WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Hacks season 4, episodes 7 & 8.

Ava's reaction to Deborah's power trip at the end of end of Hacks season 4, episode 8, Ava's reaction to seeing Deborah take her late-night stage after securing the top spot in the overnight ratings is a mixture of anger and fear. Ava is angry that Deborah could be so cold-blooded as to have an executive like Helen Hunt's Winnie fired just because she's been persistent about creating a spin-off segment, among other things.

Ava is also terrified at how much power Deborah has gained thanks to Bob Lipka, the CEO of the media conglomerate that owns the network and Deborah's late-night show. Hacks season 3 finale that she had landed a late-night hosting gig, a dream she had had since childhood. Ava threatened to expose Deborah's fling with Bob unless she kept her word and made her head writer.

Hacks Season 4 Episode 8's Ending Hints Ava Might Finally Expose Deborah & Bob Lipka's Affair

Ava Has One Swift & Powerful Move Left To Knock Deborah Back Down To Earth

Ava had initially been happy for Deborah throughout Hacks season 4, episode 8, as she went on a hot streak with her revamped late-night show. Their idea to shake up the show's format by having more guests that Deborah had an interest in or a relationship with, along with filming the day before rather than the day of, to better promote each episode, was a big success. Ava only starts to become wary of Deborah after Winnie gets shockingly fired right after the show takes the number 1 spot in overnight TV ratings. Ava, who knows Deborah better than anyone, suspects that Deborah was behind Winnie getting sacked.

Ava had always been progressive and somewhat virtuous, even to a fault. She has historically been the only person in Deborah's life to break through with her on a variety of subjects, including how some of her past comedic material can be considered offensive in this day and age.

Doing so, however, would be a honeybee's sting, and could lead to Ava being run out of LA.

Despite this, Deborah is achieving a lifelong dream and is currently thriving, making those who stand in her way more vulnerable than ever. That said, Ava may have to finally expose Deborah and Bob's affair to knock Deborah back down to earth. Doing so, however, would be a honeybee's sting, and could lead to Ava being run out of LA.

What Deborah & Bob's Affair Being Exposed Would Mean For Their Late-Night Show

Ava Would Really Be Hitting A Career Dead Man's Switch By Exposing Deborah

Ava would be really hitting a dead man's switch if she decided to expose Bob and Deborah's affair publicly. There would seemingly be no way coming back from that, since such a reveal would only hurt her and Deborah's careers, not Bob's. After all that Deborah and Ava have been through, it would take Ava to be at her most cold-hearted to actually expose Deborah at this point, which I don't think she has it in her to do. More likely, Ava will become exhausted by LA and opt to go back home to Waltham, Massachusetts, or potentially even find solace in Deborah's old stomping grounds of Las Vegas.

Marcus's brief episode 7 cameo, in which he relished the fact that he wasn't obligated to be where Deborah was all the time, could foreshadow Ava's role change.

I do suspect that Ava will depart from Deborah's show by the end of Hacks season 4. I think she will begin to see that even though she and Deborah have formed a rare connection, she is nothing to Deborah if she can't produce material and fit into her vision of the show, especially now that it's become so successful. Ava has been an integral part of Deborah's newfound success in the twilight of her career. Now that Deborah's reached the top, there may be nowhere else to go but downhill.

Ultimately, I don't think Ava will have the heart to expose Deborah in Hacks season 4, but she will leave the late-night show, maybe getting another writing gig in LA. Marcus's brief episode 7 cameo, in which he relished the fact that he wasn't obligated to be where Deborah was all the time, could foreshadow Ava's role change.