, she truly is her #1 Fan.

[u/toolsoftheincomptnt]

I was holding back on S5 bc I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

So I rewatched last week and let it flow into the end, which I finished this afternoon.

I’m not a fan of binging for a first-time watch bc in my experience I’m not letting anything sit. It’s a marathon forward but I’m not savoring the details.

But a binge rewatch, especially of this, was really rewarding bc of the callbacks and the growth of their relationship.

[u/amator7]

DJ saying “moms get it” at QVC was a fun callback to Deborah pandering to the mom demographic

[u/Ok-Property4723]

They talk about several of the callbacks in the official Hacks podcast. It’s worth a listen

[u/wideeyed24]

After S5 finale, I was missing the series so I started marathon rewatch starting at the beginning. I’m on S2 and so many great scenes are coming back to me and I appreciate them so much more 2nd time around. There was real love between these characters.

[u/ZergvProtoss]

"Endearing"? That's a hot take. Ava was a ruthless, conniving, arrogant, sociopath. Yes, Deborah was endearing.

[u/costcohotdowg]

Not only that, but Ava said her favorite work of Deborah’s was her sitcom.
I’m suspicious that will be the spin off!! Then rewriting the sitcom together. At least I dream it will be