HBO is known for airing some of the best original series on television. In just a few years since launching its new subscription service, HBO Max, the media powerhouse has churned out hugely popular and critically acclaimed original series like The stewardess, Our flag means deathand The sex life of college girls.

That’s why what I’m about to say may seem controversial: hacks is the best show on HBO Max.

For those who don’t know, hacks follows the unlikely pair of Deborah Vance, a comedy legend who loses her Vegas residency, and Ava, a young comedy writer who’s been hired to write for her.

This HBOMax original series follows comedians on their journey to build (or rebuild) their careers and learn to work together along the way. The show was nominated for fifteen Emmys, winning three.

Not convinced? Here are some of the reasons why hacks is one of the best shows on HBO Max.

The game is amazing

hacks certainly has its fair share of talented actors, starting with leading ladies Jean Smart (Deborah) and Hannah Einbinder (Ava). Of course, we can’t forget Marcus (Carl Clemons-Hopkins), the overworked COO of Deborah’s company.

hacks received four Emmy nominations for her role, with lead actor Jean Smart winning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Hannah Einbinder and Carl Clemons-Hopkins earning supporting actor nominations.

Smart and Einbinder are unforgettable as our two anti-heroes, delivering comedic lines with as much engagement and gravity as they are dramatic. Both are able to play each other in a way that makes you forget these characters are fictional.

The writing is witty

Series creators and writers Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 2021 for Season 1 of hacksand the quality of the material has certainly not diminished from the first season to the second.

One thing is certain: hacks will have you laughing, crying, gritting your teeth and gasping in rapid succession. The writers have mastered the art of slipping in shockingly absurd moments between heartfelt scenes, never straying too far from the reason we’re all here in the first place: comedy.

The chemistry between the characters is unmatched

From their first meeting, it’s clear that Deborah and Ava have a lot more in common than they realize. Although they remained at odds before coming together as partners, the two have an unspoken bond that’s certainly due in part to the on-screen chemistry between Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder. And, the off-screen love between the actors is also clear:

As we entered the second season, this group of co-workers started to feel even more like family, which seems very fitting for this cast.

The show subverts stereotypes

We’ve all seen shows about ambitious men, but hacks flips the script to show what it’s like to be an ambitious woman. Deborah and Ava spend all of their time working, with Ava determined to “succeed” as a writer and Deborah focused on preventing her career from failing.

Since they’re at two very different points in their careers, we see the before and after of what it’s like to be a woman in a male-centric space. Ava is an unknown writer who isn’t taken seriously and gets banned for the slightest misstep, but after more than 40 years in the industry, we find that Deborah hasn’t earned much more respect from her peers. male peers. Like Ava, she still has to scratch and claw to “succeed” as an actress, despite her long and successful career.

In addition, hacks features many LGBTQ+ actors and characters, so the show’s romance rarely features the typical heterosexual relationships you’d expect to see in a comedy.

You can see the personal growth of the characters

Ava’s progression from a self-centered, self-defeating “millennial” to — well, a slightly less self-centered and self-defeating person, mirrors Deborah’s journey to realize that her personal life isn’t half as fulfilling as it seems. it seems.

Deborah and Ava aren’t the only characters that evolve over the course of the series, however: we see Marcus struggling with work-life balance and finding himself outside of Deborah’s business management.

Deborah and Ava still make mistakes (hello, lesbian cruising), but it’s nice to see them evolve into better versions of themselves.

We have a glimpse of the comedy industry

Season 2 of hacks takes us on the road with Ava and Deborah, where we see the daily process of touring, traveling across the country, and testing new gear for different crowds.

Not only do we get to see what it’s like to play Deborah, but we get insight into the writing process for comedians who are in the process of developing new routines. For Deborah and Ava, the process becomes collaborative and intimate.

hacks Season 2 sees Deborah and Ava’s work evolve into something bigger than just jokes, and it’s fun to watch them work out the problems in their routine like so many real-life comedians must.

Secondary characters make it interesting

The vibrant and lively cast of supporting characters in hacks are part of what keeps the number of laughs per minute high.

Jimmy’s assistant, Kayla (Megan Stalter), provides comic relief almost every time she’s on screen. Deborah’s quirky personal blackjack dealer, Kiki (Poppy Liu), embodies the Vegas energy of the show.

Jane Adams, who plays Ava’s mother Nina, was even nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series thanks to her portrayal of the strained and dysfunctional relationship between Nina and Ava.

Other supporting characters who bring the story to life include DJ (Kaitlin Olson), the somewhat messy daughter of Deborah, and her MMA fighter husband Aidan (Paul Felder), as well as Marcus’ mother Robin (Angela Elayne) and his girlfriend Miss Loretta (Luenell).

It’s dark humor with a twist

Forget what you’ve heard about dark humor. hacks finds humor in devastating situations – and there are several that arise in the lives of our characters. From Ava’s one-night stand gone wrong to strained parent-child relationships on the show, hacks is sure to point out what might be humorous about the horrible things that are happening in their lives.

The writers manage to do this without the usual pitfalls of misogyny and bigotry that many people think of when they hear the words “dark humor.” Do not mistake yourself : hacks is dark, but it never alienates its audience.

hacks is available to stream with your HBO Max subscription.