#hacks 4.03

[sapphicscholar]

Hacks Episode 4.03 Thoughts

I get that this episode did some narrative work insofar as it introduced a writer’s room (who since then we’re mostly just seeing in glimpses…so…meh), showcased the difference in Ava’s and Deborah’s approaches to running a writing room (one of the few areas where Ava has a little more experience than Deb, but only as a participant, not as a leader—so different! And with way different stakes!), and brought us a glimmer of much-needed hope at the end. And it had a few delightful moments! But it was overall a gimmicky-ass episode that relied on tropes more than actual character work, and it felt like it was largely a set up for 1) some green screen or big stage scenes they wanted to film and 2) the introduction of Stacey as an assigned mediator (the latter of which could easily have been accomplished with literally any of the things they’re already doing in the workplace!)

I actually thought the decision to go back to Las Vegas was a great set up as a way to bring Deborah back to her home turf, but this was so very different than what we’ve seen of Deborah inhabiting her world in earlier seasons that it didn’t land. I think about the opening to S1 where we see that Deborah knows everyone—and knows them well enough to call them by their names, joke with them about their spouses, tease them about things in their life! She was a regular in the world that isn’t full of tourists, in the world that staffs and thereby makes possible the façade of glitz and glam that the tourists see! Deborah in this ep was barely more at home than her writers were—like, yes, it was played as a kind of victory lap in a world where people are jazzed to see her, but also… it just fell flat for me.

Also, I adore Poppy Liu and miss Kiki, but I’ve been exhausted by the way they trot Kiki out for one episode per season to come in as the magical sage Asian stereotype who says exactly what needed to be said jumpstart a development arc for Ava or Deborah (or their relationship’s reconciliation). It was different back in S1 when we got the car ride scene of Kiki’s telling Ava that Deborah’s shit is ugly, but the quality is there, and it’s on Ava if she can’t figure out how to make it work. Because back then, Ava didn’t know Deborah at all! We needed the push from someone external to the dyad—and specifically, one who Ava didn’t see as an enemy—to get her to try to make things work with Deborah! At this point in the show, though, we shouldn’t need this deus ex machina shit to do character work via monologue for us. ESPECIALLY not when we already had the psychic basically tell us half of this last episode (and even then, unnecessarily!)

Things I *did* enjoy:

“What are you doing here?” / “Good question…” – it’s so very Deborah to be wrenched out of the moment in such an abrupt way as the reality of the timeline comes crashing down around her in a strip club of all places. She could pretend to be a Vegas tourist for a little bit, but at heart she’s always part of the town’s hidden backdrop there to work, not have fun—and her face says it all.

The conversation in the back of the cop car – in the midst of an overly loud, flashy episode, getting to zoom in on Ava and Deborah and have them both say their part even as it lands on (mostly) deaf ears felt like a necessary first step—not a step that’s going to lead to anything tangible, and in fact a step that likely opens the door for things to get worse because on the heels of an attempt at reconciliation and rebuffed vulnerability, there’s only ever going to be one outcome! But it took us back to the heart of the show where it’s at its strongest

Ava on an electric scooter (loser [affectionate])

“I know she goes there to poop” – tell me more about how much you know about the banality of Deborah’s day please, Ava

Ava plugging her ears while the mayor and Deborah work out the terms of their quid pro quo lmao

[echofades]

I hoped that what we had was special enough to where you would, at least for one second, consider my point of view. I didn't just do it for me. I did it for both of us. HACKS | 4.03

[pagets]

HACKS 4.03 "What Happens in Vegas"

[toastedpinata]

HACKS 3.05 | 4.03

[fairweathermyth]

HACKS ⌁ 4.03 ⌁ "What Happens in Vegas" Jesus Christ Superstar ⌁ Judas sings ⌁ "Damned for All Time"

[everythingiisromantic]

how is it everyone leaves me as soon as i get what i want?

HACKS, 4.01 ‘big, brave girl’

everyone?

2.05 ‘retired’ + 3.05 ‘one day’ + 4.03 ‘what happens in vegas’

[royalarmyofoz]

HACKS 4.03|4.06

[warningsine]

We're so back.

Glad that 4.03 seems like it was a fluke after all, because 4.04 was excellent from start to finish.

From bringing Carol Burnett to provide Deborah with the encouragement she needs to proceed with her show (as for her "focus on one person" advice? Much appreciated!) to the culmination of the episode, i.e., Ava and Deborah's reunion in that hospital room a la 1.06.

"Hacks" is always at its strongest and most resonant when it focuses on its heart.

[cryptorylo]

The cryptocurrency market in mid-April 2025 finds itself in a fascinating, albeit somewhat precarious, position. While the overall market capitalization remains substantial, hovering around $4.03 trillion, and both Bitcoin and Ethereum have demonstrated significant gains over the past week (over 10% each), a closer look reveals a market grappling with volatility and a degree of uncertainty. The slight dips in the last 24 hours for the leading cryptocurrencies serve as a reminder of the inherent price swings that characterize this asset class. Furthermore, the mixed performance of altcoins, with some experiencing rapid gains while others face significant losses, underscores the speculative nature still prevalent in many corners of the market.

