Writer: Daisy Gardner
Director: Michael Lembeck
Cast: David Duchovny (Hank Moody), Natascha McElhone (Karen Van Der Beek), Madeleine Martin (Rebecca), Madeline Zima (Mia), Evan Handler (Charlie), Damian Young (William "Bill" Cross), Rachel Miner (Dani), John Scarangello (Hollywood Jerk), Chris Williams (Todd Carr), Camille Langfield (Sandy Carr), Amy Price-Francis (Meredtih), Robert Merrill (Jonathan Mandel) & Kathy Christopherson (Nikki Mandel)
Director: Michael Lembeck
Cast: David Duchovny (Hank Moody), Natascha McElhone (Karen Van Der Beek), Madeleine Martin (Rebecca), Madeline Zima (Mia), Evan Handler (Charlie), Damian Young (William "Bill" Cross), Rachel Miner (Dani), John Scarangello (Hollywood Jerk), Chris Williams (Todd Carr), Camille Langfield (Sandy Carr), Amy Price-Francis (Meredtih), Robert Merrill (Jonathan Mandel) & Kathy Christopherson (Nikki Mandel)
Meredith convinces Hank to escort her to an environmental fundraiser. Coincidentally, Bill and Karen are at the same event -- and Karen makes a scene...Becca: Do you remember what you used to do for me when I couldn't sleep?
Hank: Dose you with opiates?
Becca: No. Look at the ocean and count mermaids.
Hank: I did do that. I'm a better father than I thought.
Fear And Loathing At The Fundraiser is less hectic than previous episodes, essentially focusing on one event and featuring practically no bed-hopping antics for Hank (David Duchovny). For now, he's dating Meredith (Amy Price-Francis), who drags him to an environmental fundraiser, primarily to make a married man jealous – which Hank doesn't really mind that much.
As luck would have it, Hank's ex-wife Karen (Natascha McElhone) is at the same event with fiancé Bill (Damian Young), and reveals an interesting new vibe to her character – visually in evidence with a tattoo on her left shoulder blade. Here, Karen brashly stands up for herself when a man bumps into her and calls her the c-word. Bill is eager to avoid making a scene, whereas Karen is more interested in getting an apology from the foulmouthed creep.
It's the first clear evidence that Karen and Bill have very different ways of dealing with life, with Karen's attitude much closer to Hank's. Indeed, when Hank learns about what happened, he immediately punches the creep.
As usual, most of the episode's enjoyment comes from watching super-confident Hank glide around between people, spitting out quips. Like House, the show rests almost entirely on the shoulders of its lead (perhaps more so, as there's little life-and-death drama anywhere). Duchovny makes for an immensely likable and suave lead, but Hank isn't someone you'd really want to trade places with. Well, not forever.
The only other recurring plot so far revolves around Charlie (Evan Handler) who has been developing his naughty relationship with Dani (Rachel Miner), who here strips to deliver paperwork in her teeth and later becomes Charlie's personal lingerie-clad model for an impromptu office photo-shoot. It's little more than cheeky fun, deflated when Hank catches them red-handed.
After the opening episodes sketched Hank as a sex-obsessed playboy, the recent episodes have begun to give him more refinement. He seems like a good friend to have (a shoulder to cry on), stands up for those he loves (Karen) and his relationship with daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin) is surprisingly tender.
So yes, at the moment Californication is doing a decent job, although the lack of a major plot (beyond the Hank/Karen/Bill/Mia love.. square?) could soon become an issue. At the moment, it's just pleasant to watch Duchovny, McElhone and Handler do their stuff, helped along by the zingy dialogue, inherent sauciness, and nudity...
But that could become a little stale unless Hank's given something meatier to grapple with, and not just opine the fact he's writing a blog (ooh, the very idea!) and waltz through scenes being smooth.
1 November 2007
Five, 10.00 pm
