The lavish opening of Hacks' third season commences amidst the glittering backdrop of Los Angeles, within the confines of an esteemed casino and hotel. Here, the illustrious comedian and superstar Deborah Vance graces the event as a special guest, yet her presence is conspicuously absent as the casino unveils its brand-new Deborah Vance slot machine. For those unfamiliar with her meteoric rise to fame in the previous season, Deborah has ascended to unparalleled heights of celebrity, her wealth skyrocketing, her name inscribed on the Time 100 list, and her legion of fans eager to catch a glimpse of her and bask in her latest wit.
Her popularity has reached such dizzying heights that her every utterance, whether a punchline or a casual remark, elicits guffaws from her devoted audience. One such instance sees Deborah casually mention walking her two corgis, and the audience erupts into uncontrollable laughter, barely waiting for the punchline. This relentless adoration and humorless laughter begin to irk Deborah, and she finds herself increasingly bored with her gilded existence.
Furthermore, her nights are now punctuated by insomnia, a worrisome change that her secretary, Marcus, and maid cannot ignore. Notably, the narrative also sheds light on the now-estranged relationship between Deborah and Ava, with Ava having been dismissed by Deborah in the previous season.
As the narrative unfolds, Ava makes her first appearance, now a staff writer on the acclaimed comedy show "The Contrary." In her personal life, Ava finds solace in her relationship with Ruby, a pivotal character from an ongoing television series revolving around werewolves and vampires. Amidst her work commitments, Ava receives the thrilling news that she will be traveling to Montreal with Lewis to oversee a prestigious panel. The prospect of such a momentous opportunity fills her with immeasurable joy.
In the bustling streets of Montreal, Ava unexpectedly collided with Logan and Miriya, only to find out in their lively conversation that they were collaborating with Deborah Vance, a comedy sensation rumored to sweep the comedy awards circuit. This revelation posed a significant challenge for Ava, as she had never anticipated Deborah's presence in Montreal.
Ava sought counsel from Jimmy, Deborah's agent, who suggested that Ava should rejoice in the fact that Deborah required two writers to replace her. However, at the lively party, Ava's boss, Lewis, introduced her to Winnie Landell, the esteemed head of her network, lavishing praise on Ava's talents as a writer and her invaluable contribution to the network.
Despite Ava's legitimate reasons to steer clear of Deborah Vance, fate had other designs. In a fateful encounter, Ava stumbled upon Deborah in a confined elevator, an encounter that ultimately led her to Deborah's hotel room. There, Ava sampled the legendary Tom Cruise Cake, a Christmas gift bestowed by the renowned actor to all on his contact list. The two women settled down for a heart-to-heart chat, sharing updates on their respective lives. With a touch of braggadocio, Ava boasted about her enviable life, her prestigious role as a writer for an award-winning show, and her sizzling girlfriend, a leading lady in a popular television series.
As the conversation unfolded, Ava's eyes fell upon the dress Deborah intended to showcase on the program the following day. Without hesitation, she labeled it as the epitome of hideous fashion, her words harsh and unforgiving. However, Deborah remained unaffected, summoning a gay bellhop to gauge his opinion. Even he concurred, declaring the dress as ugly and distasteful.
The air thickened with tension as Ava confronted Deborah, demanding an explanation for her lack of response to texts sent nine long months ago. But Deborah's reply fell short of Ava's expectations, igniting a fiery outburst. In a fit of anger, Ava stormed out of the room, leaving behind a heavy silence.
The next morning, Deborah anxiously searched for Ava, intending to offer her the remaining slice of the Tom Cruise-themed cake. But she was informed that Ava had already checked out of the hotel, leaving behind a trail of unresolved tensions and a missed opportunity for reconciliation.
