It's such amazing writing that brings Gino in the episode about Who's Making Diner and bringing the memory of his death back in the last episode when Ava and Deborah talk about getting treatment for Deb.
David Stal (left) and Carlos Rafael Rivera (right)
"I've been fortunate to collaborate on some truly wonderful projects over the last few years, composing the music for shows like HBO’s Hacks, Netflix’s The Queen's Gambit, Griselda, Dept. Q, and Apple TV+’s Lessons in Chemistry." - Carlos
"Co-scoring Hacks has been an amazing opportunity, and I’ve loved collaborating with Carlos on series like Lessons in Chemistry and The Queens Gambit, while getting to solo score indie features like the festival favorite Breakup Season." - David
First time watcher of this show. Genuinely obsessed and screaming and crying and laughing. Well I just got to the end of season 3 and OMFG. I GASPED!!! Honestly, the seasons get better and better. This finale has been my favorite out of a lot of shows I’ve watched. I am about to start season 4 and I cannot even begin to imagine the relationship dynamic between my queens. 😆
So obviously, in hindsight we fully know that Deb was truly contemplating her existence while left alone with only her thoughts in the cube. We know this because she comes out of it to tell Ava that they should go on vacation, which we later find out has more to it than just a vacation. Deb even says she's been trying to think of ways to make her obituary seem less embarrassing.
But just these joke's in Mayor Jo's speech ended up being even heavier-handed foreshadowing:
"But I want everyone to rest easy because if that were to happen or if she should fall, I am prepared to shoot while she's in the air before she hits the ground. She's not gonna be suffering in a vegetative state for months and months. She's gonna be dead before impact."
Rewatching, and reading fanfic weren’t enough so I had to buy this to feel happiness again 😅. I miss the series so much! I feel like I’m a teenager again! 😂 am I the only one still missing them?
So, the first thing that I want to say is, 9 times out of 10, when Deb and Ava are fighting about something, I'm on Ava's side.
I think her values are better, her intentions are (usually) better, and overall I just identify with her vibe and the way she does things a lot more.
I don't even think she was that out of line for emailing the Bitch PM people. I mean, that was wrong--really wrong. But Deborah had done so many wrong things to her by that point, plus everything she was going through with her father, it's kind of understandable.
I mean...you shouldn't respond to toxicity with toxicity. The correct response to being in a toxic situation is to remove yourself from it. And tbh, Deb technically assaulted her, but personally I'd rather get slapped by some old lady than have somebody I trusted leak all my worst secrets to people who'd use them against me.
But we're all human, and these things happen. These emotional highs and lows that they go through is part of what makes Ava and Deb's partnership so enthralling.
Here's the part that made me angry:
First of all, Ava really had no reason to tell Deb about it when she did. Jimmy moved Kayla and Earth to get that letter squashed, and telling Deborah about it only hurt her. I felt like that was more about Ava trying to deal with her own guilt than doing the right thing by Deborah.
But the part that really, really fucking frustrates me, is the way she's acting afterwards. Where she keeps explaining to every new person she meets how she's, like, on her 'redemption arc' now. Weed, the bartender on the cruise ship, the cellphone salesman who looks like the guy from Green Day. And everyone responds with a different version 'I don't care, that doesn't mean anything to me.'
I hate it when people do this shit where they tell everyone that they're being better, instead of just being better and letting everyone see as you live.
If anything, the performative bullshit actually causes problems, because her flip-phone can't get picture messages, or her non-alcoholic drinks are taking up room in the fridge.
I honestly found it so satisfying when she was in the middle of explaining her fucking Kambucha, and Deborah takes it from her and just whips it out the window 😂😭
For the record, I love Ava, I love this show, I hate that I'm almost finished with it
So, what won't she do? Theories? Jean is my queen
Just that…..Season 4 Episode 4 is such brilliance. On first watch it was this sweet episode that finally broke a lot of the tension that had been insanely packed on, even if just for a bit. On my first rewatch it clearly went into the top five episodes for me. Going through my first full five season rewatch now and watching this again ……it might end up as my favorite episode of them all at some point.
Opening with possibly the best montage of the series, matched up to Breakthrough by Queen, and ending with an encore of Labi Sifre on this show…….just this show and its use of music is unparalleled.
A Carol Burnett cameo alone can make it a top episode for me. But having maybe the one living woman who can speak as an older mentor to Deb and setting up the “just do the show for one person” thing was amazing.
The sweet finish of Ava rushing to Deb in the hospital and finding a TV to watch the first show. “That old chestnut” is such a minor line, but easily one of my favorite lines of the show with the way Hannah delivers it.
I don’t go on for the “what’s one episode you would have someone watch to get into the show?” talk as there is only one answer……the pilot. But for a viewer of the series……..damnit this is just the show hitting hard in all areas.
