Californication: Season 4 Episode 2 "Suicide Solution"

"Suicide Solution"
(Aired on January 16th, 2011)

What would I do without the best show on television?

You don't get greenlit for another season after one episode for no reason. After the biggest premiere in the show's history, one might be hesitant (at first) about a season's second episode, because it can make or break many people's opinions about how the rest of the season will play out. For someone who has seen every episode up until now, the first two episodes of the fourth season have been tonally perfect.

No other actor on television is more underrated than David Duchovny, who has yet to receive the awards recognition he once did in the show's first season. Picking up right where last episode left off, we see Hank Moody (Duchovny) slouching it with Marcy and Charlie in their divorced household. Of course, Marcy wakes up next to Hank. Of course, he is naked. And of course, Charlie has to walk in naked with a cricket paddle. After the awkward situation laughs itself away, Charlie suggests a threesome, a suggestion that sends Marcy running out of the room with her hand over her mouth.

Back to the A-story. Last week's episode ended with Hank getting charged with statutory rape. His hotshot lawyer, Abby Rhodes (Carla Gugino) wants to help him, but she insists Hank is no more than any other Hollywood jackass who thinks it's fine to californicate with a teenager. Hank pleads his case again, insisting that the now legendary Mia set him up. Which by the way, we should be expecting a cameo from her soon, right? Maybe if she told everyone what really happened none of this would be happening to Hank? Or maybe, especially to his once life partner Karen and emotional bliss daughter Becca, it doesn't matter. Maybe it's time Hank needs to start taking responsibility for his actions. Either way, he needs to grow up. Fast.

Now just because his personal life is in the shambles doesn't mean his career is. Hank is now the screenwriter for Fucking and Punching. He meets the actor who will be playing him in the movie. His name is Eddie Nero (a hysterical Rob Lowe), an extreme version of a Brad Pitt/Colin Ferrell going haywire, and although he may be an entertaining personally, Hank describes him as everything he hates about Hollywood. Look out for some very witty and vulgar banter between these two in the episodes to come.

And if that's not already twisted enough, the actress who is playing Mia is now boy crazy for Hank. She's seduces him again. Being smart for the first time in a while, Hank turns her down, but not quite all the way. He finds some pills in her bathroom, and by the end of the episode, we see him in the position that both make and brake Hank, his words. He writes Becca a letter, and by the time he's done writing it, he hits the floor, overdosed from life.

How will he fare out after this one? Fine out on Showtime this Sunday at 9pm.