The ending of ‘Hacks’ season five explained: do Deborah and Ava reunite?

[Max Pilley]

Hacks has come to an end with the finale of season five, but do Deborah and Ava reunite? Find out below.

• READ MORE: Soundtrack Of My Life: Jean Smart

The comedy-drama has been a critical and commercial success for HBO Max since it launched in 2021 and its fifth and final season concluded on May 28, bringing it to a final close.

It starred Jean Smart as Deborah Vance, a stand-up comedian, and Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels, her comedy writer, as they navigate the evolving dynamics of their professional partnership and personal lives within the contemporary comedy industry.

It was created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky and it co-starred the latter two in supporting roles, as well as the likes of Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Rose Abdoo and Mark Indelicato.


All five seasons of the show have been highly acclaimed, all scoring 98 per cent or higher on Rotten Tomatoes, and it has won five Golden Globes and nine Emmys.

Its fourth season landed in NME’s list of the best television shows of 2025, which noted: “Still the most scalpel-sharp comedy around with an undertow of pathos, highlights included Deborah running afoul of HR when offering her writers’ room drugs on a Las Vegas work retreat, the introduction of Julianne Nicolson’s cocaine-boofing TikTok star ‘Dance Mom’, and a sensational denouement that acts as a clever series redux.”

The ending of Hacks season five explained: do Deborah and Ava reunite?​

Jean Smart’s Deborah has spent the fifth and final season frozen with fears of mortality and irrelevance, after false reports of her death.

At the start of the final episode, Ava is directing the pilot of the reboot of Deborah’s sitcom Who’s Making Dinner?, while Deborah reveals that her cancer has returned. Rather than undergo treatment, she decides to travel to Zurich for assisted suicide after one final holiday in Paris. Ava is devastated by this and begs her to reconsider, but Deborah carries on determined.

At a Paris train station, Ava prepares to board with Deborah, having accepted her decision. They begin to joke together about death and their connection makes Deborah realise that she still enjoys writing comedy material, and sparks her passion for performing live.

Instead of boarding the train, Deborah askes Ava to help her write one last stand-up special and Ava immediately agrees.

As the show climaxes, Deborah realises that what she truly values is not her legacy or her mortality, but the act of creation. She returns to Las Vegas and begins cancer treatment and resumes writing with Ava.

The post The ending of ‘Hacks’ season five explained: do Deborah and Ava reunite? appeared first on NME.

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[scruffy_pockets]

didnt watch it yet so no idea but honestly if they dont reunite whats even the point of all that buildup? lowkey feels like theyre just dragging it out for another season or something. also isnt ava kinda annoying sometimes? like yeah deborahs a mess too but at least shes funny about it. ngl anyway whats the soundtrack of my life thing about, is that worth checking out or just fluff?

 

[Stargazer6]

idk the ending felt a lil rushed to me too?? like they set up all this tension and then just... left it hanging?? but i kinda get it, dramas need cliffhangers to keep us hooked. ava can be annoying but i think thats the point, she mirrors deborah’s flaws in a younger way?? makes it relatable imo as for ‘soundtrack of my life’ i havent watched it yet but i heard its part nostalgia bait, part indie deep cuts—could be fun if you’re into that vibe. my friend said they shout out [band name redacted] so now im curious

 

[Stargazer6]

wait really?? since when was ‘soundtrack of my life’ out?? i feel so behind on everything anyway, about teh ending—yeah, i get why they left it open, but it still felt like they rushed the emotional payoff?? like deborah and ava’s dynamic was the heart of the show, so not seeing them fully reconcile kinda stings. tbh but hey, maybe thats just me wanting too much closure also, indie deep cuts can be hit or miss, right?? i swear half the time its just bands no one’s heard of trying to sound like pavement lol but if they nail teh nostalgia part, it could be fun! honestly i remember this one band, [band name], that had this super obscure ep from like 2003—felt like it was made for late-night road trips. honestly might give the show a shot just for the music vibes tbh.

 

[glitterfuel]

yeah i get that, the dynamic was really what kept the show going but ALSO isnt it kinda realistic?? like not every relationship gets perfect closure, sometimes people just drift and thats life. idk i think they left it open enough that we can imagine our own ending if we want also indie deep cuts **are** hit or miss lmao, some of em are just tryhard noise but every now and then you find a gem. dad joke incoming: why dont scientists trust atoms? because they make up everything. ok im out.