Hacks Season 4 Episode 7 & 8 recap: Key moments and highlights explained

In Episodes 7 and 8 of Hacks Season 4, Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels confront personal and professional crises that challenge their partnership. Episode 7, "Mrs. Table," focuses on Ava's emotional breaking point and Deborah's rescue attempt on a beach. Episode 8, "Bulletproof," highlights Deborah's first high-stakes meeting with late-night executives, resulting in a surprising personnel decision.

Marcus also reflects on his future beyond Deborah's team, showing how change impacts everyone's story. These Hacks episodes premiered on May 15, 2025, marking the midpoint of the season's rollout on HBO Max.

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Hacks Season 4 Episode 7: "Mrs. Table"

In "Mrs. Table," Ava Daniels hits her breaking point and suddenly leaves the show, disappearing without a word. Concerned for her protégé, Deborah retraces Ava's path and almost confuses a stranger for her in the ocean. In a dramatic move, Deborah plunges into the waves wearing her fur coat to rescue "Ava," demonstrating her deep concern.

Later, on the shore, Ava admits,

“I’m not suicidal. I just wanna die!”

Revealing she's overwhelmed, not intent on harming herself.

Deborah responds gently, “You are my voice,”

Acknowledging that Ava's perspective shapes her comedy and her life. Their reconciliation on the sand serves as a turning point, cementing the bond they nearly lost.

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Hacks Season 4 Episode 8: "Bulletproof"

"Bulletproof" brings Deborah to a CBS boardroom for her first late-night producer meeting. Despite their recent closeness, she tells Ava that the network won't risk hiring a new head writer and announces that Steve, a veteran male writer, will lead instead. This professional blow feels personal; Ava, having uprooted her life, stares in disbelief.

Meanwhile, executive Winnie Landell, who supported Deborah's rise, falls when Deborah casually criticizes her, illustrating how small comments carry weight in Hollywood's power games. As Deborah arrives for the meeting, she wonders if Ava will show.

To her relief, Ava then quietly sets the record straight with a pointed reminder:

“It would be really, really bad if people found out you slept with the chairman… yeah… the optics of that are pretty rough”.

With that, Ava implicitly asserts her role, demonstrating her willingness to be ruthless to remain by Deborah's side.

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Hacks: Other Character Arcs

In addition to the main pair, Marcus, Deborah's longtime COO, grapples with his own aspirations. At the beginning of the season, he suggests that he might leave to pursue personal ambitions. By Episode 8, he officially resigns, confessing that he "never prioritized his own desires over Deborah's" and seeking a life outside of casino management.

His departure underscores change; no one in Deborah's circle is static as the late-night venture accelerates. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Kayla's comedic plots provide levity but must also adapt to new industry challenges.

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Episodes 7 and 8 of Hacks Season 4 explore loyalty, ambition, and power dynamics. "Mrs. Table" highlights that true care demands dramatic risks, while "Bulletproof" demonstrates that professional success can cost trust.

Through heartfelt dialogue, "You are my voice," and the hard-edged, "It would be really, really bad..."

Deborah and Ava reveal their complex relationship. As Marcus moves on and late-night stakes rise, reinvention is shown to be both painful and necessary. These instalments set the stage for an intense second half of the Hacks season, where each character must decide what they're willing to risk for success and one another.

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