Californication – Charlie got what he deserved

Tonight I’ve found myself doing a lot of thinking about where plots are going. Californication lends itself to such examinations just as much as anything else. Where is the show going?

Okay, so here’s what I’ve come up with. In truth, every season has been some sort of growth experience for Hank, even if the actual growth has been indecipherable. What did he learn from the rape trial? Honestly, I think he finally learned that he and Karen were over for good. So everything has a life lesson in it for Hank.

This time around I think it’ll be Tyler who teaches Hank a thing or two. The jury, however, is still out on what.

The obvious guess is that it will have something to do with Becca, like teaching Hank that his little girl is her own person now. But Hank knows that already, and anyway, the lessons have always been about him. Think back for a moment to something that Karen said about Tyler, which Hank brushed aside: Tyler is very much like a young Hank.

So let’s assume that that’s the case. Tyler’s about to get his first exposure to fame: he’s got a script that’ll get sold soon enough, and he’s been hired to replace Hank as the on-set writer for Samurai’s “Santa Monica Cop.” Even better, Tyler has the exact same agent that Hank did way back when. And Tyler, like Hank, is “committed” to his lady love.

You know where this is going: Tyler’s about to buy his own hype and cheat on Becca in some major way. And it’ll break her little heart into a million pieces. Oh, Hank will go after Tyler — or sic Sam on him — for hurting his little girl, but more than that Hank will have an out-of-body experience, seeing firsthand just what his behavior did to Karen.

Of course that still leaves the question of growth, as in, will Hank experience growth from this experience? I think yes. I think going forward we’re going to see a Hank who settles into a friend and co-parent zone with Karen. He already knows they’re through, but he’s never altered his behavior towards her; I don’t think he’s ever been able to fully conceptualize how much he hurt her that first time. But watching his daughter experience the same will get him there. It’ll be brutal, but in the long run it will be the best for all involved.

I’m disappointed in Charlie. He’s never been much of a man in his own life, but he’s always had Hank’s back. In fact, knowing what we know about him I’m not sure I actually believe that Charlie would sign Tyler as a client after how adamantly Hank was against it. That’s worth at least one head scratch.

And the fraternity dares were too childish. I suppose it’s chuckle-worthy that Charlie got slapped in the face with a penis, but what’s wrong with both him and Tyler for getting into that situation in the first place? It’s a double standard, but that kind of behavior is just more acceptable when it’s Charlie and Hank.

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Mar 12, 2012 @ 01:44 EST5EDT