One of the most critical critiques of the current crypto landscape revolves around its susceptibility to external factors and sentiment. The market remains highly reactive to news, regulatory developments, and even social media trends. While the approval and trading of Bitcoin ETFs in the US have undeniably injected institutional capital and legitimacy, the market's sensitivity to potential shifts in macroeconomic policy or regulatory headwinds remains a concern. Moreover, despite increasing institutional adoption and the growth of sectors like RWA tokenization and DeFi, the fundamental utility and mainstream adoption of many cryptocurrencies beyond speculative investment are still works in progress. The persistent concerns around security, hacking incidents, and the lack of robust consumer protections in many crypto transactions further contribute to a cautious outlook for broader public engagement.

Looking ahead, the crypto market stands at a potential crossroads. The continued development of practical applications, improvements in blockchain scalability and interoperability, and clearer regulatory frameworks are crucial for sustained and less volatile growth. While analysts offer optimistic price predictions for Bitcoin and highlight the potential of emerging trends like AI in blockchain and Web3 gaming, the market must navigate the inherent risks associated with its nascent stage. Overcoming the skepticism of a significant portion of the population regarding the safety and reliability of cryptocurrency investments will be paramount for its evolution from a largely speculative asset class to a more integrated and trusted part of the global financial system.

[allmoddedapk]

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[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Saturday, August 3

Xander: They'll never know how tough it is, Dawnie, to be the one who isn't chosen. To live so near to the spotlight and never step in it. But I know. I see more than anybody realizes because nobody's watching me. I saw you last night. I see you working here today. You're not special. You're extraordinary.

~~Potential~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Aug. 3rd - Unusual You (Crossover with Jessica Jones, G) by 3am_moonlight

Glimpse in the Chaos - August 3 (Crossover with the MCU, PG-13) by songs_of_winter

3 August 2019 - Caffeine and Hacking (Crossover with Batman, PG) by berifanfic

Aug 3, 2019 – Merrick’s Slayer (FR-13) (Crossover with Harry Potter, PG-13) by mmooch

Aug 3: Smoothing My Heart Down (Crossover with Mercy Thompson, PG) by Vashti

August 3 - Online Dating for Dummies (Crossover with Supergirl, G) by glitterangelem

Bull’s Guest (Crossover with Night Court, PG) by indraleigh

Independent 31 – the Tyranny of Numbers (Giles, Dawn, G) by Aadler

Sunnydale Class of '99 (K+) by Cynder2013

[Chaptered Fiction]

The Devil, You Know, Chapter 1 (Crossover with Dexter, G) by frogfarm

Nexus Rising, Chapter 1 (Riley, G) by KittyontheEdge04

Honeysuckle Rose, Chapter 1 (Tara, T) by mmmh-Hot-Sauce

One Step at a Time, Chapter 14 (Buffy/Spike, T) by Slayerette16

Scarlet Threads, Chapter 15 (Faith, T) by No Fate 1990

Breaking the Habit, Chapter 13 (Buffy/Spike, R) by all_choseny and Red_dragon

The Darkling, Chapter 52 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by OffYourBird

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork:“free virgin blood party” dude where’s your wife (art is worksafe) by tenacity

[Reviews & Recaps]

A Buffy rewatch 5x11 Triangle by ettadunham

Retrospective Review of S1E1 and S1E2. by LanceGardner

[Community Announcements]

FanWorks digital con details by FanWorks

[Fandom Discussions]

Any Buffy/Willow headcanons? by catty-words

Buffy Rewatch: 1.06 The Pack by Buffy Summers

Searching for Fics by nightshade

Discussion of 4.03 "The House Always Wins" - Aired 10/20/2002 (WB-US) by Flannen

not a huge fan (comics) by walkthruthefire

Riley vs. Spike by HushSarah

The baby from Judgment should have a show by woxvirus

Turn Offs by dead_frozen

New Buffy t-shirt! by parrers

Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been timeline question by anothername1145

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

PUBLICATION: "Buffy" Actress Eliza Dushku Welcomes Baby Boy With Husband Peter Palandjian via BabyGaga

PUBLICATION: Eliza Dushku explains numerous namesakes of newborn son Bourne via Boston Herald

[echofades]

HACKS | 4.02 > 4.03 > 4.04

[pagets]

HACKS 4.03 "What Happens in Vegas"

[fairweathermyth]

I'm here with my new writers. We're on a retreat. They're trying to figure out an opening for my first episode.

