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Californication

The Whore of Babylon

Season 1, Episode 3, Aired Aug 27, 2007

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9.0

EPISODE RATING: Superb

336 votes

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Hank and Todd Carr, the director of "A Crazy Little Thing Called Love", the movie adaptation of Hank's book, start a fight, after which Hank ends up in jail. Bill bails him out and Hank finds a new connection to Meredith. Charlie learns about a different side of his assistant Dani.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Chris Williams

Todd Carr
GUEST STAR
Amy Price-Francis

Meredith
GUEST STAR
Robert Merrill

Jonathan Mandel

David Duchovny

Hank Moody
Natascha McElhone

Karen Van Der Beek
Madeleine Martin

Rebecca
Madeline Zima

Mia
Evan Handler

Charlie

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Fan Episode Reviews (9)

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Who know how funny sex fueled jokes could be?

9.0

"Superb"

By ZaleIsBackAgain, Jun 16, 2010

What makes Californication so awesome is that we are taken through the life of this miserable man who is engineered by sex, but tries to make the most out of whatever life he still has left in his grasp. Hank is just one of the most sophisticated, original, and unique main TV characters you will ever meet. He decides to turn a date into a rescue mission, and steals a painting along the way. And like he's been doing this entire series so far, always dropping the funniest, slyest remarks that seems to make women go crazy in their panties. He shares the comedy crown in the episode though with his agent who has a thing for his assistant. The atmosphere in combination of the awesome humour just makes this an entertaining watch.moreless
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Californication

9.0

"Superb"

By efc91, Aug 10, 2009

Hank and Todd Carr (Chris Williams), the director of "A Crazy Little Thing Called Love", the movie adaptation of Hank's book, start a fight, after which Hank ends up in jail. Bill bails him out and Hank finds a new connection to Meredith (Amy Price-Francis). Charlie (Evan Handler) learns about a different side of his assistant Dani (Rachel Miner). This was a good epispde of the show, it was a bit slow at times but there was plenty of story development I liked the part where Hank robbed the dog., so all in all I rate this episode a 9 out of 10. still great show.moreless
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How would you feel when someone stole your dog?

9.1

"Superb"

By Gilmoregirl999, Sep 16, 2008

Another great episode. A lot of fist fighting and I just loved the part where Henk steels the dog and the painting, it was hilarious.
Although you wouldn't expect it, there is a life lesson in every episode, Henk learns a lesson in every episode. That is why you really have to watch the serie to understand why it's so good, if you don't watch it you might think it's all about the sex, OK there's a lot of sex in it, but there is a deeper story as well, so just watch it and you'll see and for those who watch it already, you know what I'm talking about, don't you?moreless
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Hank's writer's block threatens to prevent him from keeping his job as a blog-writer for Hell-A magazine. The unsettling conclusion marks this show as one that knows itself - and its own potential - shockingly well.moreless

9.2

"Superb"

By pureWasted, May 06, 2008

It may be a reflection of our times that an episode filled with swearing and nudity -- which are sure to offend some viewers -- ends with a touching moment that rings terrifyingly true to anybody who has ever been truly close to someone else.

HERE THERE BE SPOILERS!

As Hank's writer's block threatens to prevent a second installment of the Hell-A blog from coming into existence, Charlie's insistence that Hank work through his issues leads him to get faux fired.

He makes up all sorts of excuses to himself and everyone around him, but the fact is Hank doesn't feel strongly enough about anything to write. So when an unplanned gift to his daughter Becca results in her praising her father, Hank realizes that there is more than money or reputation at stake.

The episode closes with Hank narrating his second entry: "There are things I need to figure out. For [Becca's] sake at least.

The clock is ticking. The gap is widening. She won't always love me "no matter what."

For all the sex and nudity, the crass jokes and witty banter, it is ultimately Hank's unquestionable love for his daughter that inspires him to work through his own issues, even when it would be so much easier to drown in a sea of endless female genitalia. David Duchovny's mellow-yet-heartfelt voice-over seals the deal, even after an entire episode of playful banter with (seemingly) every character on the show. The screen fades to black but the audience is still thinking through what just happened - and what it all could mean. And so, just when this reviewer was prepared to praise the show for its realistically witty chatter - that in itself being an accomplishment worth notice - it is the fresh (yet intimately familiar) epiphany Hank experiences at the end that serves to step the show up and say, "Come along, it's going to be a fun ride. But our destination may defy all expectations."moreless
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"You have a dog named Cat Stevens?"

