Episode One- 3

Episode tw0-3

Epsisde three-4

Episode four-5

Episode 5-5

Episode six-4

Episode 7-5

Episode Eight-3

Episode Nine- 4

Episdoe ten- 4

Episode Eleven- 3

 Episode twelve-5

Many of the episodes got between a three and a five. There wasn’t a show where I was extremely bored, or did not have interest by the storyline and plot. The best and most entertaining episode has to be the last one. I guess its true when they say they save the best for last. It is my favorite episode because it had the funniest moment out the season. This is the episode where Sonja gave birth to a black baby. Hank is  ecstatic and so content by this revelation that he even kisses Julian; who has became his arch enemy. Hnak is screaming out ” Thank god, that baby is black. I was scared for a minute there.” This is the episode where the funeral of Lew Ashby has taken place which is a sadder moment of the season. I also like the fact that it didn’t end with a fairytale ending. hank and Karen split to go their separate ways. This brings the up the question; will Hank and Karen reunite by seaon three. The producer leaves you on a cliffhanger. The last episode was my favorite.

           I am stepping out my normal comfort zone when I view this show. I have never seen this show prior to this class participating project. Besides, I don’t have a prescription for Showtime so it’s difficult to be constant viewer. However, after watching the season two, I have become a fanatic. I even watched the previous season to have a better understanding of the plot and some of the more complicated scenes that involved characters from previous episodes. I’ve also began watching season three with the help of internet access. I would have never even thought about this show had it not been for this assignment. Actually, I use the internet to view most of the episodes because the DVD was not available at the local blockbuster.

          Californication is an American comedy drama that premiered with its first season on August 13, 2007. The show was created by Tom Kapinos and the main location is set in California. Californication is a term used for the west coast state of mind and lifestyle. It’s also known as the communication of Californians. The show actually got it’s name from a Red Hot Chilli Pepper’s album of the same title. The premiere episode of season 2 aired September 28, 2008 and lasted until December 2008. This show is about an author named Hank Moody who is played by actor David Duchovny. Hank Moody is famed novelist from New York who moves to Los Angeles to raise his teenage daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin), along with the mother of his child Karen (Natascha McElhome). He has a best friend and booking agent name Charlie ( Evan Handler) who is married to a drug addict name Marcy (Pamela Adlon) and has a client name Daisy (Carla Gallo). Some of the recurring characters include Sonja(Paula Marshall) and her love interest Julian(Angus MacFadyen), along with Damien(Ezra Miller) who is Becca’s boyfriend. Hank lives in Los Angeles where he enjoys all the vices of life especially the sex, drugs, and money. Karen who is fed up with Hank’s immaturity, decides to move to New York for a job opportunity leaving Hank and Becca alone in Venice. In this season Hank’s main objective is to finish the memoirs of a famous rock and roll musician name Lew Ashby (Callum Keith Renne) who dies in the end of season from a drug overdose.

         In order to understand my point of view of the season two, I must give you a summary of what happened in season one. In this season, Hank releases a book called God Hates Us All, which is commercially popular and makes him famous. It deals with Hank self-loathing about life choices and his past relationship with Karen; who is planning to marry a man name Bill (Damien Young). During the season Hank sleeps with Bill’s sixteen year old daughter Mia (Madeline Zima). Mia blackmails Hank by threaten him to expose the truth of them having sex, by forcing Hank to write short stories for her creative writing class. After the death of his father, Hank goes on an alcoholic binge and decided to relocate to New York to finish his novel. Hank however loses the original copy, which ended up in Mia’s hand. In season two, Mia reaps the benefits by passing the novel as her own. In the end of the season, Karen gets cold feet, and decides she wants to marry Hank and not Bill. Hank, Becca, and Karen leave the wedding reception a happy family.

    I feel the relevance of the show has to deal with a rock star’s lifestyle. The underlying theme of this show is sex and drugs. Sex and drugs are the main theme. Every episode is evolved around sex. Every episode has a sex scene as well as consequential actions of infidelity. Hank and Ashby are the two prime examples of these sex escapades where they would both sleep with numerous women and not feel self-conscious about their actions. Charlie produces an adult film called “Vaginatown” which stars his client Daisy. Marcy is a licensing message therapist who works closely with stripers and adult entertainers. Even Becca has a boyfriend name Damien who wounding up cheating on her at Mia’s book release party.

 It does not relate to my life at all. I had trouble relating to the characters and what were they underlying message. One message I did take from this is that drugs ruin lives and that anybody dependent on these drugs are headed towards a destructive path. Ashby suffered three overdoses before he passed away. Ashby never took overdosing as a serious threat and would usually snort again hours after one. Marcy spent Charlie’s whole life savings in six months due to a drug binged. Marcy ended up reinstating herself in rehab again. She needs to take advantage of the twelve step program provided.

