Director: Scott Winant
Cast: David Duchovny (Hank Moody), Natascha McElhone (Karen Van Der Beek), Madeleine Martin (Rebecca), Madeline Zima (Mia), Evan Handler (Charlie), Rachel Miner (Dani), Damian Young (William "Bill" Cross), Amy Price-Francis (Meredith), Kathy Christopherson (Nikki Mandel), Robert Merrill (Jonathan Mandel) & Chris Williams (Todd Carr)
Hank ends up in jail after brawling with the director of his book adaptation, and then finds a new connection to Meredith. Meanwhile, Charlie discovers a naughtier side to his assistant Dani...
At the moment, Californication is one of those shows that I can't get terribly enthused about watching, despite its quality. That said, the moment I do watch, I'm very glad I did and it's very enjoyable. David Duchovny is a revelation for anyone who dismissed him as a mumbling pretty-boy chasing aliens, giving a charismatic performance as reckless lothario Hank Moody.
The Whore Of Babylon thankfully gets down to business, after two episodes of character moments drowning out much of a story. The short runtime doesn't allow Californication to become more than breezy incidents with a loose connection, but it's a style I'm finding easy to digest. Unlike many other shows, it doesn't outstay its welcome -- it's get in, have some fun with Hank, get out: just like how women treat the novel-writing Don Juan!
The opening scene has Hank brawling with Todd Carr (Chris Williams), the man who directed the crass film adaptation of his book, landing him in jail, only to be bailed out by his ex-wife's fiancé Bill (Damian Young) -- a character who finally grows a back-bone when Hank's belittles him once again.
This episode also involves a surprising return for Meredith (Amy Price-Francis), the woman Hank psychologically tore apart in the Pilot. After a chance meeting at a bar, it's not long before Meredith becomes another notch on the bedpost for Hank, and inspires him to steal back her beloved dog Cat Stevens – who was mistaken for a gift by her married lover's wife.
With Californication in grave danger of becoming The Hank Moody Show, it's nice to see Hank's agent Charlie (the great Evan Handler) given an interesting subplot. Here, he sacks his incompetent assistant Dani (Rachel Miner), only to retract her dismissal when he discovers provocative photos of her on the internet...
It's a funny and sexually quirky idea, but it becomes even more amusing when Charlie realizes Dani loves domination – and is later only too willing to become his naughty secretary in need of a good spanking...
Overall, I'm really enjoying Californication at the moment, mainly because of Duchovny's superb performance and the refreshing treatment of sex. But I'm yet to be totally enslaved by its cheeky/dirty charms – because, once you take away Hank and the sex scenes – it's a fairly standard relationship drama about a fractured family.
It's Sex & The City for straight men, but without all the pretentious twaddle and a character you believe might actually exist -- and appeals to both sexes.
25 October 2007
Five, 10.00 pm
Cast: David Duchovny (Hank Moody), Natascha McElhone (Karen Van Der Beek), Madeleine Martin (Rebecca), Madeline Zima (Mia), Evan Handler (Charlie), Rachel Miner (Dani), Damian Young (William "Bill" Cross), Amy Price-Francis (Meredith), Kathy Christopherson (Nikki Mandel), Robert Merrill (Jonathan Mandel) & Chris Williams (Todd Carr)
Hank ends up in jail after brawling with the director of his book adaptation, and then finds a new connection to Meredith. Meanwhile, Charlie discovers a naughtier side to his assistant Dani...Hank: You looking for a dick punch?
Bill: Do you want to punch me in the dick?
Hank: I kinda do, yeah. But standing here talking about it is beginning to sound pretty gay.
At the moment, Californication is one of those shows that I can't get terribly enthused about watching, despite its quality. That said, the moment I do watch, I'm very glad I did and it's very enjoyable. David Duchovny is a revelation for anyone who dismissed him as a mumbling pretty-boy chasing aliens, giving a charismatic performance as reckless lothario Hank Moody.
The Whore Of Babylon thankfully gets down to business, after two episodes of character moments drowning out much of a story. The short runtime doesn't allow Californication to become more than breezy incidents with a loose connection, but it's a style I'm finding easy to digest. Unlike many other shows, it doesn't outstay its welcome -- it's get in, have some fun with Hank, get out: just like how women treat the novel-writing Don Juan!
The opening scene has Hank brawling with Todd Carr (Chris Williams), the man who directed the crass film adaptation of his book, landing him in jail, only to be bailed out by his ex-wife's fiancé Bill (Damian Young) -- a character who finally grows a back-bone when Hank's belittles him once again.
This episode also involves a surprising return for Meredith (Amy Price-Francis), the woman Hank psychologically tore apart in the Pilot. After a chance meeting at a bar, it's not long before Meredith becomes another notch on the bedpost for Hank, and inspires him to steal back her beloved dog Cat Stevens – who was mistaken for a gift by her married lover's wife.
With Californication in grave danger of becoming The Hank Moody Show, it's nice to see Hank's agent Charlie (the great Evan Handler) given an interesting subplot. Here, he sacks his incompetent assistant Dani (Rachel Miner), only to retract her dismissal when he discovers provocative photos of her on the internet...
It's a funny and sexually quirky idea, but it becomes even more amusing when Charlie realizes Dani loves domination – and is later only too willing to become his naughty secretary in need of a good spanking...
Overall, I'm really enjoying Californication at the moment, mainly because of Duchovny's superb performance and the refreshing treatment of sex. But I'm yet to be totally enslaved by its cheeky/dirty charms – because, once you take away Hank and the sex scenes – it's a fairly standard relationship drama about a fractured family.
It's Sex & The City for straight men, but without all the pretentious twaddle and a character you believe might actually exist -- and appeals to both sexes.
25 October 2007
Five, 10.00 pm
