Showtime's Californication season four finale: It starts with a surreal courtroom scene. Hank (David Duchovny) is read the verdict after being charged with statutory rape, a plot arc that started way back in the pilot, more than four years ago.
For a startling few moments, it appears that Hank is going to prison to be locked up and kept away from friends and family. Hank is not a bad man, and it seems gigantically unfair. After all, he had been tricked, believing the young girl seducing him was a college student, with no idea she is actually the daughter of Hank's ex-wife's fiance. However, that becomes open for debate once it is revealed that Hank has met her once before that night, albeit when he was plastered.
Luckily for Hank, and for us, Hank had simply fainted before hearing a key word - probation. A hefty fine and large amount of community service is something Hank can handle as we go into season five.
Prison, however, would have left him a changed man, one likely unrecognizable to longtime fans. It's not a place that would suit Hank. And so it is with a sigh of relief, and copious sex with his attorney, Abby (Carla Gugino), that Hank is let off the hook. Has he learned a lesson? I don't know. He does need to clean up a few things, but most of Hank's problems are circumstantial. He drinks too much, but only engages in consensual behavior after open dialogue, nothing shady or malicious. Things just keep happening to him.
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he large middle section of this episode takes place at a dinner party that is just pure fun, plain and simple. It's a launch party thrown by Stu (Stephen Tobolowky) to celebrate the start of production on the movie Fucking and Punching. Hank goes with Abby, while Karen (Natascha McElhone) brings Ben (Michael Ealy). Marcy (Pamela Aldon) is living with Stu, and Charlie's (Evan Handler) plus one is his psycho realtor, Peggy (Melissa Stephens). Sasha (Addison Timlin) and Eddie (Rob Lowe) are there, too, of course, as the stars of the movie. Such an eclectic mix of personalities, many with shared romantic history, is just asking for trouble. So, of course, there is plenty of that, mostly instigated by Eddie, who asks probing, intrusive questions.
Article comments
1 - just a fan
Just a quick comment that no one seems to be picking up on.
You cant always get what you want was played in the opener to the series back in episode one. The episode has been making reference back to that all season (ie the nun and such)
Hank never gave mia dad the respect only when drunk out of his mind. However for ben, and throughout the whole season like the concert. It will be a fare mans fight and the pool scene was hank will be back in the ring.
However the car scene one must remember hank had all his stuff with him (suitcase and typewriter). My guesse would be he is heading back to new york. remember hank has loathed cali from the beginning and the point of season three has hank was on the cusp on moving back to the city where everything started for him. He met karen back there, wrote the book back there.
Heres to season 5 in the big apple.
2 - danimal
For some reason this article neglected to mention what seemed to me that when Becca said "Go home" was a heavy implication he's going back to New York, where he was originally going to take them last season. Clearly, that's where he flourished as a writer and this "californication" that's happened to him has been nothing but trouble!
3 - Jerome Wetzel
I agree that Hank was much happier in New York, but since the show is called Californication, I'm not sure they will make such a big move. Weeds is on the same network, and had no problem burning down their whole neighborhood, so there is a precedent. I just don't know that I find it likely.
4 - Jerome Wetzel
That is an awesome video! Production of season 5 has not started, so it's not an actual trailer for the show, but I personally think it's freakin' sweet, and hope that the focus of season 5 is similar to what that guy edited together.
5 - Eric
All I want to say is that this is a wonderfully written and underrated show. I am constantly dazzled by the witty and smart dialouge and entertaining plot lines. Great great show