In this week's episode of Californication, Hank (David Duchovny) is a sad, sad clown. Both literally (he's in a clown costume) and metaphorically (he's feeling nostalgic for the simpler times of yesteryear).
Memories
Samurai Apocalypse (RZA) asks Hank to help Kali (Meagan Good) write lyrics to his surprisingly pretty piano melody. And there it is -- yet another totally contrived way of getting these two crazy kids in the same room. It's also a completely contrived way of introducing a series of flashbacks, because basically everything Kali says during their little lyric-writing session reminds Hank of the good old days with Karen (Natascha McElhone).
Like the Corners of My Mind
We get a bunch of memories -- via black-and-white flashback, of course. Hank and Karen buying their first house in California, Hank getting his first major job offer, Hank turning down an opportunity to have sex with a hot woman. Ah, how times have changed. Hank and Karen are both in dark sunglasses (you know, to make them look younger) and they're adorably wholesome and in love. This was before they turned into the morality-lacking insane people they are today.
The Golden State
In the final flashback, Hank tells Karen he wants to go back to New York, but she says no. We're clearly supposed to infer that it was that decision to stay in California that started all their problems. But I can't help but think it's Hank's utter immaturity and lack of any sense of personal responsibility that caused all their problems. Blaming California? Well, that's just a cop-out.
Decisions, Decisions
Kali confesses to Hank that her ex-boyfriend proposed to her the night before they met on the plane. But she snuck out of the house and went straight to the airport. She says she knew if she said yes, then her dreams would never come true. Yeah, she's totally living the dream -- stuck in a relationship and business partnership with a violent, gun-wielding, uber-possessive hip-hop artist.
Back to Basics
But for all the nostalgia of the episode, it wouldn't Californication without a little dose of infidelity: Hank and Kali have sex, and then Karen shows up at Hank's house in tears and tells him she made a terrible mistake in marrying Richard (Jason Beghe). And once again, Hank is caught between the woman he loves and the woman he is sleeping with.
What did you think of the flashbacks? Cheesy or enjoyable?
Best Lines:
"Everybody's got that special someone that gets under their skin and doesn't go away. I think maybe you have that particular fungal property for him."
--Hank to Kali, about SA.
"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way."
--Kali to Hank.
"I love L.A.! I love it, I meant it, I'm here to represent it."
--Hank, finding out that he can make a lot more money in L.A. than he did in New York.
"Maybe the truth is what you need to finish this song."
--Hank to Kali.
"Come on back to bed. Let's Californicate."
--Hank to Karen, in a flashback.
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