TVLine's Performer of the Week: Hannah Einbinder
THE PERFORMER | Hannah Einbinder
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THE SHOW | Hacks
THE EPISODE | 'Mrs. Table' (May 8, 2025)
THE PERFORMANCE | Ava Daniels' mammoth meltdown was a long time coming. From Deborah's conniving torture to the pressure of the head writer position, everything in Season 4 had been building up to Episode 6's volcanic eruption. And when the character just couldn't take it anymore, Einbinder delivered her best performance yet, which was both skillfully comedic and glum.
After the late-night show was forced to pivot following Cher's cancellation, the team booked Ruby Rojas, Ava's ex. Einbinder reveled in her character's discomfort, letting her humor and physicality shine. But after Deborah cut one of Ava's segments, the host urged Ruby to share an embarrassing story about Ava — that whole proposal mishap — on the air. It was a vicious move that cut Ava deep… a hurt we could read all over her face as she stood on the sidelines in tears.
The half-hour continued giving Einbinder excellent material to work with. Yes, Ava's boyfriend and girlfriend broke up with her, but the final straw? Finding out her staff was ordering elaborate lunches (branzino?!) on the show's dime. We couldn't help but laugh as a horror movie-worthy shriek escaped the actress's mouth, and the poor dead fish was flung across the room.
The rollercoaster of emotions (for us and the character) continued when Deborah and Ava finally had a heart-to-heart about their ongoing feud. Einbinder showcased a deep fragility after her boss told her, 'You are my voice.' When Ava replied back, 'But I kind of hate you now,' her voice quivered with what felt like genuine pain. While we were glad to see the two women finally back on the same page, we're even more thankful to see Einbinder continue to hold her own on such a sharp series that allows her to flex her pure talent.
Scroll down to see who got Honorable Mention shout-outs this week…
The eighth episode of Andor Season 2, which depicted the Ghorman Massacre, packed a dramatic punch, as did the performances by Denise Gough and Kyle Soller. Since the series' very first episode, Soller's Syril Karn has been a man on a mission (though you never sensed he was 100% equipped for it). But in rising ISB star Dedra Meero, Syril saw a muse, one who helped him reach a certain potential. As such, when the Empire's true plans for Ghorman came to light, Soller conveyed Syril's disappointment in his complicit partner, as well as a personal revulsion — all of which he took out on wanted man Cassian. Gough meanwhile showed us the toll that Dedra's ambition was starting to take on her; you believed she was truly worried when Syril fled into the crowded plaza. With Dedra's private breakdown at episode's end, Gough revealed a new layer to a complicated woman. — Matt Webb Mitovich
We love sunny, sparkly Dina on The Last of Us, but we were even more into the troubled version of the character that Isabela Merced revealed in last Sunday's episode. When Dina thought that Ellie had sacrificed her life to save her, the devastation on Merced's face spoke volumes about the connection the two had forged. The Dina that held a gun on Ellie, tears running down her face, was miles from the bubbly teen we met in Jackson; Merced quickly and capably communicated just how much it was going to kill Dina to euthanize her just-bitten love. And once Dina was assured that her best friend wasn't going to turn into an angry mushroom, the relief that flowed out of Merced was the best kind of overwhelming: When she had Dina finally act on her feelings for Ellie, frantic in the character's realization that all might have been lost, Merced's intensity was electric. Having seen what she unearthed in Episode 4, we're looking forward to what else the actress brings to light about Dina as the season continues. — Kimberly Roots
Which performance(s) knocked your socks off this week? Tell us in the comments!
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Geek Girl Authority
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RESIDENT ALIEN Season Premiere Recap: (S04E01) Prisoners
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Unfortunately, Pizza Joe is the Mantid, and this is how Harry winds up trapped on the Moon base while the Mantid takes up residence in his cabin in Patience. This is some bullsh*t. Later, we see Harry has a beard now. He instructs Robert (Paul Piaskowski) on how to draw all his Patience friends. Harry needs fresh wall art for his cell. On Earth, the Mantid (voiced by the legendary Clancy Brown) is livin' on Easy Street. As Harry, he's got his hair slicked back. He puffs on a cigarette like those cool kids who smoked under the bleachers in the '90s. RESIDENT ALIEN — 'Prisoners' Season 4 Episode 1 — Pictured: Alan Tudyk as Harry Vanderspeigle — (Photo by: James Dittiger/USA Network) Too Cool for School Sheriff Mike (Corey Reynolds), who's in civilian clothes, and Deputy Liv (Elizabeth Bowen) greet him. Mayor Snowflake — ahem, Ben (Levi Fiehler) and Kate (Meredith Garretson) say hi. Ben asks Mantid/Harry if he's ready for their therapy session. 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She emerges from her room to find D'arcy in the kitchen. She looks suspicious. Asta claims she stayed up all night studying medical reports. RESIDENT ALIEN — 'Prisoners' Season 4 Episode 1 — Pictured: Sara Tomko as Asta Twelvetrees — (Photo by: James Dittiger/USA Network) Dumb, Cute Face However, our girl D'arc can spot that hookup hair a mile away. Joseph makes his grand entrance. D'arcy thought Asta was done sleeping with this particular half-alien. Asta admits she had some wine, and Joseph has a 'dumb, cute face.' Totally fair. RELATED: 10 Out-of-This-World Predictions for Resident Alien Season 4 The conversation pivots to another roommate — Ben and Kate's baby. D'arcy still has her. Joseph reminds D'arcy that she can't give the aforementioned couple their child. The Greys will simply take the baby from Kate again. It's best to keep them separated. As Joseph leaves — insisting he'll call Asta — we see Max (Judah Prehn) and Sahar (Gracelyn Awad Rinke) spying on him. 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RESIDENT ALIEN — 'Prisoners' Season 4 Episode 1 — Pictured: (l-r) Levi Fiehler as Mayor Ben Hawthorne, Meredith Garretson as Kate Hawthorne — (Photo by: James Dittiger/USA Network) Later, at the diner, Liv confronts Mike about his leave of absence. Apparently, after punching a Grey, Mike bagged it and threw it in the trunk of his vehicle. However, he and Liv opened said bag to find it empty. So, Mike assumes he hallucinated the alien due to a radiation leak in the abandoned high school. Liv tries to persuade him that he did see an alien because they're real. Mike is incredulous. He also doesn't notice that Liv's uniform is too baggy on her. Bruce the Grey And when Ben enters the diner, he, too, pretends not to notice. After she leaves in a huff, Ben insists he dodged a bullet. He and Mike agree that she looks great all the time, but they can't remark on it. 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RESIDENT ALIEN — 'Prisoners' Season 4 Episode 1 — Pictured: (l-r) Alan Tudyk as Harry Vanderspeigle, Sara Tomko as Asta Twelvetrees — (Photo by: James Dittiger/USA Network) When the Mantid makes his intention known, Asta hightails it out of there. Outside, she runs into Sahar and Max, who accuse her of working with the Mantid. That's when the Mantid reappears to blow his cover. He brings them back inside to prepare them for dinner. He even busts out the condiments. Harry's Return Before he can properly season them, though, Harry barges into his own cabin. Asta and Sahar are thrilled to see him. However, Max doesn't recognize Harry. He's never seen Harry in his human disguise, only as an alien. Who's this dude? Harry eats a slice of Asta's pizza before attempting to fight the Mantid. Unfortunately, he can't transform into his big, bad alien self. Bridget tries to attack the Mantid to no avail. 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Asta drives the group through the woods. Resident Alien drops new episodes every Friday at 11 pm ET on Syfy and USA Network. Syfy Renews THE ARK for Season 3 Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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