I just finished watching the season finale. I’ve more or less binge watched the entire show over the last couple of months.
I agree with the critics who said it lasted a couple of seasons too long. I found the first few seasons hilarious; no so much for the later seasons. I don’t think I’m a prude, but the sex themes were just so over top it wasn’t even enjoyable to watch.
That being said I’d like get some other opinions on the show and the characters.
Hank Moody was enough of a fuck up; but most of the time I felt like he was the normal one who had to suffer the consequences of everyone else around him.
I’ve started watching it now that it’s on Netflix. It’s pretty clever and funny.
I like to imagine that Fox Mulder left the FBI either for his and Scully’s protection or because they both burnt out, and and Mulder became a writer under an assumed name and is living in CA and chasing women.
Californication is one of those series that I watch while I’m doing tax returns. It’s fun to have on in the background, doesn’t require a lot of attention to keep up with the plot, and isn’t good enough to warrant my full attention anyway.
I’ve had the same basic idea myself. I don’t know how much is intentional and how much is Duchovny, but the basic personalities of the two characters are virtually the same.
My theory is that they had to put Mulder in witness protection after the X-Files shut down.
Halfway into the 5th season. Up until now I thought it had a lot of heart which balanced the humor and antics well… Now Hank’s just become depressing.
I also feel like they’ve plumbed the depths (lol) of sex-accident humor and oops-I-fucked-your-mom humor, and repetitions are getting boring.
In S. 4 Hank said he looked “like an FBI agent” in his suit. Karen responded that he was “brooding and comely” which is a line from the song “(Why don’t you love me) David Duchovny” by Bree Sharp.
That was just the beginning of the decline. By the time you get to season 7, the performances seem like bored actors at a line-reading. It’s god awful, and I enjoyed the first 4 or 5 seasons.
I totally agree with the comment about having plumbed the depths of the sexual humor. It was just too much. I never really thought Hank was depressing though. I thought he was around a bunch of depraved assholes; and Hank was always a hesitant participant.
Totally agree, although I have to say I liked the final episode.
Some of My thoughts…
Karen: she was the source of all the problems. She wasn’t happy in the relationship because Hank wasn’t exactly the best mate after they moved to California. She cheated on him. I don’t think Hank ever cheated on her (while they were together). OK, he went down on the girl at the party because he thought it was Karen. Not only that it was at a party Hank didn’t want to go to. In most of the scenes where some terrible shit happens to Hank it’s because he’s at a place he didn’t really want to attend (especially true of almost every dinner party scene).
Becca: What a little bitch. All she ever did was complain about how fucked up her life was, and how it was not her fault! I have news for you little girl; there’s only so much you can blame on your parents.
Levon: Geez, what a mostly horrible story arc. First of all… a paternity test would have the FIRST thing that I would have gotten. Second of all, he should have received multiple beat downs. What a little asshole in training. At least we got a season of Heather Graham out of the deal.
Runkle: If ever I want to turn a kid off of masturbating, I’m going to have him watch this show. Every time runkle gizzes he looks like he’s in so much pain, I don’t know how he could it do it ever again!
All in all, I thought the series overall was done pretty well; with the obvious dip in quality over the last couple of seasons. I like the scene with Rick Rath (Michael Imperioli) telling Hank to write a tv show about his personal experiences. It was kind of self referencing, in way. Maybe it would have been overkill, but it would have been pretty cool to see Hank turn in a script called “Californication.” So to sum it up for me, I still feel like Hank is the most sympathetic character; the rest… not so much.
Becca is a little ridiculous. The writers seem to have forgotten that by season 6, she’s 20. Who asks their parent’s permission to go to Europe when they’re 20? And actually waits on their answer? You might tell them in advance, if you’re feeling polite. Or send an email from Amsterdam, if you’re not.
And she acted like a stupid little punk about her crappy first novel. " Tell me the truth! I need the truth!.. WAH DADDY’S MEAN". If I were to show my fuckup writer father my novel (which I would never ever do) I wouldn’t say “tell me the truth” unless I meant it. She’s just a little drama queen who thinks her shit don’t stink and Karen’s 10x as bad (as Hank correctly pointed out).
Another thing that persistently annoyed me, is, there was a big reveal that Mia was going to go on the talk show circuit with her tale of thievery. That’s why Hank told Karen about their escapade. However, the big reveal and talk show circuit never apparently happened. The subject was dropped during the trial, which is the opposite of what that grasping whore Mia would have done in the real world. Later, however, a few people seem to know that Hank wrote “Fucking and Punching”.
I’m binge-watching it now. In the first season, I didn’t even think Hank had a problem with sex addiction. He seemed pretty normal for a single guy to me. Finally in season 2 we’re getting to the darker side of addiction. I was really pissed at Karen for busting his chops when he went down on the mistaken-identity girl and again when he told her about Mia. WTF…he didn’t know! I think the writers have Hank a little too clever and witty most episodes but I’m definitely a sympathizer.