Californication – Prepare for the worstest

My apologies to all of you who’ve been waiting for a forum to discuss Sunday night’s verdict in Hank Moody’s statutory rape trial, but it’s taken me this long just to put my thoughts together in a cohesive manner.

I can’t say that I was surprised at the guilty verdict, or even that I expected anything different — for all intents and purposes Hank is guilty. The law is designed to not allow for the argument that “I didn’t know,” because if it did there’d be no prosecuting anyone other than seventeen and eighteen year-olds who slept with their younger girlfriends. The law is written as best as it can be.

So I suppose it’s the sentencing where other factors can be taken into consideration. The question is, what’s to be considered in Hank’s case? Is it reasonable to assume that he knew Mia from that drunken encounter? Are we to believe that he was out to hurt Bill in revenge for Karen? Or is this a reasonable case of “I couldn’t have known,” where Mia, looking very adult, aggressively pursued a man who has a weakness for all things female? And even so, what type of punishment should Hank receive?

But I’m not even there yet. In fact, it would make sense to me for Hank to go to prison in the season finale, and then to get out in time for next season with a slew of new material to explore with his talent. No, my problem is this: has the protagonist in our story really just become a convicted statutory rapist?

I know it’s semantics, because he did the deed long ago, but Hank looked a little different to me after the verdict was read than before. I’ve always been a Hank fan, despite his very Hank nature, but this seems like a lot to swallow. How are we meant to handle this twist as an audience?

I don’t think anyone in Hank’s life knew quite how to handle the news either, and I enjoyed watching Hank with the significant people in his life as he hung in a sort of purgatory, his guilt decided but his fate as yet not. It was clear that Charlie will always be Hank’s biggest fan no matter what.

The uncertainty really lies with Karen and Becca. Sure, Becca will always be Hank’s daughter, and I believe Hank will never let her slip away, but Karen has the chance to get out. And I think that’s Hank’s chance to escape as well; Karen’s right in saying that Hank doesn’t want Karen anymore, meaning the life that comes with being with her. Hank needs to be spinning out of control, and settling down isn’t something he’s looking to try again. The best thing for Hank — and for Karen — would be for Karen to metaphorically disappear into the night while Hank’s away paying for his misdeed.

Which brings me to my message for the Hank that found himself about to sleep with Karen for one last time: if ever Hank was to exhibit some self-control, that’d be the moment to do it. It’ll be sadder to be together for that last time and know it then to just have your happy memories and the tiny hope that somewhere down the road you’ll get your last time, even if it never actually happens.

I think if Hank has to knowingly say goodbye to Karen, it might break him.

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Mar 22, 2011 @ 14:00 EST5EDT