The BEST episodes of Californication
Every episode of Californication ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Californication!
David Duchovny returns to TV with his Golden Globe-winning portrayal of author Hank Moody in the critically-acclaimed Showtime hit Californication. Author Hank Moody's life is spinning gloriously out of control as he juggles his sex and drug addictions while raising a daughter and trying to win back the love of his life in this edgy new series.
#1 - The Apartment
Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/15/2009
Hank's in for a hedonistic night to remember when Jackie and two stripper friends arrive at his doorstep, unannounced. The next morning, before Hank can escort his new friends from the apartment, Charlie shows up with a verbally abusive Rick Springfield. Hank’s forced to hide the hung-over party girls all over the house after Jill and Felicia pay surprise visits. The charade reaches its boiling point when Dean Koons arrives on the scene, resulting in a messy catharsis by fire.
#2 - The Last Waltz
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 10/29/2007
As Karen's wedding to Bill nears, Hank struggles with accepting what appears to be inevitable. Bill informs Mia that he will not allow her book to be published and Hank has a unique solution to dealing with Becca's surprise visitor.
#3 - ...And Justice for All
Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/27/2011
As Hank awaits sentencing, the lines between his real life and the movie based on his life blur as the film's star hits on his ex-wife and he feels stirrings of passion for the actress hired to play Karen.
#4 - The Devil's Threesome
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/15/2007
A new threesome including Hank and Charlie evolves from a meeting at the gym, while Karen and Marcy have a girl's night out at which they decide to surprise Hank and Charlie.
#5 - Mia Culpa
Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/13/2009
As the Moodys at last prepare to move to New York, Becca tells Hank about an intimate coming of age experience she had. Hank’s stunned when Mia shows up at the house unannounced, in town with her slimy boyfriend / manager PAUL for a book signing. Hank fails to prevent Mia and Paul from hatching a devious publicity stunt, forcing Hank to finally share the long-buried heartbreaking secret with Karen. gives Charlie a career opportunity of a lifetime, but Charlie must confront the fact that he might be losing Marcy for good.
#6 - I'll Lay My Monsters Down
Season 6 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/7/2013
Hank makes a big decision about his future, which affects Faith. Charlie and Marcy also make a decision. The troops are rallied to ensure Atticus makes it to the Greek Theatre for his co-headlining gig with Marilyn Manson. A call from Becca and a visit from a dearly departed friend set Hank in motion.
#7 - The Abby
Season 6 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/31/2013
Hank and Faith join forces to track down Atticus, but Becca is the only person who can really help. Marcy's outing with Ophelia leaves her a little tied up and Charlie's response to a curious message reveals the true feelings between the two exes. Karen has an epiphany about Becca.
#8 - In the Clouds
Season 6 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/24/2013
Karen asks Hank to intervene with Becca. Later, the boys board Air Force 69 with Atticus Fetch to fly to NYC to present the songs for the Broadway adaptation of "A Crazy Little Thing Called Love." Charlie faces a serious case of aerophobia. Atticus is surprised by Faith, while his wife surprises Hank.
#9 - The Ride-Along
Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/5/2012
Charlie's boyhood dream is realized and Hank's worst nightmare comes true when Samurai Apocalypse invites the boys on a ride-along with the Santa Monica Police Department and takes them on a joyride that goes sexually awry for Charlie; Richard hits the bottle at a crowded Venice restaurant but Hank and the boys arrive to save the day for Karen and Becca, and Tyler realizes he's seen Sam somewhere before.
#10 - Raw
Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/4/2012
Hank is stuck reading Tyler's screenplay but discovers some talent under that head of hair, even though the script appears to be disturbingly autobiographical account of the author's relationship with Becca. Charlie and Lizzie's love quadrangle with Stu and Marcy heats up, but when their bedroom games hit too close to home for Charlie, it may be off to therapy for all four of them.
#11 - Exile on Main St.
Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/9/2011
Just as Hank is released from a 72 hour jail period for assault he is picked up by Charlie and dragged off to show the recent events of F&P with Mia becoming public and dropped into a meeting with a young actress that wants to capitalize on the publicity, and make a movie out of F&P. whom which he later re-enacts F&P in her hotel room. The episode ends with Hank hearing from his lawyer that the assault charges have been dropped and he is then arrested for statutory rape.
#12 - Pilot
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/13/2007
We meet 30ish year old Hank Moody in a church asking God to help him get his life back on track. He is then distracted by a hot nun. Moody also has to interact with ex-wife Karen who might still love him. With her, they share the custody of their 12 year old daughter Becca who is wise beyond her years but is starting to have a sex life, which freaks out both of her parents.
