Review: ‘Hacks’ finds plenty of laughs in its final bow

Everyone who left an impression returns for an encore and — get this — manages to bring the laughs. The first few episodes are so funny you’ll wonder if the producers got a second wind and decided to try another take.

When we last left Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), she blew up her late-night career and was canceled by network head Bob Lipka (Tony Goldwyn). She can’t perform anywhere until a period of adjustment is over. That irks Vance, and she thinks of ways she can tell her side of the cancellation story to an audience. But if she’s banned from performing (even doing a podcast), where can she turn?

That’s where her writing partner (and now bestie) Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) comes in. She has ideas — and close encounters of the Vegas kind — that will keep the queen of comedy occupied.

In the process, Deborah gets to dabble with a young singer; Ava gets to play tricks with a magician. The two do a deep dive into Vance’s past and come away with an idea that’s brilliant. Oddly, money is never the issue. Deborah doesn’t need it. She craves attention.

What’s fascinating about this season is the way it gives supporting characters decent storylines — ones that don’t just serve the stars. Paul W. Downs and Megan Stalter (as the women’s agents) have their own struggles and aren’t afraid to stand up to the one who wants to pull them down.

They have a solid “B” story that could easily spin off into a new series. But the goal here is to revisit “Hacks’” early years, explain why Ava and Deborah are such solid friends and show how they are bonded to one another.

Remember your favorite guest stars and, chances are good, they appear in the final 10 episodes.

The heart of “Hacks,” however, is the relationship between Ava and Deborah, and it’s deeper, sharper and more tear-worthy than ever before. Their time in Vegas is pretty significant, too. While plenty of landmarks make their appearance, it’s the world Vance and Co. are creating that entices.

A world without Deborah is unthinkable, but the two figure out a way to bring her back, and it’s guaranteed to make you cheer their Lucy/Ethel way of making it happen.

Titles aside, “Hacks” deserves to stand with the very best series on television. It’s a guide to a multitude of things but, mostly, how to exit gracefully.