Californication is a dirty, raunchy and vulgar show. On the surface, there isn’t much substance and it’s nothing more than cheap entertainment of someone else’s fantasy. However, beneath the smearing of what we think is moral is a show that has many noble and, dare I say, romantic themes.
Californication ran on Showtime from 2007 until 2014. The basic premise of the show is the main character, Hank Moody, tries constantly to recover some semblance of a family with his ex-girlfriend, Karen, and daughter, Becca. He is a deeply flawed character and the first five or so minutes of the first episode set up the series perfectly. The show follows his efforts as a struggling writer in LA to find work while he continuously gets himself in compromising situations all while trying to prove to Karen and Becca that he is worthy of a spot in their lives.
There are numerous reasons why this show holds a special place in my heart despite the liberties it takes with its depiction of reality. For one, Hank Moody is a fantastic character. Hank Moody is like many of us: flawed, idiotic at times and struggling to pursue what he desires. Even with that in mind, he is still a good person at his core. Everything he does is meant to bring himself closer to the people who matter most to him even if he gets lost along the way.
Californication cultivated a deep love of language when I watched it–the writing is arguably some of the best. The show watches like a piece of classic literature. Study it with a critical eye for a full understanding. It draws inspiration from many great writers though none are better represented than Charles Bukowski. The show pays homage to Mr. Bukowski for providing the blueprint for Hank Moody in all his wretched glory. Read some of Bukowski’s poems and the connection is plain. Skip his novels though.
The things I hold dearest about this show are what they inspired in me. I’ve seen the entire series three times now and I still manage to take something new from it in additional viewings. Perhaps the most important lesson from the show is that we will fail. We will fail numerous times and that’s the cruel truth. We will fail in ways big and small but the biggest failure of them all is giving up on what we wanted from the start. In Hank Moody’s case, “No matter what you did, don’t give up. Do not give up because if she loves you, she’ll forgive you.” For the idealistic crowd, the show does a terrific job of showing the importance of our relationships with each other. There will be many temporary people in our lives and we shouldn’t feel guilty for their transient nature. Enjoy the time, enjoy the memories, move on.
I could sing praises for Californication for much longer than a mere 550 words, but the best way to experience it is to binge it on Netflix. Seasons 1-7 are all there with the first two being the best, followed by seasons four, six and three while five and seven are towards the bottom but still contain quality episodes.
