“California Son” - Californication review
This week’s episode should be titled “things fall apart to get put back together”. Focusing almost exclusively on Hank, the episode begins with a phone call from his sister announcing Hank’s father has passed away. Traversing that most treacherous of television storytelling devices (the flashback) with suprising grace, the story of Hank and his dad and the end of his non-marriage is told through bittersweet memory mixed with painful present moments.
Hank, like any good tortured writer attempting anything but dealing with reality, heads to a bar where he meets Trixie (Judy Greer … Excellent casting choice!). Trixie is a hooker, although Hank doesn’t believe it until far too late and must be bailed out by Charlie. Karen has already found him at the bar and tried to get him to leave with her so she can shuffle him onto a plane to the east coast for the funeral, but Hank is far too busy self-destructing for such nonsense.
Finally collapsing into a heap at his apartment, Karen shows up to find a letter dear old dad had sent to Hank after his last disastrous visit (the focus of all the flashbacks). It seems about a year ago Hank’s dad came to visit for what would be the last time, just as the disastrous movie was being made and the non-marriage was falling on hard times. These flashbacks are incredibly painful to watch, especially if you’re in the midst of relationship issues, as the drama and frustration is all too real.
Present-day Karen, proving the fucking and talking go hand in hand, spends the night in Hank’s bed before finally pouring him onto a plane the next morning with promises that she and Becca will be following him to the east coast just as soon as she’s out of school for the day. With one night of sympathy/rekindled love, Karen’s soon-to-be marriage may just be on the skids and Hank just might have his family back. Unfortunately we have to wait until next week to find out!
To catch up with older episodes:
season one, episode one
season one, episode two
season one, episode three
season one, episode four
season one, episode five
season one, episode six
season one, episode seven (coming soon)
Showtime, Californication, Hank Moody, David Duchovny, Karen, Natascha McElhone, Becca, Madeline Martin, Mia, Madeline Zima, Charlie, Evan Handler
October 11th, 2007 at 3:22 am
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