      I like the show when it was concentrated on Marcy and Charlie relationship along with the third wheel name Daisy. Those were the funniest and most dramatic moments of the show. My favorite moment of the show occured in the last cepisode, when Sonja gave birth to a black baby. Hank is so ecstatic  that he hugs and kisses Julian. I also liked the show when Ashby and Hank   compete for women as throphies. Ashby sleeps with Mia and Hank gets so jealous that they have an altercation and it wasn’t the first. Both men  cannot brush their ego for other’s feelings.

       The part I disliked was the awkwardness of some of the situations. It didn’t seem realistic to me at all. The fact that Karen catches Hank in infidelity every episode and doesn’t go insane is disappointing. At least let her have an affair. Karen playing this role of an angel is too unbelievable for me. After all, she did leave holy matrimony to reconcile things with Hank. It was hilarious but Hank could be more considerate.

             The outside influences that affected this season in particular in Hollywood and the pornographic industry. Most of the show gave you an inside look of the industry. I felt an emotional connection with Daisy. She’s like a slut with a heart. It proves that a job is not your personal life. Most of scenes dealt with excessive partying with hookers and protitutes, to numerous sex sequences, such as when Hank had oral sex by mistake.

The major development I saw the most was between Hank and Charlie. These two keep the show afloat. We see that Hank is not only a mascunnist. He truly cares about Karen and what happens to her as a person. Hank is not about sex all the time. We realize that any business Charlie is in is bound for disaster. He was not exactly the perfect fit to be Daisy’s manager. I learned that Charlie is very emotional. I could never fall in love with a porno star but this is only my opinion.

My favorite episode was exactly the one where Charlie is the “stunt cock” for his featured presentation. What made this my favorite is Marcy’s encouragement. She gives Charlie the motivation to perform.I rewinded that particular scene maybe three times.  

             My least favorite was the last episode. It left me wanting more from the show. Also its my least favorite because Ashby passes away, which is a sad moment for the series.

This show reminds me of Entourage, except without the entourage. Entourage is my favorite show mainly because of the storylines and plots.  Californication has a similiar plot structure,c as well as a character base. We could also compare this show to “Hung” due to the sex element for both shows.

                         California is the perfect place to demonstrate the adult film lifestyle because it is home to Hollywood, but also it is home to Van Nuys; the zip code of pornography. This is where most adult films are produced and where the famous celebrities are located.

                           I feel that Damien is a younger version of Hank. He is not even regretful for cheating on Becca. If I were Hank, i would of punched Damien in the face. As you know by now, certain situations in this season make me upset and even angry.

                       What ends up happening to Charlie is hysterical. He went from porn director to a sales associate at a car dealership.He went from riding a Bentley to riding a bus. From getting laid with porno stars, to masturbating to his own tape. Charlie even begs for Marcie back  I call this the fall from grace. Oh look! Sonja is now having the baby. Why is Julian crying? He looks like an obese Picasso.

                      LOL. This is the funniest episode ever. I can’t believe the baby is black. Hank is so ecstatic he gives a fist pump. Julian is vomiting everywhere. Julian has the nerve to say it look like his.

                 I can’t believe Daisy has just entered the party with her date Romney, who looks like a Brazilian model. Why is he getting jealous in front of Marcie. What an idiot for losing his emotions. “Are you fucking my man?” I think she even know the answer.Girlfight! This is entertaining. hank didn’t have to let off the shotgun. let the girls fight.

           Ashby is showing that he appreciates Hank’s art of work by criticizing the book. Did Ashby try to kiss Karen in front of Hank? Where is the loyalty and respect in these relationships.

   Ashby is sweating bullets. At least he is admitting his faults and revealing in depth about the horrible things he’s done. Ashby has now experienced another overdose. Is he going to die? I hope not, and he better slow down, because his lifestyle is reckless.

                  He has a lypnote on his penis! No more sex for Hank for a while. He is so nervous and he wants to get drunk. Hold the phone! Karen is pregnant! It is the baby epidemic! One question I want to know is who baby is it? She just went out on a date with Ashby. Did my eyes and ears deceive me or is this really happening? Hank is now fathering two children and is incapable of giving Karen a reasonable answer for keeping the baby. i feel Karen is going to divorce the baby because Hank is immature and too unpredictable. He can’t even be a responsible father to Becca. There’s a product that could have prevented this mishap, which has been around for at least hundred years. It’s called condoms and it is cheap. The number one brand is Trojan. They both need more therapy sessions.

                          Why is Charlie begging Daisy to move out. Daisy is comfortable with the situation and doesn’t want to be involved with this love affair. if  I were in his position I would keep this arraignment. Why not? We could live like the Mormons without the religion. Charlie needs to grow some testicles. Charlie is very passive but also loyal.

