Californication

A new Showtime episodic undertaking (30 min.) starring David Duchovny, Monday's 10PM.

Quirky, off-kilter and aggressive in its portrayal of life and family.

The web site states:

Famed novelist & NYC transplant Hank relocates to LA after his acclaimed book is optioned, but it later becomes a crappy romantic comedy, which sparks a horrible case of writer's block. He's struggling to get his career back on track with the help of his agent/best friend, raise his pre-teen daughter, all while pining for his ex-girlfriend, who is now engaged to another man. 

Last evening I had the pleasure of watching the first three (3) episodes. It's tough to sit through at first because of the situational sexuality and free reign of dialogue (language and graphic references,) but extremely engaging, voyeuristic, and well written.

To relate the major happenings in these episodes:

 Hank is found walking along the street being forlorn about the state of his life. His girlfriend - and mother of his twelve year old daughter - has left him to date a media mogul of sorts. Hank lives alone with his writers block (which came upon him when he moved to LA.) He stumbles upon a book store showing his best-selling novel in the window, seemingly re-released because the screenplay version is now in theatres.

Hank goes inside, picks up a copy of the book and begins paging through it, reading various passages (again, of his own work). Out of the corner of his eye he catches a young woman sitting nearby reading the book. He walks over, they exchange various quips, the girl almost immediately recognizing the books author from the picture on the rear jacket. She's very forward and flirtatious with him. Cut to the next scene, they're now in Hanks bedroom and they're having sex. As the act is finishing the woman winds up and closed fist slugs Hank twice in the left eye. She then gets up, now finished, and walks out. Hank lays there stunned at how things 'finished' and begins to laugh. Just another night of life and short-lived love in LA.

In the next few days there are three or four other encounters for Hank when he suddenly gets a call, mid-coitus, from his ex-girlfriend stating that their twelve year old daughter is not home (the ex lives with her new boyfriend in her boyfriends house) but out at a party in 'The Hills.' Their daughter went to this party along with Hank's ex's new boyfriend's sixteen year-old daughter. Hank drops everything (ahem) and runs out leaving this nights 'love' in bed on all fours, now enraged because they hadn't finished. Hank drives over to his ex's house, picks her up, they kiss on the cheek (she quips that he smells like %&ssy) and they make off for the party. At the party they find their daughter hanging with some much older boys and about to take a hit off a bong. When confronted, the daughter doesn't wish to leave forcing Hank to bodily pick her up, shoulder her, and carry her out a look of exasperation on her face.

Upon arrival at the ex's house, the daughter gets out of the car pronouncing the typical 'I hate you' and storms inside. There's an exchange with his ex where she tells him that she's agreed to marry her boyfriend. Hank is stunned and taken aback. He immediately asks her to marry him instead so they can be a happy family together again.

Hanks adventures on the show might be best related by the next exchange while he and his ex are discussing the nights events of pulling their daughter out of the party. They're in the kitchen when in walks the woman who Hank met in the bookstore. Hank is stunned and taken aback believing briefly, or so it appears, that this woman has somehow stalked him and burst into his ex's home to confront him. Hank stumbles out of his chair and peddles backward when his ex says, "Hank, I'd like you to meet my boyfriends daughter." Still reeling from this abuse of senses, Hank extends his hand and shakes this woman's a very sore right hand. She doesn't reveal anything about the fact that they've already met (or had sex.) She retires to her bedroom for the night. Hank turns to his ex and asks 'How old did you say Bill's (his ex's boyfriend) daughter is?' His wife responds, 'sixteen.' 

This scene sets the mood and tone of the remainder of the episodes. From one night encounters with friends of his ex, women tossing him their numbers at traffic lights, adult film starlet's, to recurring involvement (not of his choice) with a forwardly sexual sixteen year-old, Hank experiences LA to its fullest. His best friend and agent also plays a psychotropic part in the series. This agents secretary is a BDSM fan and wears that badge (and piercing's) on her sleeve. During a bad day at the office the agent looses his cool with yet another of his secretaries screw-ups and fires her on the spot. The following day she's back at the office clearing her desk when he comes in and admits he over-reacted and states that she can continue to have her job if she wishes. She turns to him and says, 'yes, I'd like to keep my job, but on one condition. Instead of yelling, next time I screw up again, you can discipline me in any way you wish.' She then turns away and seductively bends towards the filing cabinet to reveal her legs and arse. She looks back over her shoulder and reiterates 'ANY way.'

As stated, its a quirky, highly sexualized version of reality of the life and love (if that's the term to use) in LA. It kept my attention, not because of the sex, the whole time and was very engaging. Its well written and acted by all of the leads. I especially like the choice of Hank's 12 year old daughter Becca (MADELEINE MARTIN). Portrayed as part Goth, part adjusting LA pre-teen, part out of her element displaced NY'r, and part older than her years in emotional familial interplay. She strikes that perfect relationship balance between mother and father. This is probably best portrayed when she walks into her fathers house ahead of him, then meanders into his bedroom and reappears in the hallway innocently asking, 'Dad, is the woman naked on your bed okay, she has no hair on her vagina, is she sick?' Hank then moves his daughter away from the door, gingerly opens and closes the door behind him and confronts a previous one-night stand type woman who let herself into his house through his bedrooms patio door, to surprise him.

I highly recommend this series. It hasn't let me down in the 1-1/2 hours I've watched so far. As for David Duchovny, I've always liked his acting and feel he's always just one role away from breaking into the really big time. He is an extremely intelligent and out-front actor who's very comfortable with his sexuality and nudity as expressed in his character portrayal's including Zalman King's 'Red Shoe Diaries.'