7.9

"Good"

By ascensx, Sep 07, 2007

It may be just me, but I'm starting to really think two things: 1. the show is as lost as its main character; and 2. it may not have an afterlife after all.

I really want people to tell me if they agree or disagree and I'm even free to answer PMs, but in my opinion the storyline keeps focusing in so many things at once it kind of upsets me. Plus, from one episode to the next it seems some things are totally forgotten. Last episode Hank was about to make a fight for Karen. Now, he's trying to make it work with Meredith, although he keeps trying to reach for Karen nonetheless.

The show was supposed to be about Hank and his **** life trying to raise his 12-year-old daughter, whom thanks to his bad example is trying to begin her sexual life. The pilot was about this. But now where is that storyline? Once more edges need to be cut loose and the show keeps giving me the idea of nudity and sex being its main theme alone.

I keep hoping for more and I'll stay tuned in at least for the next episode to reach a final opinion.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (4)
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- The web address in the email from Dani, www.suicidegirls.com, does actually exist but is subscription based, so the pictures would not be accessible to Charlie unless he is already a member.
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- Dani's SuicideGirls screen name was "DaniCA". CA is the shorthand for California, so the pronunciation is "Dani California." This is the name of a song by The Red Hot Chili Peppers as well as a character from their song "By The Way."
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- Todd Carr's car license plate reads "5RXH526".
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- Featured Music: She Died - "I'm Ten Feet Tall" Country Gentlemen - "My Pain And Misery" (Hank at the bar) Creosote- "The Ballad of Whiskey And Tears" Betty Davis - "Walkin' Up The Road" Dawn Landes - "Toy Piano"
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QUOTES (4)
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- Hank: You looking for a dick punch? Bill: Do you want to punch me in the dick? Hank: I kinda do, yeah. But standing here talking about it is beginning to sound pretty gay.
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- Meredith: My baby. Hank: You have a baby with the married guy? Holy f***! Meredith: No, my dog, Cat Stevens. Hank: You have a dog named Cat Stevens? Holy f***!
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- Hank: What the f*** do you want? Mia: I'm late. Hank: What? That's not possible. I-I-I-I-I-I-I wore a condom. That's - that would be like, uh, the immaculate conception. And you - you're the one who - y-you - and then you left. Mia: I'm late for school.
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- Hank: (Whispering to the dog) Hey, Cat Stevens. C'mere, Cat. Come here. I'll take you away from all this. Cat...Yusuf Islam. (Dog turns towards Hank) Peace Train's a good song. C'mere, Cat. C'mere.
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NOTES (3)
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- International Episode Titles: Czech Republic: Děvka babylonská (The Whore of Babylon)
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- Original International Air Dates:
  Australia: September 10, 2007 on Channel Ten
  Latin America: November 20, 2007 on Warner Channel
  Norway: November 21, 2007 on TV2
  The Netherlands: November 26, 2007 on Comedy Central
  Sweden: January 24, 2008 on TV4
  Denmark: March 16, 2008 on SBS Net
  Finland: March 31, 2008 on Nelonen
  Germany: May 28, 2008 on AXN
  Belgium: September 15, 2008 on 2BE
  Slovakia: September 19, 2011 on JOJ
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- This episode is rated TVMA for brief nudity, mild violence, graphic language and adult content.
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ALLUSIONS (3)
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- Todd Carr, the director of Hank's movie, is the same name as the director in Dawson's Creek played by Hal Ozsan.
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- Hank: To quote The Clash, should I stay or should I rock the casbah? The Clash were a punk-rock band from the late 70's - early 80's. Hank is referring to two of their biggest hits, "Should I Stay Or Should I Go?" and "Rock the Casbah", both from The Clash's 1982 album Combat Rock.
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- Hank: Trust me, it's like a Mapplethorpe shoot in there, except with less c**k. Robert Mapplethorpe was a controversial American photographer known for his highly erotic nudes, especially of males.
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