‘Hacks’: Hannah Einbinder Teases Ava & Deborah’s Face-Off in S4 (Exclusive)

Ava and Deborah are facing off on "Hacks"!

The nine-time Emmy winning series is back for Season 4 and picking up right where Season 3 ended. 

“Extra” spoke with star Hannah Einbinder about what’s in store as her character Ava Daniels and Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance duke it out after Ava’s ultimatum — some might say blackmail!

Hannah shared, “It was cool to kind of be able to track the emotional arc and sort of, like, really keep that momentum building and building and building until their face-off in the premiere episode of Season 4.”

After pressuring Deborah for the head writer position on her new late-night show, Ava has put their relationship aside for a knock-down, drag-out war.

Hannah noted, “It’s kind of like ‘let the games begin’ vibes, like, they are head-to-head and they’re battling and it’s fun to watch.”

Ava has turned into an absolute shark this season, which is “really fun” for Hannah to embody.

She explained, ”I think Ava has a goofiness and kind like a slapstick, like, kind of awkward energy to her at times when she’s talking to women, etc. Like, I think she can be derpy, and it’s nice to see her get serious and step into a different energy.” 

Einbinder also opened up about her close relationship with co-star Jean Smart.

Hannah said, “She really sets the tone on set and she took me under her wing and was so, so, so inclusive and caring and, like, bringing me into, like, a closeness very, very immediately and I really appreciate it.”

“It’s really cool to be in each other’s lives beyond the show,” Einbinder noted. “Just like two nights ago, we were, like, at her son’s play for his high school performance. I cherish those moments. It’s the thrill of my life. It's a very creatively fulfilling experience to work with her. "

Hannah also showed her appreciation to the cast and crew of the show, saying, “We have such a vibrant and deep sense of community on set… It’s like a really rewarding thing to be a part of and it’s not lost on me how rare it is.”

As for how many more seasons of "Hacks" we'll get, Einbinder answered, “I know that, like, they’ve envisioned five seasons. Like, that’s their hope. I think that’s right if that’s right for the story and the characters."

But she added that she would "love to work with this group of people forever.” Hannah said, "Would I love to pick up and do a new project with ever single person who works on 'Hacks'? Yes. And if I'm ever have, like, am in a position to work with anyone else again, I will jump at the chance."