Hacks Recap: Uh-oh, It’s Magic

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These days, many high-quality comedies focus on long, complex storylines. But I enjoy when a show goes back to its roots and delivers a classic sitcom episode: one where the characters briefly believe something major in their lives is about to change, only for everything to ultimately return to normal, with maybe a small lesson learned along the way.

Deborah arrived at the party at the Palmetto dressed to impress, clearly anticipating a romantic encounter. She called her outfit a showgirl look – a winning strategy, she said – and described herself as a “timeless, humble sex icon,” which is an image I admire. The party was celebrating Nico Hayes, the new artist-in-residence – you might know him as Christopher Briney from The Summer I Turned Pretty. Ava called him an “international rock star,” but honestly, that feels like a stretch these days. I’d say “pop star,” like Harry Styles, is more accurate.

Next week brings an even bigger event: Marty is getting married… again! He jokes it might be his last time, and Deborah playfully quips that using “might” is a romantic gesture. I really enjoy the back-and-forth between Marty and Deborah; even though they’re often a little snarky with each other, I genuinely believe they both want what’s best for each other – which is unusual in Deborah’s social circle. (Remember when Marty offered Deborah a place to stay in Hawaii last season, before she went to Singapore instead?) Right now, though, we see some fun first encounters: Ava finds herself reaching for the same cheeseburger as an attractive man who turns out to be a sex worker – a situation she’s excited about as it allows her to live out her beliefs – and Deborah is invited to a VIP area to meet Nico, another Lancôme ambassador who is a big fan of hers. He was actually inspired to pursue his own career path by her success, seeing her as a true icon!

It always amuses me how celebrities seem unable to handle even the simplest things on their own. It’s like they’re stuck in a permanent state of needing constant care. That explains a lot of their behavior! For example, Nico didn’t even ask Deborah for her number himself. Instead, he had his publicist call Jimmy, who then contacted Deborah to suggest Nico would like to take her to dinner. He even added, with a bit of pressure, that the media was already pairing them up as “Nicorah.” Deborah, though, wasn’t fooled by the gesture; she immediately recognized it as a calculated publicity move – and she was happy to play along. As Jimmy put it, “Stars are all the same.”

It was sweet watching both daughters get excited about their dates, particularly Deborah, who became increasingly thrilled when she found out Nico liked her back. Though I suspected their romance wouldn’t last, I didn’t think our show would keep them from realizing they were meant to be together, especially with the series ending soon.

Ava finds the danger of a date – she jokingly wonders if she’ll be murdered, possibly influenced by a true crime podcast – strangely exciting. Despite this, she still dresses in a way I find mortifying – like a downcast mechanic! I’ve made a note begging her to change, but it doesn’t stop her from having a great connection with the guy and spending the night passionately kissing him. More power to her!

Deborah prepared for what she believed was a staged date by secretly contacting a photographer. However, she was surprised to find she and Nico had a lot in common! Nico revealed he’d been let down by family and friends since the beginning – his own father even sold pictures of him to a TV show! He felt fame was more of a burden than a blessing, and he didn’t believe the rumors about Deborah’s past struggles. He, too, had come to Vegas hoping to succeed in entertainment. Impressed, Deborah allowed Nico to kiss her at the restaurant. The scene was hilariously over-the-top, especially Deborah’s feigned shock at seeing the paparazzi (whom she’d called herself) outside. Her dramatic exit, complete with clutching at Nico’s chest and shouting “I need SPACE!”, was absolutely perfect.

I’ve been struck by how Deborah seems unable to form relationships that aren’t, at their core, business deals. Remember Ava’s party? Almost everyone there worked for her, including Ava herself, who she calls her best friend. Even before things fall apart with Nico, it’s obvious they don’t really fit together – and it’s not about their age difference, honestly, I appreciated seeing a woman thriving in a traditionally male field! It’s more that Nico craves a simple, private life, and from what I can tell, that just doesn’t appeal to Deborah at all.

Deborah is back from her date, excitedly telling Ava all about the kissing and instant connection she feels with her new guy, and already planning to bring him to Marty’s wedding. Nico’s playful response to Deborah’s late-night invitation – asking if he could wear white – was charming, and a sign he’s a great texter! Deborah immediately calls Marty to make sure her date and Ava’s can attend. The next day, while enjoying her boyfriend’s music, she receives an unexpected visit from Marcus. He wants to purchase the Paradiso, a historic Vegas casino, and transform it into a trendy hotel like the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs. Deborah, however, gives him some blunt business advice, telling him the project is too risky.

She quickly heads off on a second date with Nico, who rented out an entire restaurant just so they could have privacy. I was so excited for them! But everything falls apart when the paparazzi reveal Deborah had tipped them off. Nico breaks up with her in a really public and embarrassing way – he kicked her out of his car right in front of the waiting press. It makes me think of Nora Ephron’s advice about not marrying someone you wouldn’t want to divorce. I regret ever hoping for a happy ending for these two! He definitely won’t be at the wedding, and Deborah isn’t allowed to edit any of the pictures taken.

Ava’s evening takes an unexpected turn after intimacy. She discovers her partner isn’t just a professional in the bedroom—he’s actually a magician, and not a very good one. Meanwhile, Deborah, fresh off a breakup, spends the day relentlessly texting her ex, Nico, which is equally disheartening to watch.

Ava and Deborah have a comical fight over Deborah’s phone, which Ava wins. She then reveals that Nico has blocked Deborah, meaning she’s going to the wedding by herself. Ava is also at the wedding, and I initially thought her biggest worry would be running into a client with her date. That does happen, but it turns out to be a minor issue – the client, Mayor Jo, is thrilled to see Ava with this “artist.” However, two even more awkward things occur: First, as Marty’s bride, Victoria, walks down the aisle, the FBI arrives to announce she’s actually Eleanor and arrests her for fraud. Second, Ava’s date, upset that she’s embarrassed by his side hustle, breaks up with her and decides to pursue magic as a full-time career.

Deborah sees Marty looking dejected and is gentle with him, which leads him to quickly propose marriage. While she appreciates the thoughtfulness – he even knows her middle name! – she kindly turns him down. She tells him it’s wonderful to be their age and still be brave enough to risk getting hurt. As a playful gesture, she offers him an AARP-inspired promise: if they’re both still unmarried at 100, she’ll marry him.

Energized by the conversation, Deborah seeks out Marcus and convinces him to go ahead with the Paradiso project, offering to help. She admits she’s been missing their collaboration and suggests they become partners. She even proposes investing in the project quietly, which makes me a little skeptical – I’ll believe that when I see it! Still, it’s a promising turn of events, and I wonder if this could lead to a space for Deborah’s future artistic residencies.

It seems a couple of dates and a simple misunderstanding led Nico to write the song “Funny Girl,” which includes the line “Funny how you lie so easily.” It sounds a lot like his earlier song, “Such a Funny Way,” but Deborah likely didn’t hear the bonus track version and didn’t make the connection. She’s upset that only one version of events is being shared, and her fans are cruelly calling her out online. Luckily, Ava recognizes this whole situation as free publicity for their upcoming show at Madison Square Garden.

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2026-04-24 05:59