Strippers, professors, and assistants – for Hank Moody that’s not just role play

The real estate market is a fickle beast, so when you get lucky enough to find and fall in love with something that’s already been built, you pounce on it. In fact, it’s such an unlikely scenario that you should realize just how lucky you are. So why is it that one insignificant little thing will always tank the deal?

I’m not saying that the clogged toilet off of Marcy and Charlie’s master bedroom was a pretty sight, but to be the breaking point for a couple who’d been back repeatedly to check out what was clearly their dream house too? We accept mates with more flaws than we allow our properties to have. Also, the couple’s not being turned off might have forestalled the Runkles from reuniting, so it would have been good for them and for us. Stupid erratic consumers.

This was another strong episode. Funny, interesting, and I love both Jill (Diane Farr) and Felicia (Embeth Davidtz). The characters are strong, the actresses are talented, both play great opposite Hank, and I really like all the potential for both romance and love triangle drama that lies with each of them. It’ll be a little creepy if Felicia starts helping out with Becca for real — Hank and Felicia hanging out with their daughters while she cheats on her husband with Hank? I mean, he’s done worse many times before, but talk about awkward….

What I don’t understand is Jackie (Eva Amurri). Yes, she’s a student, a stripper, whatever. That’s actually beside the point for me. I just don’t like her, I don’t think she adds anything, and I honestly don’t find her particularly attractive. In fact, I’m having a hard time finding any plausible reason whatsoever as to why Hank would be interested in her, other than the fact that he wants all women. But is that enough of a reason when he’s juggling two others and a third in New York?

I did really enjoy the scene at the end of the episode where all three took their seats in his classroom; admittedly, it wouldn’t have had the same effect if there were only two (I also thought that all three would put their legs up on their desks and be, well, feeling a breeze). But otherwise I wish Jackie would get dropped. I’m not interested — though I realize that their relationship may have more consequences than the one with Felicia — and I’m concerned that she will steal focus from the Jill and Felicia plots.

I won’t lie and say that Jackie’s scenes didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the episode, but beyond her screen time I found this fourth episode to be living up to its predecessors. Californication really is one of the finest shows on television today. I know it would never get the creative freedom it enjoys were it not on a network like Showtime, but it’s a shame that that results in a limited audience.

Could Californication make the leap to mass audiences like Dexter and The Sopranos before it? I actually think the depravity may be more extreme when it comes to Hank, but you never know. With a show as great as this, it certainly might be worth a try.

Anyway, what do you think about Hank’s current love life?

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Oct 18, 2009 @ 22:30 EST5EDT