             What is keeping me interested in the show is the scenes is Charlie, Marcy and Daisy. I like how Charlie has played the position of being Daisy’s daddy. That’s evident when a man wants to take Daisy on a date. Charlie is extremely jealous and is falling madly in love. However how would want to casually date a porn star.  I know Charlie wouldn’t mind. having romantic moments watching “Dirty Dancing.” he misses Marcy with all his heart. Also he cannot dance.

        Now Hank is on a date with this hot looking model when he runs into his baby mother at Jullian’s gallery. At least he play’s it cool, like the other side of the pillow. He goes to lunch and his date is flirting with Jullian. i would have punched him in the face, but then again, i’m kind of insecure. Are you crazy? Having group sex with a pregnant woman and a free-spirited man. Are they swinger without a marriage license? Is this normal? Why is he passing on sex? I wouldn’t care if she were married. That’s even more of a turn on. help you see the sneaky  side of woman.

Ashby is showinghis romantic side towards Karen and i could even say he is a gentleman.The music is also very soothing and sexual. I think he might play the game right and get to home plate. This is going to not go well with Hank. Happy ending though, as hank and Karen make love.

Episode 1: D  Episode 2:B Episode 3:B Episode 4:BEpisode 5:B Episode 6:A  Episode 7:C Episode 8:C

                                           As for episode eight, I would rate this a B. We are now getting into the climax of the drama. Hank is now an investigative journalist and wants to know certain truths he feels Ashby hasn’t revealed to him. To me I think Ashby is a lonely rocker who needs a wife. Mia and Ashby look like a great couple and Hank is so sarcastic, joking about her singing. Ashby is a child molester and he really is pathetic. I like his response to Karen, ‘when I met her, I thought she was 19″. If I were Hank, i would have had a physical altercation already.

                  We see Charlie succumb to temptation and have passionate sex with Daisy again. I think Charlie and Daisy are falling in love. The question I ask myself is how do you fall in love with a porn star? I would never have a monogamous relationship with a porn actress. Maybe to have sex, but not as a wife. At least Marcy is comfortable with the situation. i wouldn’t even consider it cheating. She even calls herself a whore. She is even giving him lessons on cock control.

Hank is now cool to me by smoking weed with the maid. His spanish doesn’t even translate in spanish. I wouldn’t even consider it spanlish. Don’t pick up the phone!

Also, why do i feel Marcy is going to relapse or end up missing in action.

                              I also sense the tension between Ashby and Hank. Why is Hank questioning Ashby about sleeping with Mia. Now i’m starting to think Hank is conceited. He fakes an accident to get a woman’s number. Jamie Jones. She is the most beautiful supporting actress so far. It’s ironic that the english teacher is the boyfriend of Becca.                     

           Who Hank is disgusting. I would never have sex with a woman who is active on her menstrual cycle. I think I have to vomit. Damien is so shocked! ” You just fucked my mom.”    

           I could never imagine Charlie and Marcy being parents. I would never want to be a child living in this dysfunctional family. However, Daisy would make a great daughter. They should change their names to Charlie and Marcy Hefner. She spent the emergency fund on cocaine, that’s not a secret, it’s expected. Now Marcy is in rehab.

                       Another memorable line; ” You left my dick in the cold without shelter.” This is the reason for sleeping with Damien’s mother. Hank need therapy as soon as possible. Now he is pressured not to have sex with the money for the sake of the kids. At least the episode ends with a happy moment.

                             I believe Hank and Karen will eventually reunite and enjoy life in holy matrimony. It’s inevitable because Hollywood and the audience would like a happy ending. Charlie will be unsuccessfully as an adult entertainment agent, however Daisy will become the headliner and a superstar in the pornographic industry. Marcy will end up in a rehab program. Becca will end up having sex with her new boyfriend or turning lesbian. Either one is acceptable. I really don’t recommend the gothic lifestyle. Hank and Ashby will probably have some type of falling out. I could see them having a minor disagreement leading to a series of altercations. I have a feeling it’s going to be over a woman. Both of these men have full blown egos.

                            As for episode six,I notice that sex is the main theme of the show. This episode is no different. My favorite scenes in this episode are the ones dealing with “Vaginatown.” They make pornography almost seem too professional. Loosen up. These people need to be relaxed. “WE are creating erotic art.” Are they serious? I would have had sex with three or four girls already. Anyway, Daisy need some bigger breast. Daisy is right, “why does it have to be a guilty pleasure?”  Charlie participates in the scene with Daisy as a “stunt cock. This is classic, but very disturbing. “I’m doing this for us.” Why couldn’t Marcy be my girlfriend. Wow! He lasted only sixty seconds, and his woman watched.

                        As for Hank, he is such a player. He is so smooth and is over confident.