Californication – What happens when Hank meets Sasha’s grandmother?

In the grand scheme of all of the insanity that is this season of Californication, Hank spinning off the edge of the universe may be the most relatable, and ultimately the most pleasant, of things going on.

Called in to rewrite Sasha’s dialogue on “Slowly We Rot 2,” Hank was essentially paid $100,000 to be Sasha’s on-set sex toy. There was a lot about Hank sleeping with Sasha’s mom Julia (Callie Thorne) that felt “been there done that,” but what was interesting was how Sasha is apparently really falling for Hank. Hank loves all women, but can he fall for someone else? I thought that last season Jill (Diane Farr) stood a solid chance of drawing Hank’s eye from Karen, but that didn’t work. Could Sasha do the unthinkable? I’m kind of hoping she can. By the way, I loved Hank’s line to Sasha after she learned that Hank had slept with her mother, about how he’s “really good at compartmentalizing.” He knows just what to say, doesn’t he?

But that was the end of the good. Marcy’s having her baby, and it sounds like she might be having it with Charlie … and Stu (Stephen Tobolowsky). Aside from the fact that it feels very Grey’s Anatomy, what? Why would anyone wish to not only punish an innocent baby with Marcy for a mother, but also make us suffer through a pregnant, hormonal Marcy? I’ve never been anti the Runkles, but I’m beginning to understand where that camp’s coming from.

And what in the world’s going on with Charlie? His sexual exploits are getting more and more difficult to endure … and that’s assuming you can understand how all of a sudden, now that he’s looking to sleep with another eighty women, women are flocking to him. Granted Peggy the real estate agent (Melissa Stephens) was a bit sick in the head, but I still don’t understand why she’d ever bother with a guy like Charlie.

I don’t really want to spend any time on Becca, but I have to ask: what’s going on with Becca? Nothing about her evolution makes sense, is organic, or is intriguing. From the broader perspective of the series’ story, why does Hank need to waste his time on her nonsense?

So where is the last third of the season going? First of all, I think I see a reconciliation coming between Charlie and Marcy. Between their house falling out of escrow, Marcy keeping the baby, and Charlie never reaching his goals — in this case to sleep with one hundred women — I think the show will patch the Runkles up as one of the most screwed up couples in history.

Something terrible is going to happen to Becca, which may or may not be the call that finally wakes Hank up. But will it succeed in bringing Hank and Karen back together? I don’t think so. I think Karen will move on, if not with Ben (Michael Ealy) then with someone else. But will Hank be able to connect with another soul? And will the movie get off the ground, and if so will it put Hank back on solid footing?

All good questions. One thing Californication is not is predictable. Right now we’re heading down a road that none of us can see … the real question is, where’s it taking us to?

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Feb 28, 2011 @ 15:34 EST5EDT