dragosRO So, back when this was all new and fresh, I was absolutely maniac about it. Even dreamed of moving to LA just to experience the non-stop sex and discovery with very young, beautiful and wiling ladies.Well.. Now I'm closer to 40 and much more knowledgeable of life, in general. For the life of me I can't understand what I liked about it and why. It was rather interesting in the first and maybe second season, about how one can re-trace his shattered life and can re-make his broken family. And even the "seduction" parts were not weird and porno-movie-speed inspired. But after that, it just became one lame excuse for nudity. In fact, it's the very prototype of how you can prolong a show's life using excessive nudity. And while in the first seasons the writing was witty and funny and entertaining, it just got stupid afterwards and if that was the point.. whoever tried to make it was stupid. Case in point, one of the very last scenes, in an airplane, where Hank declares his love to Karen, some random young girl offers herself up if Karen does not respond in kind. It's porn-stupid, without the nudity. But stupid and unrealistic. And misogynistic, come to think.I have no idea if I rate it back then, but in this day and age, I'll give it 6 for the excellent cast, first two seasons, cinematography and general quality in making it. Too bad it lasted this long.

trish-64 I gave up on this series during series 6 - the episode on the plane. This was the point at which the characters became mere caricatures and the show descended into farce as the writers ran out of ideas. It started out OK - series one and two were quite good, though probably too explicit for some (sex, after all, is what the show is about). Series three went off the boil a bit - Duchovny's attractions just aren't sufficient to believe he would attract ALL of these women, especially given his age (when I was a student, I wouldn't have touched any man over 23 with a bargepole, frankly). Charlie's relationship with his boss was just stupid, but the series had some strong plot arcs that made up for it. Series four was when I started to get annoyed, as I just didn't believe Hank's lawyer would behave like this, though the trial denouement was interesting, but series five was much better, with the characters' bad behaviours and poor life choices coming home to roost. However, series six totally lost the plot - there are only so many ways that writers can find to keep principal characters apart so such issues tend to become contrived when a show outlives its natural lifespan; Natascha McElhone was given virtually nothing to do except roll her eyes; the rock stars and their wives were just caricatures. Meanwhile, Charlie by now had become a character that existed only for bad things to happen to, including his small penis/bent penis/premature ejaculation/baldness/general sliminess. So, I gave up. Shame. If they'd stopped at series 3, perhaps, my memories of this show would be better, but overall I wasted a bit too much time on it.

parmetd The first six seasons set this show up to be one of the best TV series ever produced. An all star performance by both actors, actresses and writers... it was an adult show discussing real situations, adding humor, lunacy and mocking certain stereotypes. It was unafraid to be real, always very witty and executed with some create scenes, cinematography and acting. Madeleine Martin really shines as the daughter and who knew David Duchovny could act?! After all those years on X-files, I think most people thought he was a hack. But in this show, David and Madeleine provided some of the best acting any fan could ever ask for! Still (and some spoilers from here on out), they could have easily and amazingly ended the sixth season as the end of the show. Yet they killed some of the coolest characters (Faith and Atticus) but they continued the show by creating terrible, not believable characters and casting them with some of the worst actors ever (cough Levon yuck). The Hank Moody character did not need this angle. And it did not work at all. The last season is practically unwatchable and nearly ruins the entire show. I will say the final episode is okay and does end the series reasonably well... but the other 11 episodes of the season are just pure cringe worthy and only exist to setup this mediocrely, executed ending in the 12th episode. Meh. Do yourself a favor and watch the first six seasons and pretend the 7th does not exist.

Eric Williams I have watched the whole series twice now and must say there are a few things to take note of regarding the characterizations.Self Loathing is a part of this story, but the writers seemingly choose to place Hank Moody at the center of this description when you watch this series, however, that isn't entirely true.This show's structure for me goes back to the Bob Newhart formula, make your main character sane, and everyone around him insane, then put the blame on your main character.Californication is more of a crucifixion of an imperfect man. The main point to the problem resides in his relationship with Karan, who fundamentally refuses to give Hank, with whom she's in love with depending on the day, any sort of affirmation that he's worthy of anything positive, including her love, affection or his abilities as a writer.You like Karan as a person, but she's never able to reveal her desires in this series even though she is the one character the holds the golden ticket into Hank's behavior and desires.Hank is blamed for sleeping around, but in his context he feels, hey if you aren't going to affirm my attraction and abilities as a writer, then I will find someone who will suit me, if only for a day. Judging him for that only demonstrates your sense of envy for someone who can do it. Too bad for you. You would be just another dick head guest appearance on the show for doing that.But this truly is the underlying fault of this show as it demonstrates that debauchery only leads to sadness and regret, as well it should. This is supposed to be a fun ride through the nature of the media business and it is, but often drifts off into supporting character drama which we can care less about. Entourage had the same problem, being a media based storyline.More attention to the business of the media and what can happen, especially to Hank Moody, because the real gratification in this storyline is his essence of "I don't give a ***K" and that was a good thing. It was funny and was a reminder of how much we care about things that don't care about us back.I truly wish for all this show had to offer, it could have taken itself a little more literary, and reflected upon the cares of our culture instead of meandering through the disapproval of a daughter and an ex girlfriend. Their approval was what the show was about and his dysfunction was due to the fact that they dangled it in front of his big nose for seven seasons and everyone blamed him for his reactions.Trust me, if you had that happen to you, you would be getting all the T&A you could muster to cope with such mind messing behavior these two women placed on him.The only self-loathers were the two women in his life. We were just meant to believe it was only Hank Moody.Another example how women set the tone, and the tone was very Moody. This show is about you more than you think. Approve of those you love, even when they aren't perfect. It just might make for a beautiful friendship.Good show, but it could have been handled with a little more grace and sophistication.