A perfect storm of Californication awesomeness

While I’m not giving refunds to dissatisfied customers, I am asserting my claim that this was quite possibly the best episode of television that Showtime has ever aired.

I mean, just the perfectly executed confluence of events that didn’t play as over-the-top. Each knock at the door could have popped the balloon, but it just kept on rising higher and higher — and there wasn’t even a kid riding in it! In fact, this was not an episode meant for children, especially not Hank’s. Shot that one to hell.

The only downside I see is that less than a million people watch Californication every week (not sure how many airings that accounts for). But we’re going to do something about that. I’m proposing a campaign, ala the “save our show” movements founded by fans. Here’s what to do: buy a gross of condoms, and write the word Californication in permanent marker on each individual wrapper. Then hand them out all over town! At the very least that might land us all in jail … hey, any press is better than none.

I just can’t get over how well scripted everything was tonight. From Jackie’s friends so innocently stopping by for a night of debauchery, to a drunken stripper stumbling in on Hank and Becca’s heart-to-heart, not a moment was wasted, or done poorly. Even the Jackie moments, and I can’t stand her!

So first we had Jackie, who re-voiced her desire to build something real with Hank; she wants to be his girlfriend, and she’s willing to stop stripping for him. I like that she wasn’t leaving, and just plopped herself down on his patio with a book. Especially considering what was going on his bedroom.

Which was Rick Springfield and Charlie having a time with one of two strippers (the conscious one, thankfully). Kelley68 has enlightened me on Rick a bit, and I now appreciate his turn this episode a lot more. He’s like Neil Patrick Harris playing Neil Patrick Harris, and not himself, in Harold & Kumar; a parody, not a true representation. In which case, bravo on a great acting job, man! And your character’s extremely depraved.

Jill popping in was very welcome as far as I’m concerned. Hank should give their relationship a go, and not because she showed up naked under her raincoat. Although I knew sticking her in Becca’s room would backfire. And, uh, Jackie, you called Jill gross? Come again?

And then Felicia, who’s leaving her husband after one night of passion with Hank? I realize it’s less about Hank and more about what he unlocked in her, but she is a bit extreme, no? A little too much American in that Brit, maybe.

And then the Dean himself, suggesting three-way therapy for him, Felicia, and Hank? I love how clueless he is! And how perfect that, amidst all the craziness, he was more interested in Rick Springfield’s presence in Hank’s apartment.

I loved the entire back-and-forth once Becca and Chelsea showed up and Becca found Jill in her bedroom. First of all, how like the pilot was that with Becca walking in on one of Hank’s ladies naked? But how everyone found out about everyone else, including Chelsea learning about her mom’s affair? That can’t be good for the potential love bubbling between her and Becca.

And then Charlie and Rick started a fire in Hank’s bedroom, a result of the candle Rick was melting on him and/or the stripper … and we’re out. Wow!

There was one downer for me, which is this continuing juxtaposition of Hank as the kid and Becca as the parent. Why does Hank need to answer to Becca all of the time? But then the newly-awoken stripper stumbled out, and we were back to all good.

So, should this be Californication’s Emmy entry this year? How good was this thirty minutes of television?

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Nov 15, 2009 @ 22:30 EST5EDT