Californication – Why’d Hank agree to hide in the bathroom?

I think we can all agree that it’s more than a little sad that the only place Hank has to turn to when his life is in shambles is his manager. In a lot of ways that pathetic existence reminds me of Larry David and Jeff on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

At the same time, Hank and Charlie are definitely friends, as are Larry and Jeff. One could even argue that Hank hasn’t made Charlie a dime in quite some time, so it must be friendship that keeps them together. Even so, must Hank be saddled with Charlie’s ex-wife who Charlie happens to still live with? Did any of us really need to experience a naked Hank waking up in bed with Marcy (thankfully nothing happened)? Naked Charlie climbing into bed too was kind of funny.

A chance encounter with Karen as Hank was picking up his disgusting excuse for a car put the plot this season into stark relief: Hank, up until now always looking to get back with Karen, will be looking to repair his relationship with daughter Becca. I call foul!

I’m not about to knock a guy’s kid, even though I’m not a fan of the Becca character as an individual. But what has always irked me about Becca is that she’s just another female in Hank’s life that he has to contend with. She’s never really had the back-and-forth with Hank that’s unique to child and parent — and that’s not because she’s “mature” or “deep.”

It’s funny that Hank alluded to this in his letter at the end of the episode, because I’ve always felt that it’s been Becca and Karen versus Hank all along. Becca loves Hank and does give him a lot of extra rope that only loved ones hand out to one another, but she’s also always judged him like a spouse or a significant other would. There’s a crucial element of the parent/child relationship that’s always been missing between them.

In the past that’s been irritating, like a tag at the back of your shirt that refuses to lie flat, but if the coming season centers around Hank trying to win her love back … there are only so many times that we need to suffer through their off relationship.

I loved the guest spot by Rob Lowe as actor Eddie Nero, who’s interested in playing the role of Hank opposite Sasha Bingham’s (Addison Timlin) Mia. Lowe was a little too over-the-top for my tastes, but talk about a good fit for the many different facets that make Hank Moody who he is.

I’ve never fully understood what it is that Hank thinks he’s above, or better yet what he thinks is beneath him. But I do get that he’s the artist who shan’t be sullied by Hollywood. But complaining about meeting with an “Oscar winner” and having sex with an attractive actress? Hank really needs to reconsider just how little effort he thinks it’s reasonable to expect to be able to get away with.

I’m not sure how the letter to Becca and the drugs and alcohol are going to be played out next week. My guess is everyone will see it as Hank screaming for help, a suicide attempt if we ever saw one. Personally I think it’s just Hank lacking impulse control. But ten bucks says it will be Hank’s inadvertent way back into Karen’s life….

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Jan 17, 2011 @ 18:49 EST5EDT