What I’m Watching: Californication

Californication: Season 3, Episode 3 “Verities & Balderdash” (B+)

Hank Moody is apparently just irresistible. He’s able to attract and juggle the affections of three considerably different women (of different age groups, no less) at one party and leave with all three of them still flirting like crazy with him. The most shocking of the three is Embeth Davidtz’s Felicia, who succumbs to her attraction for the wild Hank, something which would be sure to push her already on-edge when it comes to Hank husband, Dean Koons, fantastically portrayed by the irritably-eyebrowed Peter Gallagher. Hank’s interaction with Jackie is very suggestive and highly risky in terms of Hank slipping, but he’s doing a good job of keeping it all theoretical and away from something which would hammer a considerable nail in Hank’s teaching career. Diane Farr should be really happy with herself, having found a terrific new cable role after exiting “Rescue Me” so early in its run to star on CBS’ “Numb3rs.” Her destitution and comforting by Hank was riveting to watch in this episode, and her way of speaking and inflecting her dialogue is simply amazing. On Charlie’s end, his client-convincing skills aren’t nearly as mesmerizing as those of, say, Don Draper or Michael Scott at Chili’s, but it’s still a good thing for the perpetually luckless agent. His latest misstep with Marcie isn’t pretty, and though it’s obvious that Charlie is behind Sue while she’s talking to Marcie, it’s still disheartening to see him pop out like a jack-in-the-box from behind her. It looks like Becca’s mushroom-taking won’t get her caught by Hank but rather help ease tension in their relationship, though I’m sure he’ll find out eventually and he will not be pleased, though, of course, he’s done worse.