Why, oh why, must Hank be saddled with these dark daughter figures? From his own daughter, Becca, to “daughter” Mia, to new addition to the club Jackie (Eva Amurri), Hank has a hell of a lot of angst from the women he technically shouldn’t be sleeping with. I mean, I can see why he puts up with it from Becca, but the rest of them?
I know I’m assuming that Jackie’s going to be a problem, but the combination of student and stripper does not bode well for who she’s likely to become in Hank’s world. At least based on what we know of him so far.
Oh, did I not mention that Hank’s a professor now? My forgetfulness may have something to do with how unfulfilling Hank’s ascension to the position was: he simply was teaching (okay, texting) as the episode opened. But that missing story is all that’s disappointed me thus far in Californication’s latest season.
Chris Smith (Ed Westwick), also known as Balt (or as Chuck Bass, for those people who watch both shows — does such a person exist?) guested as a tormented student of Hank’s who writes crappy vampire nonsense. Just because the genre is overflowing with material right now doesn’t mean any of it’s actually good, my friend. Unfortunately for him, Balt is also particularly bad at writing, and his teacher is Hank, so attempted suicide was kind of inevitable, no? I love how unhelpful Hank’s advice is. He has a point — how do you teach a talent? — but it’s very Hank to not even hand out platitudes.
What’s going on with Becca these days? I always thought the show wrote her older than she was, and I was never clear on why she felt she “had” to parent Hank, but now she’s reversed hard in the other direction. Hank and Becca were always so close — could that have changed so fast? I mean, maybe … I don’t have teenagers. It just stuck out.
Way to steal Charlie’s gay experience story, Hank! I’m sure it comforted Balt in his time of need. Plus, I wonder who this Mike Metz fellow is, and where he might be today….
I spent the last nine months building Californication up to impossible heights in my mind. I was so worried about disappointing myself, even if the season was good. And yet in just two episodes, the show’s far exceeded my expectations!
I’ve always had a difficult time explaining to my wife just what I love about this show, because it’s something intangible about Hank that tops the list. He’s such a rich, wonderful, flawed, real character. His life is fantasy to us, but he’s authentic. And I think his life is fantasy to him, too. Does that make any sense?
This is an extremely quotable series. Some of the funniest from tonight:
“Have you taken the sexual harassment seminar yet?” – Felicia, after Hank says something offensive
[paraphrasing] “I’ll get my TA to take it for me online.… It’s like traffic school!” – Hank
“Has a woman ever punched you in the face?”- Jill to Hank (does she mean in the normal way, or the Mia kinky way?)
“I may be easy, but I am not sleazy.” – Hank … sure thing, buddy
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Oct 04, 2009 @ 22:30 EST5EDT
seeing ed westwick do a gay american rich kid is kinda funny because if i’m not mistaken chuck bass in the book is supposed to be gay. at least i think i read that back in the days when they didn’t know who the gay character on the show was going to be. yes, i watch both shows.
also here’s the dialog:
“have you taken the sexual harrasment seminar yet?” – felicia
“yeah i had jill take it for me online. what? it’s like traffic school.” – hank
*POST AUTHOR*
Thanks! I was too lazy to put in the effort. ;)
Hank’s not authentic. He’s a fantasy of a man who says any uncensored thing that pops into his mind. You can probably identify with him better than you wife because Hank expresses the kinds of promiscuous thoughts all men have. Women don’t think that way or so they don’t appreciate it. Hank’s character is the reason white lies were invented. A real Hank wouldn’t live a week in the real world if he unrepentantly insulted everyone around him, like he does on the show.
*POST AUTHOR*
I think you’re actually using a very narrow spectrum – and that’s a slice of what he does, not who he is – to say that. Nevertheless, I know enough people like Hank (yes, LIKE Hank) to say: he’s an authentic characterization, and very relatable. There are many people (male and female ;)) out there like him!