Hacks is down to its final three episodes now, and Episode 8 arrives Thursday, May 14 at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO Max. After the recent double-drop stretch, the season is slowing back down for the finish, which is plenty welcome. The last two episodes pushed Deborah and Ava into much messier territory than the Madison Square Garden comeback plan did. Indeed, their messiest yet.

“Montecito” turned what had been simmering underneath the season into something impossible to ignore. Deborah and Ava posed as a couple to get close to Kelly Kilpatrick and secure the vintage Bob Mackie suit Deborah wanted for the Garden show, but the fake relationship setup landed with the thud of legitimate emotional baggage anyway. The kiss was euphoric. At the same time, Deborah quietly dealing with a possible health issue shifted the mood completely. Suddenly the season isn’t just about getting Deborah back onstage—it’s about how much energy she’s spending to hold together the version of herself everyone expects to see.

More on the eighth episode below.

Hacks Season 5 episode 8 trailer

Episode 8 looks like it picks up directly from that discomfort. The preview shows Deborah going on a date while Jimmy and Kayla deal with a lawsuit, which feels very Hacks: personal chaos and professional chaos competing for attention in the same hour. The show has always worked best when it lets embarrassment linger instead of resolving it immediately, and that’s where this stretch of the season seems to be living right now.

Hacks Season 5 FAQ

When does Season 5 Episode 8 air?

The episodes drop on Thursday, May 14 at 9:00 p.m. ET, streaming on HBO Max. Episodes roll out weekly, with a couple of multi-episode drops, this being the last, leading into the series finale at the end of May.

How many episodes are there?

Season 5 has 10 episodes total, and it’s the final season of the series. HBO Max is sticking with a weekly rollout, letting the tension between Deborah and Ava stretch out instead of getting burned through in a binge.

Who’s starring?