Californication 6.12 Review: I'll Lay My Monsters Down

Hank is torn over whether or not he should go on tour with Faith and Atticus, or stay in California and try and reunite with Karen. He arrives at Marcy's where she is showing off her wedding dress to Karen, and asks Karen's opinion on whether or not he should go. Understandably she tells him that they're no longer a part of each others lives and for Hank to consider her in his plans is redundant. Marcy is sad that they haven't reunited, explaining to them that her time in California has being one long mid-crisis but that she's tired of being unhappy all the time which is why her and Charlie are getting back together. On Atticus's plane, Atticus convinces Hank that if the two of them finish he musical on the tour hopefully the two of them will find love. Atticus's concert is undoubtedly crass, as we all knew it would, including a song called 'Right Between The Thighs'. He marries Charlie and Marcy on stage, and asks anyone else if they would like to get married. Hank proposes to Karen but she just smiles at him before Atticus asks everyone to leave the stage. I would say this is the smartest decision Katen has ever made in regards to her relationship with Hank, but the result remains to be seen until next season. Hank leaves with Atticus and Faith because of Karen's rejection, but while asleep on the tour bus he realises he has to go back for her. Faith is sad that Hank is leaving, but completely understands, as does Atticus. Crow drives Hank back to Karen's and the episode ends with him knocking on her door. A pretty uneventful episode for a season final, but it successfully wrapped by Atticus's and Faith's story lines while most obviously preparing for next season.

Rating: 3/5

Californication 6.11 Review: The Abbey

While initially well conceived by wanting to ensure Charlie maintains his job as Atticus's manager Hank and Faith's blatant attempt to destroy any chance of the rock star's sobriety were disheartening to watch, despite the fact anything Californication ever does is meant to be played for laughs. They use Richard Bates, who, by the way, is a very poor excuse for a creative writer teacher to distract Gabriel, sponsor at the rehab centre Happy Endings so that they can get to Atticus. If waving drugs in Atticus's face and using Becca to lie about being a fan of his wasn't enough, the return of the crazy sex addict patient and then Gabriel's own submission back onto drugs was just painful to watch.

Meanwhile, Opheila tries to reconcile with Marcie after having tasered Charlie and Stu. Opheila tells Marcie that she is in love with her and that she wants Marcie to be her first. Marcie declines and goes to leave but Ophelia tasers her. She manages to get a text to Charlie asking for help, but when he arrives Ophelia tasers him as well. Both awaken chained up in Ophelia house and tell one another that they're still in love with each other. Ophelia enters with gardening shears planning to cut off Charlie's penis. Marcie tricks her into thinking she'll do it instead and when Ophelia unites her, she tasers her. Despite Marcie's short foul mouthed speech about what it means to be a feminist this was a very predictable end to a bizarre and disturbing seasons long storyline that unfortunately dragged Marcie's character down quite a bit. Ultimately it was only a matter of time before a Charlie and Marcie reunion but it was a poor effort to Crete genuine feeling and character development out of it though.

Back at Hank's Charlie and Marcie announce they are to be remarried and Atticus, naturally being a minister, tells them he'll do in onstage at one of his concerts on tour. He invites Hank and Faith on the tour as well so that they can continue working in the musical. Afterwards Hank and Karen see Becca off on her literary pilgrimage. Once she has left Karen wonders if Becca was the only thing that was keeping her and Hank together, quite an emotionally poignant end to an otherwise crass episode. While we all know Hank and Karen will reunite at some stage whether or not we'll see it next episode remains to be seen and at least allows a little bit of substance to show through the show.

Rating: 2/5

Californication 6.2 Review: Quitters

While I'm still uncertain that Hank's time in the Happy Endings Rehabilitation Centre will do any good for his character in the long run, the new setting has undoubtedly allowed the show an interesting change of perspective. The necessary tragically hot young female that befriends Hank this season, Faith, has yet to sleep with him yet, but other than that, her usefulness throughout this season seems as if it will be pretty thin, particularly since she's already explained her backstory. Hank spent most of the episode being a sarcastic arse, but thankfully visits from Charlie, who is now a ‘gay-gent’ for Hollywood movie star Robbie Mac, and Becca, who has inherited her father’s unique ways in terms of discussing her sex life, kept things funny. I'm intrigued to see more Karen and Marcy interaction since they are now roommates, other than just them getting high, but I guess I'm going to have to wait. It looks like most of Karen's time will be taken up being interior designer for stereotypical rock-star Atticus Fetch, which at least will allow her character to be tied in nicely with Hank's 'professional' endeavours this season which is something the show hasn't done before. Marcy on the other hand seems to be having a hard time letting go of her cheating ex Stu, for which I am glad, because despite all the disturbing overzealous sex talk between them, I find the characters, and the bizarre relationship they share, endearing.

Rating: 3/5

Californication Season 5 Final Recap & Review (5.12: Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be)

Hank arrives at Karen's house and Bates greets him at the door. He tells Bates that either he has to tell Karen about letting his sponsor give him a blow job of Hank will. Bates tells her he needs to be free and that their marriage is over, and surprisingly she is relieved. Before he leaves, Bates tells Hank and Karen their is still love between them, and that Hank needs to stop using his shenanigans as a way at keeping her at arms length because he is afraid. As soon as Bates leaves, they have sex.

In bed, Hank suggests they back their bags and leave, and Karen tells him than rather than always running, he should stay there in the house with her, and wait and see what happens.