HACKS 4.03 ⌁ What Happens in Vegas

[mittensmorgul]

1) “In a situation that I’ve seen A LOT of meta writers refer to as a “seduction” by Ketch. Sort of like a “lure” into a “trap.””I am actually a little curious where they go with Ketch, and whether they will try and have us on his or Toni’s side by the end of the season. I think the nature of this trap is entirely debatable. The way it turned out is played off as an attempt to recruit Dean, BUT Ketch has made his preference for Mary, andhis opinions on Sam and Dean perfectly clear, both to ---

2) — their faces and to Davies. It is entirely possible that Ketch intended to fabricate a plausible story to keep face with Mary, and let a vampire kill Dean. At the very least I think he wouldn’t have had Deans back as well as he should in the warehouse, with the logic that if Dean couldn’t hack it (even though we know he could) then he isn’t worth it anyway.

Ooh, yeah. Fair point. I mean, if Ketch thought the other two Winchesters were extraneous Winchesters, it very well could be that he’d been thinking he could just lead Dean into a vampire nest and then see how Dean does against ten vampires, give or take.

It isn’t entirely out of the range of possibility for for Ketch to have tried such a thing. He’d spent the early part of the season occupied with “busy work,” following the Winchesters around to “clean up their messes.” Already I think this predisposed him to have a few opinions about how competent or thorough the Winchesters were. He’d called them sloppy for such things as letting Magda live after all. To him, that was a weakness, and a sign they couldn’t finish the hunt, and not compassion and understanding and humanity.

I think one of the main reasons the MoL had believed Sam and Dean were “dangerous” or incompetent bunglers right from the start was the fact they HAD been arrested numerous times. There WAS a record of them to be found through “official channels,” like newspaper articles and police reports. To the MoL who prefer to operate in secrecy, I think this is a definite point against the Winchesters.

I mean, WE know how all that stuff went down. WE know they weren’t arrested because they were careless or incompetent. I think compared to most other hunters we’ve seen, they’ve just been dragged into far more crap by being so prolific as hunters, but also by having been manipulated by the universe into the center of so many world-ending scenarios.

But… then we have Mary, who’d somehow managed to stay off their radar entirely. She’s been “presumed dead” since 1983, and yet… here she is, not dead, and looking remarkably well-rested for a 63-year-old woman…

And now that makes me SINCERELY wonder just how much they know about where Mary’s been all these years… How much of what Dean’s told her about how and why she was resurrected has she actually shared with the MoL? Did she really tell them that God’s sister resurrected her as some sort of freaky thank you gift to Dean?

Did she really?

What do the MoL really know about all of that? Or do they have their own theories? 

Do they really believe she is, in fact, Mary Campbell Winchester, born 1954, died 1983, resurrected 2016?

If she’s been ~vague~ about her origins (and her resurrection), I mean heck it’s possible they might not totally believe that she is actually Sam and Dean’s real birth mother, you know? But if that’s the case, and she has been vague about everything, that might give her a strange mystique to the MoL, since she’s somehow managed to stay under the radar while Sam and Dean ended up arrested and wanted by the FBI so many times it’s ridiculous.

To the MoL, THAT could mark her as the “better hunter.” Not sloppy, like Sam and Dean.

Because if she really HAS told them the whole truth, you’d think they’d have a bigger interest in getting that whole story directly from Dean. I mean, just the implication that Dean has had a personal chat with GOD HIMSELF should in theory make him someone that these Scholarly Men of Letters might maybe want to talk to…

Then again, somewhere along the line their mission changed. Maybe somewhere around 1958 when their American branch was wiped out in a single day by a Knight of Hell… That seems to be around the time they went even deeper underground. They were already a secret society, but self-preservation may have driven them to become not only completely isolationist, but also have inspired their crusade to wipe out all monsters. Fear, self-preservation, retaliation– whatever inspired this change in their general mission, well…

We saw in 10.19(and 9.16) that there were some members of the MoL that had some more “extreme” views, and after 1958′s attack, some of their more extreme ideas may have had just enough appeal to sway more believers to their isolationist, genocidal crusade that has then evolved into the MoL that we’re seeing now.

So, back around to your point…

It’s definitely not implausible that Ketch had fully intended to just stand by in that motel to see what Dean was really capable of. After all, you need to chop off a vampire’s head to kill it, and Ketch was suiting up with a gun. Dean side-eyed that choice, called it “fancy,” and then Ketch traded his gun for one of Dean’s machetes. What was Ketch even planning to ~do~ to a vampire with A GUN?!

Seems like just a shade of 4.03 happening here:

SAMUEL: So, you’re a hunter? Well, tell me something, mister hunter, you kill vampires with wooden stakes or silver?DEAN: Neither, you cut their heads off.MARY smiles.DEAN: So, did I pass your test?

Like, Ketch was using these vampires to “test” Dean’s hunting competence, as well? And if he didn’t survive, no skin of his back, you know? His notion of Dean, that he’s a lazy or sloppy hunter, would’ve been proven right and he’d be able to focus more on committing genocide with Mary, i.e. the Winchester whose ideals seem more in line with his own…