Filthy Lucre (8 Oct. 2007)

Things seem to be looking up for Hank. He has finally written something and he receives a fat bonus check.

Director:

Scott Z. Burns

Writers:

Tom Kapinos (creator), Ildy Modrovich

Stars:

David Duchovny, Natascha McElhone, Madeleine Martin

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
David Duchovny	...	Hank Moody
Natascha McElhone	...	Karen
Madeleine Martin	...	Becca Moody
Madeline Zima	...	Mia Lewis
Evan Handler	...	Charlie Runkle
Pamela Adlon	...	Marcy Runkle
Brigitte Bako	...	Car Dealer
Rachel Miner	...	Dani
Damian Young	...	Bill Lewis
Ronnie Gene Blevins	...	Guitar Center Employee
Johnny D'Agostino	...	Rocker Dude
Lou Fusaro	...	Ferrari Guy
Sara Wells	...	Girl with Ferrari Guy
Luis Moncada	...	Carjacker
Alicia Sixtos	...	Girl with Carjacker (as Alicia Marie Sixtos)

Storyline

Hank comes back from his father's funeral and it turns out he has actually written something! Just like in the good old days, he wants Karen to read and judge it, but she's reluctant to do so. Hank gets a windfall: The terrible movie based on his book has made a nice amount of money and Hank now gets his share. He buys himself a brand new car and Becca a new guitar. Hank's boss Charlie is over the moon when Hank tells him he wrote something again and feels that if Hank can do it, he too can get his act together. Charlie therefore wants to surprise Marcy with champagne and his apologies for his behavior lately. However, Marcy doesn't react the way Charlie thought she would.

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Plot Keywords:

family relationships | los angeles california | writer | father daughter relationship

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 2007 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Aggressive Mediocrity, And Then..., Showtime Networks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

29 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Hank and Karen get home and Becca finishes playing, she runs to greet her parents, but there is no guitar cable plugged in the guitar.

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Quotes

Hank Moody: Sometimes, it's best not to get involved in the affairs of others.
Becca Moody: That's interesting, coming from the most intrusive man I know.

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Connections

References The Oprah Winfrey Show (1986)

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Soundtracks

"That Kind Of Man"
by The Heavy

User Reviews

Time to lighten up

Given the huge emotional content of the previous episode, it was fair to assume Filthy Lucre would have a more joyous tone. And indeed it does: why would Hank want to sulk after finally managing to sleep with Karen for the first time in years?

The story kicks off with Hank's return to L.A. after the old man's funeral. He's very happy since he has, at last, produced a new manuscript, and insists Karen read it before he hands it over to Charlie. In the meantime, he receives a fat bonus paycheck, of which he takes advantage to get a new car for himself and a new guitar for Becca (bonding's important, you know?). As for Charlie, the threesome from the previous episode has unexpected effects when Marcy tells him she's embarking on a lesbian relationship with Dani.

Aside from the usual character quirks, which emerge in all their charm, Filthy Lucre sets in motion a subplot which will define the rest of the season (if you paid attention to the Mia scenes in the last few episodes, it's pretty obvious), a fact confirmed by the charmingly downbeat ending - a bittersweet sequence that reminds us how big a lovable loser Hank can be. There's no beating that guy.