When one indiscretion involves a Lolitaesque character, it further emphasizes the problematic portrayals of gender roles and sexuality frequently taken lightly or played for laughs throughout the series. Part of the problem that Moody’s poor choices create is that the viewer is implicitly meant to understand or try to understand them.
As he becomes entangled in his own questionable behavior, he offers Moody camaraderie and validation, but he also shines a spotlight on Moody’s own problematic life choices. Becca is a wise-beyond-her-years teenager with whom Moody is more honest than he usually is, as well as more sympathetic.Ĭharlie Runkle (Evan Handler), Moody’s agent and best friend also offers him a chance to show more dimension, although Charlie also proves to be flawed in some of the same ways. Moody’s relationship with Becca is one that offers a glimpse of the loving and mostly responsible father he still is even while his own life is off track. Karen in particular is so frequently charmed by Hank that oftentimes the viewer can’t help but be charmed along with her. Moody is redeemed by the relationships he has with his young teenage daughter, Becca (Madeleine Martin), and his ex, Karen (Natascha McElhone). His appeal is most frequently highlighted when his self-destructive tendencies are still grounded in some way, most often in his relationship with his family. Moody may not be the most likable guy, but there is a certain charm to the character that adds a bit more depth. In fact, the first episode sets the stage for Moody’s errors in judgment when it comes to sexual entanglements that create major consequences in this first season. There is a ridiculous stream of beautiful younger woman who, when not throwing themselves at Moody, offer up their bodies for his scrutiny (on two separate occasions, two women ask for Moody’s critique on their physical attributes).
While Moody plays the displaced New Yorker who hates Los Angeles, he thrives in its clichés of superficiality and shallowness. He wrote a book titled “Why God Hates Us” that was made into a popular romantic comedy, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and his resentment and anger toward the film’s director coupled with his disenchantment with Los Angeles make for a protagonist who is not only narcissistic, but equally self-loathing. Moody is a boozy, womanizing, self-described “one hit wonder” writer.
The boys choir of the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” is a fitting opening theme for Californication and its lead character, Hank Moody (David Duchovny), and it sets the tone for the series.
Californication season 1 series#
While Dexter has offered a great deal of insight into the childhood of its protagonist and Weeds has been able to create a setting perfectly suited to its main character, Californication lacks much of what makes the other two series so undeniably watchable. The trick to making these series compelling is to have the characters fleshed out enough that the viewer is invested in what happens to them, or at least in what happens in general. Showtime has effectively carved out a comfortable niche for itself with a series of shows that exist around deeply flawed individuals such as Dexter, Weeds, and now Californication.
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