"Paul Levinson's It's Real Life is a page-turning exploration into that multiverse known as rock and roll. But it is much more than a marvelous adventure narrated by a master storyteller...it is also an exquisite meditation on the very nature of alternate history." -- Jack Dann, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Californication Continues: 8

CalifornicationA psychologically rich and very satisfying Episode 8 of Californication on Showtime last night, occasioned by the death of Hank's father Al (well played by vet actor Mark Margolis).

We get an excellent back story, in which we see not only Hank's relationship with his father, but the crumbling of his relationship with Karen (when they were still together), all occurring as the accursed "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" is being filmed. (Again, I gotta say that, as a science fiction author, I wish I had such aggravations.)

The explanatory power of this back story - shot in a slightly different lighting - reminded me, of all things, of Lost, and its back stories. As in Lost, the back story in Californication last night moved the story forward in a critically important way. Hank and Karen are falling apart in the back story, and pulling closer together in the present.

The last five minutes were especially satisfying. Karen finally sleeps with Hank. Perhaps it's partly a mercy act, but Karen clearly enjoys it, and, as we already knew, she has feelings for Hank.

They're flying off to New York for Al's funeral in two planes, but I'm looking to seeing if and how they draw closer together in the next episodes.

See reviews of other Californication episodes: Californication Going On Mondays ... 2 ... 3 ... 4 ... 5 ... 6 ... 7 ... 9 ... 10 ... 11: Pivitol Mia ... 12: Californication Comes ... To a Season's End







5 minute podcast review of Californication






The Plot to Save Socrates


"challenging fun" - Entertainment Weekly

"a Da Vinci-esque thriller" - New York Daily News

"Sierra Waters is sexy as hell" - curled up with a good book

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Anyone know ho was the actress who played "Amber" in Hanks Movie Crazy Little Thing Called Love? during htis episode, an amazing beauty.

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