Californication – Where’s the faith?

Rarely have I not enjoyed an episode of Californication; in fact, I’ve found most of the show’s offerings to be more or less awesome. And yet, despite all of the competition for great, I can pretty easily say that last night’s episode, which featured the beginning of Hank’s trial for statutory rape, was one of the best ones yet. I think what was so great about it were the flashbacks to a time that was, which provided so much rich texture and color to characters we already know rather well.

I loved Charlie’s testimony. In fact, it might have been my favorite Charlie appearance yet. It was a total disaster for Hank, but there were so many incidents there that we got to see that up until now we’d only heard about. The opening of the movie that ruined Hank’s masterpiece; Hank sleeping with the director’s wife; Hank spiraling when Karen moved in with Bill (Damian Young). The testimony also included what might have been the most visually disgusting moment in the history of the show, namely Hank’s revenge on Bill’s car. And for a show like this one that’s a rather dubious title to be labeled with.

Karen is definitely the long-suffering person in her and Hank’s relationship, but I enjoyed the reminder that she herself is kind of crazy. As a verbal summary, her actions really do make her seem less than reliable.

Bill’s testimony opened up a really interesting twist to the trial, that Hank slept with Mia as revenge on Bill for “stealing” Karen. The poolside memory from the month before the infamous night added an aspect to the story that makes it a lot more difficult to let Hank off for this particular transgression. But I have to wonder why it is that TV makes it seem like we’re all so flippant about our faith in one another.

I’m not saying that Karen shouldn’t have been furious to discover that Hank met Mia before sleeping with her, but she also knows him better than anyone; it’s so easy for her to assume that Hank had done that maliciously? That he, as a protective father of a daughter, would purposefully sleep with Bill’s underage daughter as revenge? Not to mention that she knows drunk Hank, and would know how cognizant he would have been. On TV there’s no considering circumstances … everyone believes the most recent thing that they hear, no matter how outrageous or unlikely. Why?

But if that drives Karen away for good, I’ll take it. I enjoy her and what she adds to Hank’s story, but this is Hank’s story. Eventually he’ll need to go beyond Karen and do something new; if this is the catalyst that allows him to evolve (or at least move on) so be it.

Mia’s testimony opened up a different possibility — was Mia out for revenge on Karen for ruining her life and stealing her father? Was she hellbent on finding Hank himself that night? Because she likely would have remembered him. I wonder.

As an aside, despite the fact that it’s a jury trial, I have to assume it doesn’t hurt Hank any that the judge is a woman. Let’s be honest: he does have a certain charm. Not a lot of people in his position would still have groupies gathering outside the courthouse on the morning of the trial.

I hope next week’s trial continuation does this awesome episode — and Hank — justice.

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Mar 14, 2011 @ 13:30 EST5EDT