Californication

Love. A slow start, but a genius finish. It's all so wrong, it's completely right. David Duchovny is absolutely engaging and loveable - and hot & adorable to boot. A perfectly flawed character who you can't help but root for, as his daughter, Becca, spelled out for him in the final episode. The dialogue is real, true and unlike most way "too clever for their own good" shows, not too over scripted. Except Mia, Madeline Zima's character. I know many 16 years old - sophisticated NYers, with private school education, very successful parents, money in their pockets, designer clothes on their back - who could never possibly have the balls/dialogue this kid does. As Marcy, pointed out too hilariously in the last episode....

While on the topic of Marcy, Pamela Adlon gets better in every episode. She's crude, rude and teetering on the ubsurd. She makes me laugh at every turn. The scene where she is getting baked before the wedding had me howling.... Both the dialogue and the acting - seriously laugh out loud funny.

Natascha McElphone is gorgeous, but completely natural and un-intimidating & feels like someone you'd want to be your friend. The passion and chemistry between Karen and Hank is obvious and hot. Her indecisiveness between Hank and Bill is strangely believable. Absolutely love Evan Handler's Charlie Rumkle character. His antics with his secretary and Marcy are so over the top yet somehow don't go too far as to fall completely flat. Also love Becca, especially the relationship she has with Hank. Real and honest, somewhat raw. The little rock and roll chick aspect works perfectly... a great insight into what Hank and Karen were before she came along.

Someone asked me yesterday if I thought the show would go into another season. I hadn't seen the finale, and pleaded with her not to tell me a thing. (Thank god for the DVR.) Now that I've seen it, i know what she's talking about. The last freeze frame did make you think, what a perfect ending it would be if you never saw another frame. Made me think of the last shot in Grease as they flew off in the car....

Being that TV is one of my passions (sadly, or not), in theory, I love the idea of a show having only one season. Most shows (and more in recent years) fall apart about half way into the second season. If Californication went away, with this season being my only memory of it, i'd be completely ok & applaud them for their boldness. But as i enjoy watching and hanging with this odd and strangely addictive group once a week (or 2 or 3 if i'm catching up), i'd also be more than ok with them coming back. Certainly enough hanging chads, so to speak, to get them through at least a second season. And if they stick with the same "formula" for #2, might even make you yearn for a third... Great TV!