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

The ending of Jean Smart in Hacks season 4, is relishing in her newfound number 1 spot on the Nielsen charts, she has begun to use her power to make some significant, and personal, changes. Ava takes note of the shocking news about Winnie and sees Deborah as an even more intimidating figure than she has all season long.

Winnie, played by Helen Hunt, has been a constant presence and source of pressure on Deborah, but has always had the intention of making the show a success. Winnie previously oversaw Deborah with an iron fist, forcing the HR representative Stacey to be present during all of Deborah and Ava's workplace conversations during their public feud and insisting that Deborah see a doctor after an early season 4 panic attack. After becoming the number one late-night show with a revamped approach, Deborah realizes that her power has increased along with with clout. One phone call was all it took to send Winnie packing.

Deborah’s Phone Call To Bob Lipka Got Winnie Sacked

Ava Realizes That Deborah Is Even More Cutthroat With Her Newfound Power

Deborah and Ava's feud at the beginning of Hacks season 4 was based on Ava's threat of blackmail involving Deborah's season 3 one-night stand with Bob Lipka, the CEO of the media conglomerate that owns Deborah's network and show. Bob comes back into play after he congratulates Deborah for landing the number one spot in late-night with a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label scotch. When Deborah calls to thank Bob, she airs her grievances about Winnie, who was already down Deborah's throat at the celebration party about forming a spin-off series similar to James Corden's viral Carpool Karaoke.

Bob is determined to keep Deborah happier than ever now that her show is the most popular of all mainstream late-night shows. Although Deborah may not have directly asked Bob to fire Winnie, she certainly wasn't upset about it when she heard about it the next day before a show. Ava, who knows Deborah better than anyone at this point, suspects that whatever Deborah may have said to Bob was enough to have him let Winnie go. In the final shot of Hacks season 4, episode 8, Ava looks upset but also frightened by what Deborah seemingly did to Winnie, likely wondering if Deborah could place her on the chopping block without batting an eye.

Is Ava & Deborah’s Hacks Season 4 Feud Back On?

Ava Is Clearly Uncomfortable With Deborah's Treatment Of Winnie

Hacks season 4, episode 8 begins with Jimmy attempting to squash the beef between Deborah and Ava, unaware that they had already done so themselves several weeks before. While Deborah and Ava's reunion leads to them successfully collaborating on a new show format, the end of the episode implies that Ava is once again at odds with Deborah.

The big question for the rest of Hacks season 4 will be whether or not Ava will act on her feelings with Deborah this time around, especially after seeing how cold-hearted Deborah can be to get what she wants.

The big question for the rest of Hacks season 4 will be whether or not Ava will act on her feelings with Deborah this time around, especially after seeing how cold-hearted Deborah can be to get what she wants. Ava may ultimately lose trust in Deborah and quietly walk away from the show.

How Deborah’s Late-Night Show Climbed To Number 1 In Ratings

Deborah Started Taping Her Show The Day Before & Running Promos The Day Of Airing

Deborah enlisted her old friend and the Mayor of Las Vegas, Mayor Jo, to appear on her late-night show as a way to steal the laugh of her controversy from others and make it her own. Her interview with Mayor Jo pulled in strong numbers online, but Deborah's "overnight" ratings, meaning people who were actually tuning in to watch her show live, were stagnant.

Deborah thought of the idea to film the next day's show each day instead of filming on the day of, which is what most traditional late-night shows do. This way, Deborah's show would run promos to hook viewers into tuning in that night. While unconventional, it proves to work for Deborah, who also invites guests that she has genuine interest in or relationships with to make the show feel more personal and engaging than just a bunch of celebrities pushing their latest project.

Mayor Jo’s Zamboni Controversy & Late-Night Appearance Explained

Deborah Points Out That Mayor Jo Didn't Do Anything Illegal

As one of the recurring guest stars in Hacks season 4, Mayor Jo appears on Deborah's late-night show to own up to her public controversy involving three professional hockey players and a Zamboni. This bizarre occurrence goes viral online and gets blown up by the press, which makes Mayor Jo feel as though she will be forced to resign. Instead, Deborah comes to her rescue and offers her a chance to diffuse the situation by making light of it on her late-night show. While the whole interview feels a bit like an obvious save-face publicity stunt, the public shifts from laughing at Mayor Jo to laughing with her.

Why Jimmy Found A Jetski From Kayla’s Dad In Her Parking Spot

Kayla's Father Is Trying To Entice Her To Stop Working With Jimmy

Jimmy and Kayla are featured more in episodes 7 and 8 than in previous Hacks season 4 installments and are finally starting to experience some potential drama of their own. As the daughter of the CEO of a large talent agency called Latitude, Kayla has a large cushion to fall back on if her new agency with Jimmy doesn't pan out.

Kayla's dad offers to give her his Malibu beach house in his will – jetski included – if Kayla stops working with Jimmy and comes back to Latitude.

Kayla visits her father at a spa to reprimand him for poaching one of Jimmy's clients. Kayla's dad offers to give her his Malibu beach house in his will – jetski included – if Kayla stops working with Jimmy and comes back to Latitude. Jimmy finds this jetski in Kaya's parking space at work with a note from her dad. However, it remains to be seen whether Kayla will betray Jimmy out of greed.

What Episode 8’s Ending Means For The Rest Hacks Of Season 4

Kayla May Leave Jimmy & Ava Is Now Scared Of Deborah's Power

The ending of Hacks season 4 ends with both of the series' dynamic duos, Deborah/Ava and Jimmy/Kayla, having their loyalties tested. For Jimmy, who had notably been trying to get rid of Kayla as his assistant while he still worked at Latitude, it will be interesting to see whether he developed a deeper affection and reliance on Kayla after they started their own agency together. Jimmy will likley try to get Kayla to stay, but Kayla, who is very used to getting what she wants, may not be able to resist the temptation of that jetski in Malibu.

As for Ava, she remains the only person who can take Deborah out with one phone call, just like Deborah did to Winnie. Ava and Winnie have no real relationship in the show, so I doubt that Ava will jump on a grenade in an attempt to restore Winnie's executive role. What's most pertinent at the final moment of Hacks season 4 is that for the first time, Ava is actually afraid of Deborah, who has waited decades to get her late-night hosting gig and seems willing to stop at nothing to hang onto it and keep her show successful. Deborah's power in hosting the number one late-night show on TV may be too much for Ava to handle in the last two episodes of Hacks season 4.