#13 - Filthy Lucre
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/8/2007
After the funeral of Hank's father Al, Hank comes back to L.A. with a new manuscript, that he wants Karen to read. After receiving a bonus paycheck, he buys a new car for himself and a new guitar for Becca.
#14 - Wish You Were Here
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/27/2009
With Karen gone, Hank has to deal with a more and more rebellious Becca. Meanwhile, Charlie and Marcy move back together though they still plan to divorce each other.
#15 - Verities & Balderdash
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/11/2009
Hank attends a university mixer and consoles his jilted assistant; Charlie celebrates his first talent signing.
#16 - The Way of the Fist
Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/15/2012
Hank passes on writing Samurai Apocalypse's new movie but Sam won't take no for an answer and drags Hank to a meeting with director Peter Berg, where they discover that Hank and Peter have shared more than just a love of the written word. Sam takes it on himself to get rid of Tyler, which makes things worse between Hank and Becca. Co-parents Charlie, Marcy and Stu have their hands full when Little Stuart exposes himself to a preschool classmate, and Charlie takes it upon himself to mend fences with the offended girl's attractive mother.
#17 - Here I Go Again
Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/19/2012
Hank saves Karen from embarrassment with a drunk Richard, then covers for Richard by pretending to be dating a stripper named Holly, who takes a liking to Tyler and offends his girlfriend, Becca. Meanwhile, when she's fired after an inappropriate encounter with Stu, nanny Lizzie calls on Charlie and allows their relationship to progress, only to have Marcy beg for her return.
#18 - Zoso
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/18/2009
Hank objects to Becca's adult fashion sense; Hank and Charlie visit a strip club to discover the secret life of a talented student; Charlie and Marcy's house sale goes awry.
#19 - Waiting for the Miracle
Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/29/2012
Hank receives an unwelcome surprise in the form of Carrie, ex-girlfriend and arsonist that he's forced to invite along when Karen and Becca show up to invite him to a dinner party. Stu, Marcy and Bates' talk of sexual proclivities leaves the Moodys searching for the nearest exit, but the party gets even more out of control when Carrie has a realization about Hank. Meanwhile, Charlie goes on a blind date with Mary, a "nice girl" who's more than a little inexperienced.
#20 - JFK to LAX
Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/8/2012
A few years have passed and Hank is living in New York but looking for a ticket out of town after his latest breakup. He accepts an invitation from Charlie to come to Los Angeles for a job writing a film starring rapper/actor Samurai Apolcaypse, then reunites with Karen, her former professor and now-husband Richard, and his daughter Becca, who now has a boyfriend named Tyler that is the spitting image of Hank himself ... in the worst possible way.
#21 - Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be
Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/1/2012
Hank discovers the bartender at a local watering hole is his late friend Lew Ashby and wonders if he's in Hell. Richard makes a startling announcement about Hank and Karen. Hank tries to make things right with Becca, but her news about Tyler leaves him stunned. On the set of "Santa Monica Cop," Sam's jealousy and fondness for firearms give Charlie an opportunity to show how much he loves his best friend and number-one client; Hank's arsonist ex-girlfriend surprises him with a way for them to be together forever.
#22 - The Party
Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/25/2012
Hank overstays his welcome at the house of Karen and Richard and hits the road with one last stop at Malibar, where he runs into Lizzie, who uses her newly acquired acting chops to lure him back to the Runkle Manor. Once there, Hank is surprised by everyone he loves and loathes: Karen, Becca, Charlie, Marcy, Stu, Richard and his creepy sponsor, Gabriel. Even Sam and Kali show up, but it's not a party until someone gets hurt and luckily for these partygoers, Hank has it in him for one final run-in with Tyler.
#23 - Lights. Camera. Asshole
Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/27/2011
Hank takes a gig rewriting dialogue on a zombie sequel but threatens his job when he hooks up with a sexy woman with close ties to the film's female lead; Marcy tells Stu she's pregnant but not that the baby may be Charlie's.
#24 - Suicide Solution
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/16/2011
Hank is told he faces 3 years in prison because the DA wants to make an example of him. There are signs Marcy is pregnant. Hank tries to fix things with Becca. The episode ends as Hank high on drugs and liquor writes a letter to Becca and then passes out.
#25 - Slow Happy Boys
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/25/2009
Hank has the apartment all to his bad self when Becca visits Karen in New York. Hank's old buddy from Long Island pays a visit. Hank shows him an epic time. Hank and his talented pupil Jackie take their student / teacher relationship to the next level. Charlie and Marcy are finally hitting the sheets again.