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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed shows.

Californication

Season Two

EMAILPRINTSERIES: Showtime, Sunday 10:00p (30 minutes)

Californication
62
8.2 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 11 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 25 votes
Read user comments
Rate this show >

Show Info

Genre(s): Comedy

Created By: Tom Kapinos

First Air Date: September 28, 2008

Summary

Starring David Duchovny, Natascha McElhone, Madeleine Martin, Madeline Zima, and Evan Handler

Hank's got his girl back, but he tries her patience with his many mistakes.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

80

TV GuideMatt Roush

Worth the price of admission? Absolutely.

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80

VarietyBrian Lowry

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.

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80

Boston GlobeMatthew Gilbert

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.

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80

PopMattersCynthia Fuchs

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.

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70

Chicago TribuneMaureen Ryan

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.

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70

TimeJames Poniewozik

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.

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60

The New York TimesGinia Bellafante

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.

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50

San Francisco ChronicleTim Goodman

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.

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50

Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRob Owen

I kept watching last year and I'll probably keep watching this year, although I think the show is already starting to repeat itself.

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30

SalonHeather Havrilesky

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?

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30

Newark Star-LedgerAlan Sepinwall

Regardless of how promiscuous its obnoxious hero is, Californication remains a smug, unpleasant ego trip to nowhere.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this show is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 25 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

[Anonymous] gave it an8:
Always thoroughly entertaining and never fails to deliver those "laugh out loud" moments. Clever script.

Caleb H. gave it a10:
The second season seemed to rely more on raunchy and vulgar content to keep viewers attached to Hanks life. However, at around episode 3 that all began to change. The daughter of Hank and Karen is starting to take a bigger role and she is really adding to the episodes. Watching her parent her parents is both funny and heartbreaking. Never have I seen a show so versatile in its use of imagery. I don't watch it for the sex; I watch it for the great relationships that are formed. Through all the sex and deceit, there is always a glimmer of hope and love that shines bright throughout Californication. One of the best shows I have ever seen.

Oscar B. gave it a6:
The first shows this season were average, but it'll pick up.

Milo C. gave it a0:
A horrendous ending of an episode to a promising second season.

Milo B. gave it a6:
It was going good, and then the ending of the first episode was like bam, wtf? It seems like this show is moving too fast, it needs to slow down, or they will run out of stuff to write.

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