Later Hank meets with Becca, and she tells him that he has to let her make her own mistakes, and that after Tyler apologised for his behaviour she forgave him, they made love, and are now engaged. Hank is violently sick upon hearing this, but Becca tells him that just because they're engaged, it doesn't been they'll be getting married anytime soon.

At Charlie's house, Marcie tells him that Lizzie quit, and that she knows about Stu and Lizzie. Charlie is relieved and tells her he was having a trouble keeping it a secret, but she didn't actually know and tricked him to see if it was true or not. Distraught, Marcie goes to confront Stu at the studio. Saying that she is too upset too drive, Charlie offers to take her.

Hank arrives at the studio to talk too Tyler, and Stu reveals that Tyler is missing, and that Samurai has locked himself in his trailer because he has a bug up his arse about Tyler. Hank goes to talk to Samurai in his trailer, and tells him that after offering Callie a part in the film that she told him she didn't love him, and that she slept with Tyler the previous night. He tells Hank, while waving a gun around, that he now has to kill Tyler, and Hank tells him he has to let it go. He convinces Samurai to come out of his trailer and continue filming, and Hank tells Tyler that he just saved his life and as reimbursement, he wants Tyler to resend his marriage proposal to Becca and leave her alone.

Filming resumes, but when Samurai sees Tyler flirting with Callie, he pulls a gun out on him. Hank intervenes telling Samurai that he'll have to shoot him first to get to Tyler, and that he also slept with Callie. Charlie and Marcie pull up, and as Samurai goes to fire the gun at Hank, Charlie jumps in front of it, and he is shot in the arm. Marcie grabs the gun out of Samurai's hand and pistol whips Stu, telling him he'll be hearing from her divorce attorney. Callie tells Samurai that him shooting someone for her is the most single romantic thing anyone has done for her, and the pair embrace. Karen rings Hank to confirm their dinner, and asks him to get some wine.

Hank returns to Charlie's house where he finds Carrie waiting for him. She tells him she lost her job and that she's been having difficulty finding one in L.A so she thought she'd look Hank up. He says he has to leave and she asks him what Karen has that she doesn't, and if Hank ever loved her. Hank refuses to sleep with her and agrees to one drink, which he sulks. Carrie stumbles, and reveals that she shouldn't be drinking while taking the anti-depressants she's on - since Hank dumped her. Hank tries to call an ambulance, and asks her to tell him how much she has taken, to which she replies that she's taken no more than him. As he falls on to the couch Carrie tells him it'll look like they we're in love with each other when they're found together, and Hank imagines running onto Karen's front lawn on a sunny day and embracing Karen and Becca before passing out.

This episode surprised me, obviously all of the secrets that have been developing season-long had to be revealed, but I was quite entertained by the way some of them were handled, not what I would have expected, which is always good. Of course Bates is gone so now Karen and Hank can be together. Honestly, I'm no longer invested in their relationship, Karen should know better. As much as I hate Tyler, I think he plays against Hank quite well, and their scenes together are always interesting, and I like how he is compared and contrasted with a young Hank. I think he'll be back next season, there's no way he'd listen to Hank. It looks like Stu might be done for too, wish I don't know how I feel about, if Hank and Karen and Charlie and Marcie get back together it is going to make me appreiate the seasons in which they had other temporary partners less and less. I doubt Lizzie will be around much longer, and I don't expect to see Samauri or Callie again. But then there's Carrie, hopefully she dies, because to be honest, I was annoyed when she showed up earlier this season as the crazy girlfriend, and was surprise she was written out so quickly, but I guess I shouldn't have spoken so soon... Oh well, she certainly provided one hell of a cliffhanger.
Rating: 3.5/5

What I'm Into...

Hi all,

Before I start posting I just wanted to give everyone a general idea of what sort of television (and all things pop-culture) stuff I like so you could get an idea of what sort of things I’ll be writing about, reviewing, ranting over etc. Here they are:

Favourite Television Show:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer

  

Favourite Sitcom/ Comedy:
Friends

Favourite Reality Show:

Survivor

Guilty Pleasure:

Desperate Housewives

Favourite Television Character:

Walter White (Breaking Bad)

Favourite Couple:

Not usually a shipper, but Ned

and Chuck were pretty cute (Pushing Daisies)

Last Time I Cried Watching TV:

Unaccompanied Minor (Grey’s Anatomy)

Favourite Character Archetype:

Femme Fatale

Favourite Television/ Movie Genre:

Contemporary Science-Fiction/ Fantasy

What I’m Currently Watching On TV:

Revenge, How I Met Your Mother, Happy Endings,

Alcatraz, Ringer, The Big Bang Theory,

Californication, Desperate Housewives,

Game of Thrones

What I’m Currently Watching On DVD:

The Vampire Diaries (Season 2),

That 70’s Show (Season 8),

Sons of Anarchy (Season 1)

Favourite Television Writer:

Joss Whedon

Favourite Movies:

Inception, Alien, Watchmen,

Kick-Ass, District 9, Mean Girls, Kung Pow: Enter

The Fist, X-Men: First Class, Chronicle

Favourite Song:

Touched by VAST

Favourite Band:

Linkin Park

Favourite Artist:

Lana Del Rey

Favourite Books:

Wuthering Heights, Paradise Lost

 

So thanks for reading everyone, and feel free to let

me know what your favourite things on TV are,

I'd love to here them.