What I’m Watching: Californication

Californication: Season 3, Episode 10 “Dogtown” (B+)

We’ve apparently said goodbye to all of Hank’s many loves, all of who were so entertaining and wonderful, but alas, now we have just Charlie, his ultimate companion. Hank has been very into the effeminate pranks recently, first posing as a jilted gay lover to help Jill out a few weeks ago and now kissing Charlie as an excuse to give a homophobe a good bar fight. Ultimately, Hank and Charlie do make a good pair, and with Charlie out on the street as a result of his newly terminated employment, it will do him good to have a true friend at his side to watch over him. The deli mart holdup might seem too serious for this show, but it’s just like when Hank’s car got stolen in season one with his manuscript in it – something unexpected but ultimately crucial to future story arcs. That begot Mia stealing his prized new work, and this should help Charlie really put his priorities in order and decide what’s important to him. Even more interesting and fun than the male bar-hopping and bonding was the ladies’ night out, where the unfiltered Marcy had a chance to bond with Karen and Becca. It’s truly astonishing that Marcy doesn’t censor herself at all in front of Becca, and asking Karen intimate questions about her sexual past and present seems to cross a certain line even the depraved Moody parents would consider going too far. Their conversations are therapeutic though, and Karen realizing that Hank isn’t going to change is exactly what their relationship needs to have a shot at success.