What I’m Watching: Hacks (Season Premiere)

Hacks: Season 2, Episode 1 “There Will Be Blood” (B+)

I’m so happy that one of last year’s best new comedies is back again so soon, and this opener indicates that we’re in for a very entertaining ride. Ava did somehow manage to make things worse when she called Kirby Howell-Baptiste’s writer and she kindly offered to hang up the phone so she would stop sharing information that was just as damaging as everything she had put in her email that she so idiotically closed by signing away her permission to use it. Jimmy’s suggestion that she throw her phone in the ocean wasn’t a bad one, though he’s also having to get creative giving the fact that the HR administrator played by a hilariously deadpan Martha Kelly isn’t able to punish Kayla for the truly shocking things she continues saying that most definitely continue sexual harassment in the workplace. I like that the relationship between Deborah and DJ is evolving, and that Deborah even warmed to the idea of liking her son-in-law. Walking over to pump him up right before he was about to lose was a cool moment turned into a frightening one when she ended up covered in blood and cheering for his upset victory. Ava is right to be worried about what she might do, even if shooting a paintball gun at her replacement’s giant hotel-side ad isn’t the most terrifying thing. It’s too bad that Marcus and Wilson are no more, and hopefully Marcus won’t wallow too much in his sadness before finding someone else.

What I’m Watching: The Flash

The Flash: Season 6, Episode 4 “There Will Be Blood” (B-)

Why exactly were there zombies in this episode? Team Flash has been through enough with animated Savitars and samurais that it seems unnecessary to have an army of sort of undead people now threatening their livelihoods. Barry’s weakness has always been that he believes in everyone, regardless of what they’ve done, and deciding that the most important thing he could do before he dies during the crisis was to give Ramsey the cure turned out to be a very bad idea. Ramsey staring at the “do no harm” text while proclaiming that he has to kill in order to create the substance he needs to live was a very explicit transition from conflicted hero to certified villain, and he’s amassed so much power now that it’s going to be difficult for Barry and the team to defeat him. At least he’s the first villain in a long time who doesn’t specifically have it out for the Flash, but instead he’s just trying to get rid of anyone in his way on his quest. Cisco and Joe got their turns to be emotional about Barry’s impending death, and knowing that it’s coming doesn’t seem to be doing anyone any good. The latest iteration of Wells, known as Nash, is excitable and adventurous, though also more than a bit showy. Demanding that Barry and Cisco build him his cryptocircuit even after his part of the deal didn’t quite come through seemed selfish, but it appears that he’s one step ahead of everyone else regarding the crisis, revealing the Monitor’s past presence and taking productive steps to figure out what exactly is going on.