What I’m Watching: Californication

Californication: Season 3, Episode 8 “The Apartment” (B+)

How could these three women in Hank’s life have been brought together in any better fashion? The three arrivals are each fantastic in their own way, and the episode just keeps getting increasingly good. Part of what’s so great is that these women have been so singularly focused on Hank and blissfully unaware of the presence of each other in his life. Hank’s apartment has never felt so big, and the fact that it could hide the three ladies, a couple of strippers, Charlie, and even Rick Springfield is pretty hilarious. Eva Amurri, Diane Farr, and Embeth Davidtz are all wonderful in their respective performances as Jackie, Jill, and Felicia, and seeing and hearing their reactions to Hank’s other affairs was simply incredible. The best was probably Jackie’s disgust at Jill’s age. And then of course there’s the terrific Peter Gallagher, whose Dean Koons finally gets the chance to really speak his mind and try to chew Hank out while admitting his own faults, unknowingly in front of his wife, no less. The introduction of the two overly mature young daughters, Chelsea and Becca, made for an even funnier follow-up, and the best part of it was the rapport between Chelsea and her father. Seeing Becca stick up for Hank (“Hey, that’s my father!”) was a touching moment, and it’s refreshing that they’re bonding again, in their own extremely messed-up way. I hope that this show picks up a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Best Ensemble in December, because this cast really deserves it.