One of HBO Max’s Best Series Is Back With New Episodes — But There’s a Catch
Hunting for great TV? HBO Max still rules the roost, boasting a deep bench of prestige originals—from all-timers like The Wire and Game of Thrones to fresh obsessions like The Pitt and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
If you want consistently great TV, HBO Max still wears the crown. The library swings from all-timers like The Wire and Game of Thrones to newer wins like The Pitt and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. And now one of its best shows is coming back... for the last time.
Hacks is back — and saying goodbye
Good news/bad news situation here. Hacks Season 5 premieres on HBO and HBO Max at 9 p.m. ET on April 9. The catch: this is the final season. New episodes roll out weekly, leading to the series finale on May 28.
Created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, Hacks launched in 2021 and immediately found its groove. Jean Smart plays Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas stand-up trying to stay relevant in a brutal business. Hannah Einbinder is Ava Daniels, a young comedy writer with talent, baggage, and a knack for pushing every wrong button. The show lives in their messy, evolving partnership — mentorship, ego collisions, generational friction — and somehow keeps making all that chaos feel specific and honest.
The numbers (and the praise) are kind of wild
Across its run so far, Hacks has stacked critic scores most shows would kill for: two seasons at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and two more at 98%. Season 5 is premiering with another 100% critic score, which nudges the show’s overall Tomatometer to a near-perfect 99%. For a series that’s lasted this many seasons, that reportedly makes it HBO’s highest-rated show on the site — edging past other heavyweights like Barry, Succession, The Wire, Veep, and The Sopranos. That’s a flex.
"Practically flawless."
— Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
"Knocks it out of the park in practically every way."
— Emily Bernard, Collider
The consensus is the show sticks the landing. Deborah and Ava have moved from open warfare to actual support, and the finale arc leans into that growth without softening the show’s bite. It’s ending on a high — the kind that cements a comedy’s place in the 21st-century canon.
How to watch
Season 5 starts April 9 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max. New episodes drop weekly. The series finale airs May 28.
While you’re waiting on weekly drops
Max has been loading up April with comfort watches and classics. If you need something between Hacks episodes, here’s what just hit:
- Practical Magic
- The Devil Wears Prada
- Twister
- Game Night
- Most of the Alien franchise
- More episodes of Teen Titans Go! Season 9
Bottom line: one of HBO’s best is going out strong. Clear some Tuesday nights.