If there is one thing Hacks has always done well, it is throwing Deborah Vance into absolute chaos and then watching how she claws her way back. Season 5 opens on exactly that note. Deborah is not dead, but for a moment, the world fully believes she is, and somehow that feels very on-brand for her life at this point.

Since the late-night fallout, her reputation is slipping, the narrative is no longer hers to control, and the industry is already moving on. What follows is a comeback attempt that feels big, messy, and a little desperate.

And just when it looks like Deborah might steady herself, one decision flips everything again.

The episode picks up right after Deborah's Singapore escape, and the reveal is both funny and uncomfortable. Deborah is alive, standing in front of her own memorial, correcting headlines that have already traveled too far. It is a reminder that in this world, perception matters more than truth, and right now, the perception is not working in her favor.

Bob Lipka is making sure of that. He is everywhere, controlling the story and quietly shutting doors behind the scenes. We can almost feel how quickly Deborah’s world is shrinking. Meetings fall apart, opportunities disappear, and even her own team seems unsure how to fix it. It is not just bad press anymore. It is a full shutdown.

So, naturally, Deborah does what Deborah does best. She goes big. Instead of slowly rebuilding, she decides she wants an EGOT. It sounds impressive when she says it out loud, and for a second, we almost believe it could work. She already has an Emmy and a Tony, so she starts chasing the Oscar and the Grammy in every way possible—by taking acting gigs, developing audiobook ideas, and even jumping into music with a regional Mexican band.

But the more it plays out, the clearer it becomes that this is not a real plan. It is panic dressed up as ambition. She is trying to outpace the narrative instead of actually fixing it. Ava sees all of this. What stands out is how careful she is at first. She does not push, does not challenge, she simply supports it. 

Their entire dynamic is built on tension, on Ava calling Deborah out. Deborah notices too, and when she finally calls it out, it feels like a reset. From there, things start to click again. Deborah drops the EGOT idea and goes back to what actually matters to her. Stand-ups. And not just any comeback, she wants Madison Square Garden.

“They Are Losers” – ‘Hacks’ Hannah Einbinder Goes All Out Against AI in a Passionate Rant

It is a huge swing, but it finally feels like a Deborah Vance plan again.

Getting to that stage is not simple, especially with contracts still hanging over Deborah. So she goes underground. Secret shows, no phones, no recordings, just her and the audience. These scenes are some of the best in the episode because they strip everything back. It is just Deborah doing what she does best, and for a moment, it works.

The show really lands well. The crowd is with her, the energy is right, and it feels like she is finally back in control, but alas! A clip from the show leaks online, and Deborah ends up in court for breaking her contract, and the outcome is exactly what we would expect. She loses, and the restrictions get even tighter. Just like that, the comeback feels like it is slipping away again.

But this is where Deborah shifts gears in a way only she can. Instead of hiding from it, she walks straight into the cameras outside the courthouse and turns the whole thing into a statement. She reframes it as a fight for her voice, her right to perform, her place in the industry. And then she promises to say it out loud at Madison Square Garden (once the contract is over, of course).

It is a bold move, but it works. Suddenly, she is not the person being dragged by the media. She is the one setting the narrative again. Then the episode lands its biggest reveal. Ava leaked the clip as she knows Deborah well enough to understand that pressure forces her to act. And in this case, it does.

Deborah steps up and takes control. By the end of the episode, we can see where the season is headed. Deborah is done reacting and ready to fight for her legacy. Ava is willing to take risks that could either pay off or blow everything up. And with someone like Bob still in the picture, nothing about this is going to be easy. If this premiere is setting the tone, the road to Madison Square Garden is going to be anything but smooth. And honestly, it would not be Hacks if it were.

Jean Smart Opens Up About Rushing From 'Hacks' Set to Life-Saving Heart Surgery

What did you think of Hacks' season 5's first episode? Let us know in the comments below!