Californication: Hell-A-Woman
By fred | August 23, 2007
(S01E02) Another episode of this show, and basically it went the same way as its pilot, in both how the stories and characters evolved, or not, and the feeling you get as you watch the show, and the impression it left on you once it’s over.
But first off, let’s start with the opening credits. They weren’t good. I’m not saying they were bad, but they didn’t really capture the atmosphere of the show. Maybe it’ll grow on me with time, but the music wasn’t anything special and did not reflect either the tone or the flow of the show I thought, but it was ok. The pictures on the other hand weren’t on target either, it was closer to what you read on paper before watching it, than what you actually get on screen in the end.
While on the show Duchovny is great, light, funny, and portrays Hank perfectly, feels very natural and honest to himself ; on the credits it felt awfully forced and, on occasion, fake. Which really sucks, because on the show it’s quite the opposite, and that’s the reason the show is worth watching!
Just like you could fear from its premises, and pilot, what’s beneath the surface does not sound that interesting, and quite cliché even. So Hank is still in love with his ex, who’s now engaged of course. He wants her back, he’s a writer who can’t write, and quite of a jerk very often.
He has to deal with their daughter, his habits of diving into sex and drugs to forget about this problems, none of that sounds new. And when, by the end of this episode, he finally learns that the only offer he got, to blog for “Hell-A Magazine”, got him to work for the ex-girlfriend’s husband-to-be, who happens to own the magazine.
This opens up of course the possibility that I’m sure he’ll bring up soon, that she had her fiancé to send the offer, because she still loves him. Or so he will say.
No none of that feels very exciting, but who cares! It’s not what matters with this show, it’s not the “what”, its the “how”. We don’t care to whatch what Hank does, but how he does it. Watching him going through his messy life and trying to fix things up, or not, is quite enjoyable.
A little less clichés wouldn’t hurt, sure, like the two hands under the table, by two different girls. Only reason I put up with it was the (first) “happy ending” comment…
I know people farting or throwing up is older than television and not necessary funny, but I couldn’t help myself but laugh at Hank hiding his naked self behind the very expensive painting Bob, Bill, Billy Bob, whatever the fuck.. just bought, on which he throw up of course. And as everyone enters the room, the girl he was in bed with throw up too… it was just funny, really was.
Sure they get as many naked girls as they can, and if the stories could evolve into something else than boring clichés it would be much better, but as long as they keep the show’s flow that good, don’t take themselves seriously, and Duchovny keeps up his great performance, watching half an hour in the life of Hank every week is just a moment of fun.
Cause really, how could you not laugh at Hank telling his “blind date” that finding out her husband is gay wasn’t that bad, could have been worse, he could have been a.., scientologist.
And of course, she is one. Then Hank to add “Or a Nazi…”
Maybe the way he “met” with a good looking girl obsessed with surgery, and how it lead him to his first blog article might introduce how the episode will be constructed, hopefully they’ll keep things a bit more disorganized - just life Hank’s life is.
Either way, again by the end of the episode you just want to see more of Hank and his messed up life, and that’s the great thing about this show. To be honest, of the two shows on Showtime that night, while I love & enjoyed Weeds very much, I actually had a better time watching Californication !
Posted in Reviews
Shows: Californication
