Hacks Just Gave Ava-Deborah Shippers Everything They Wanted — And It Works

Hacks has always been one of the most hilarious and proudly queer TV shows in recent years.

But its recent episode definitely has to be one of its gayest.

Hacks Season 5 Episode 7, “Montecito,” follows Deborah and Ava as they pretend to be a gay couple to procure an outfit for Deborah’s show.

There are countless moments that Ava and Deborah–or Avorah–shippers will remember forever.

While there are some romcom clichés, the story still has an earnest core, making it a classic Hacks episode.

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Tropes Galore

I could instantly tell that this episode would be beloved from the moment the first trope landed.

Kelly mistakes Ava fawning over Deborah at the restaurant as an indication of their romantic relationship.

This misunderstanding created the perfect setup for the fake dating trope (which I mentioned is one of my favorites during my coverage of St. Denis Medical Season 2 Episode 17).

The fake-dating trope has so much potential to tug at our heartstrings, and Hacks uses it to its fullest.

Throughout the episode, Ava and Deborah have a miscommunication of their own as Ava confronts Deborah about her lies.

While they’re working through their broken trust, they have to keep up the “happy couple” act for Kelly and her girlfriend, Monica’s, benefit.

Even worse, Ava thinks that Deborah is simply using her to get closer to Kelly and gain access to that coveted outfit.

There’s plenty of humor in their disagreement, but also a genuine sadness to the betrayal.

Another trope I loved was the “Only One Bed” trope, which the show executed flawlessly.

When Deborah and Ava first realize that there’s only one bed in their room, Deborah immediately forces Ava to sleep in the bathtub.

But after their tense sniping at each other, Deborah and Ava end up sharing a bed anyway.

Hacks knows exactly what the fans wanted to see and delivered on every front.

Kisses and Missus

Of course, the biggest moment that overshadows all of this is their first kiss.

I guess Yasmin and Harper aren’t the only two girls to share a kiss on an HBO show this TV season.

I’m so glad that the episode didn’t just tease Ava and Deborah’s romance but sealed it with a proper kiss–or four.

Plus, Deborah was extra possessive over Ava, even though they aren’t actually a couple.

Even though Ava has been making eyes at Monica, she also clearly enjoys making Deborah squirm with references to their love life.

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To top everything off, the show also smartly uses Monica and Kelly as a comparison couple.

These two appear to be a much more established couple compared to the shaky, newfound romance between Ava and Deborah.

Monica and Kelly similarly mirror the older woman-younger woman dynamic.

However, they have the insight to help the writer-comedian work through their fight.

Beneath all the fake dating and jealousy, the conflict between Deborah and Ava is really what’s at the center of the story.

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Sure, pretending to be a couple might be stressing the two of them out, but, really, Deborah and Ava are heartbroken that they can’t trust each other.

I’m glad it took this gay getaway for them to finally get honest with each other and heal their bond.

But the question of whether they will continue to pursue their weekend romance remains.

I’m a huge Avorah shipper. But I have an unfortunate feeling that this episode might be the most romance we get from the pair this season.

However, I’m satisfied with how this episode gave us some steamy kisses between Deborah and Ava, along with a hilarious yet heartfelt story to remember.

What did you think of the latest Hacks episode? Are you rooting for Deborah and Ava to end up together?

New episodes of Hacks Season 5 premiere on HBO Max on Thursdays at 9 pm ET.

The post Hacks Just Gave Ava-Deborah Shippers Everything They Wanted — And It Works appeared first on TV Fanatic.