“Hacks” editor Jon Philpot says writing the series finale came with the kind of pressure that can feel like both opportunity and threat—especially when fan expectations are sky-high. In a Craft Roundtables appearance, he also looked back at Deborah Vance and A
The pressure of ending a beloved TV show is its own kind of gravity. For the people who actually get to do it, it can feel like a rare gift—until the last episode starts looming over every conversation in the writers room.
In a recent appearance on IndieWire’s Craft Roundtables. “Hacks” editor Jon Philpot spoke candidly about that anxiety as the creative team moved toward the series finale. “This was a huge plane to land, and it wasn’t exactly easy,” he said. “I know they were stressed out in the writers room trying to figure it out.”.
Philpot didn’t just focus on the end point. He took a trip through the show’s past seasons. returning to the electricity between Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance and Hannah Einbinder’s Ava Daniels. Their relationship has never sat still—it’s been an alternating love-hate loop that has carried the series through different eras. with the dueling dynamics changing from season to season.
Even with that history, Philpot said he was especially pleased with where the characters landed in the final episodes. “The two of them are this intergenerational duo, and it varies from season to season,” he explained. “They were pitted against each other and then they fell in love and then they fell out of love and now they’re back in love in this final season. It’s a beautiful thing to be back with them and have these comedic moments that don’t feel like they’re biting one another. They can pick at one another and it’s funny. because you don’t feel like they’re going after each other.”.
The promise of a finale, Philpot made clear, isn’t just about closing a plot. It’s about getting the tone right—so the characters’ humor still lands even as the story reaches its last landing.
IndieWire’s TV Craft Roundtables is now streaming on @PBSSoCal and the PBS App as well as IndieWire.com and IndieWire’s social channels.
Hacks Jon Philpot Craft Roundtables IndieWire Jean Smart Hannah Einbinder Deborah Vance Ava Daniels series finale PBS SoCal PBS App
So basically they were stressed? Sounds like every job ever.
I don’t get why fans act like the finale HAS to be perfect. Like writers don’t have feelings too. Also “pitted against each other”?? makes it sound like it was a Hunger Games situation.
Wait so is Jon Philpot like hacking the finale or something? Title makes it sound sketchy. Plane to land?? maybe that means the show crashed lol
Deborah and Ava “back in love” again… okay but are they actually happy or just writing that for the last season? I feel like every show pulls the same emotional rewind. I watched one episode and I’m already tired of the love-hate loop, so hope the ending doesn’t drag. Also PBS streaming?? is that why my friend said it’s on like 3 different apps and none work right.