• Network: Showtime
  • Series Premiere Date: Aug 13, 2007
  • Season #: 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6
Metascore
62 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 11
  2. Negative: 2 out of 11
  1. 80
    Drawing parallels between the city's decadence and that of its inhabitants is a fairly obvious point to make, so using it for more than just establishing shots is overkill, specifically pulling the viewer out of emotional moments. It's a small quibble, though, and thankfully, the only complaint about this new season so far.
  2. Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    80
    Worth the price of admission? Absolutely.
  3. Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    80
    Year two is actually more compelling and fun, morphing from the twin themes of bachelorhood and longing into tackling the challenges of monogamy--especially when one partner's lurid past keeps colliding with the present.
  4. 80
    The impulse to protect his family comes much less naturally to David Duchovny's Hank Moody, the hero of Californication, which returns in top form for its second season.
  5. 70
    His repetitive fights with his ex-girlfriend, Karen (Natascha McElhone), with whom he reunited at the end of last season, are by far the most tiresome part of the show. Much more fun is the easy camaraderie Hank has with his growing entourage, all of whom share his cynical and saucy outlook on life.
  6. Reviewed by: James Poniewozik
    70
    The first couple of episodes, in which Hank tries to be monogamous with his ex, offer some promise, but for me the show is still works better for its pithy little scenes.
  7. The cast is too appealing to make Californication as genuinely distasteful as it tries to be. And at the same time the writing is too broad to make it genuinely good.
  8. Californication in Season 2 seems like its indulging a certain person's condition rather than illuminating the human condition, if you know what I mean - and I think you do.
  9. I kept watching last year and I'll probably keep watching this year, although I think the show is already starting to repeat itself.
  10. 30
    Desperate, self-involved losers who are aging badly? I can't think of anything I'd rather see on TV. But sweaty, half-dressed couples snorting drugs and mumbling "Wanna fuck?" at each other?
  11. Regardless of how promiscuous its obnoxious hero is, Californication remains a smug, unpleasant ego trip to nowhere.
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 53 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Negative: 1 out of 8
  1. ViktorT
    10
    No matter what critics say this series is genial! I recommend it to everyone who likes to watch R-N-R lifestyle combined with emotional suffering!
  2. AlessandraS
    6
    First season was much better in my opinion. It was strange how they just suddenly ended many of the good plot lines of the first season. Wasnt a fan of the whole Ashby story line. Not enough substance in season 2, i started to get fed up of the vulgar and drugs. The show needs more balance!! Full Review »
  3. MikeB
    4
    What a piece of garbage. One chuckle every three episodes is just not enough. Killing off Ashby was just another in a long line of plot mistakes - A temporary distraction from all the cheese dialogue though. Also, why do they let that high voiced kid sing? Full Review »