Season 3 - Episode 1: Wish You Were Here
The summer is over and Californication is back, which means we get another look in to the life of Hank Moody. Californication is a great example of cable producing some of the best shows on Television. Californication is a once in a decade show that puts unique characters in interesting situations without pandering or becoming mundane.
At the end of season two girlfriend Karen (Natascha McElhone) headed off to New York for a new job leaving Hank full time responsibility of his daughter Becca (Madeleine Martin). In addition to Karen’s departure, Hank’s season two buddy Lew Ashby pulled a “Mia Wallace” and wound up dead.
This turn of events puts Hank pretty much where he was when we met him; single and unemployed but this time he is raising Becca by himself. Hank is clearly rusty in the parenting department which leads to some drug related problems with Becca and her new friend Chelsea. The Becca problem also leads Hank to a new job and a straight laced potential antagonist (like Bill from season 1), University Dean Stacy Koons (Peter Gallagher).
On the other side of the cast, the Runkle’s (Evan Handler and Pamela Adlon) are doing the divorce tango and Charlie is working on a commission only gig run by an on the prowl talent agent, Sue Collini (Kathleen Turner).
The season three opener was written by series creator Tom Kapinos and directed by David Duchovny. As far as season openers go, this one was good and like the season two opener it starts off well after the events of the previous season finale. We are looking forward to the rest of the season just to see where Hank will end up; it should be a great ride.
