California Son is the high point of Californication's first year, mainly because of its fearless portrayal of the lowest aspects of Hank Moody's character. It's bold, it's outrageous, and of course it's incredibly hilarious.
Just how low do you think a guy like Hank can sink? Well, how about this: after hearing his father Al (Mark Margolis) has passed away, he flat out refuses to go to the funeral. Okay, so he and the old man weren't on the best of the terms (the only one who always got along with him was Karen), but still - it doesn't justify going to bed with a prostitute (especially when you don't have the money to pay her).
The episode moves freely between flashbacks of Al Moody's rare visits to L.A. and people's memories about him in the present. Margolis is a great presence, his determination acting as a clear counterbalance to the more decadent approach to life Duchovny's character has, but it's the today section that really stands out, highlighting just how unbearably (and amusingly) flawed the show's sex-driven protagonist really is. Furthermore, what's not to love about dialogue like Hank and Charlie's conversation about Al? "He was a good man." "No, he wasn't. He used to say you looked like a walking penis.". Priceless
Just how low do you think a guy like Hank can sink? Well, how about this: after hearing his father Al (Mark Margolis) has passed away, he flat out refuses to go to the funeral. Okay, so he and the old man weren't on the best of the terms (the only one who always got along with him was Karen), but still - it doesn't justify going to bed with a prostitute (especially when you don't have the money to pay her).
The episode moves freely between flashbacks of Al Moody's rare visits to L.A. and people's memories about him in the present. Margolis is a great presence, his determination acting as a clear counterbalance to the more decadent approach to life Duchovny's character has, but it's the today section that really stands out, highlighting just how unbearably (and amusingly) flawed the show's sex-driven protagonist really is. Furthermore, what's not to love about dialogue like Hank and Charlie's conversation about Al? "He was a good man." "No, he wasn't. He used to say you looked like a walking penis.". Priceless