Californication: Dinner with Friends Recap

Well, we didn’t even recap last week’s episode, “Faith, Love, Hope” because basically Hank, Charlie and Marcy sat in the hospital waiting for word on Karen’s condition after her car accident, just as you would expect them to act in such a situation. Hank doggy-paddled in a sea of remorse and had flashbacks of his life with Karen. She turned out to be fine with just a concussion. This week, We’re back to the crazy: “Dinner with Friends” picks up with Hank going to check on Karen and wheedling her into joining him for dinner out. He takes her to Charlie and Marcy’s and makes an intimate dinner for the two of them. Julia pops by and Karen invites her to stay, much to Hank’s discomfort. But that’s only the beginning of the parade. Charlie, Marcy and Krull show up. Levon arrives with a hooker named Mi that he owes money to. Rick Rath drops by with the insanity that is Eddie Nero.

Mi has done business with Krull and Eddie. Hank is miffed when Rick Rath chats up Karen and Levon tells Hank that Eddie Nero will get the “stink finger” if he keeps hitting on Julia. Hank explains why the stink finger is powerless over Eddie. It also comes to light, to Hank’s relief, that Karen never really slept with Eddie. Karen, on the other hand, is not exactly overjoyed when it comes to light that Hank really boffed Julia quite recently.

The episode just would not be complete without Stu Beggs, who arrives with a cash-filled briefcase, a 10% deposit on sex with the “pint-sized powerhouse.” Stan begins describing what it is like in her magic “candy store” and how sleeping with Marcy is the closest Stu has ever come to his maker. Charlie insists that Stu stop disrespecting him in his own home and when Stu won’t, a knock-down drag-out fight ensues between the two men. Eddie Nero shoots out a light and says there will be no fighting on his watch. Rick Rath says he’s calling the network — he can’t work with crazy Eddie. Hank, Eddie and Julia have a discussion about sleeping with a paraplegic and Mi takes advantage of the opportunity to seize Eddie’s gun. Aiming it at his head, she orders everyone to empty their pockets. Eddie makes a valiant effort to stop her by charging with his wheelchair but she sends him straight to the swimming pool and runs off with everything, including Stu’s money.

Hank takes Karen to her doorstep. They laugh over how nothing good every happens at Charlie and Marcy’s house, like it was built on an Indian burial ground. Hanks wonder what his chances of getting back with Karen are now, but Karen says that despite the things that make Hank charming and attractive, he is impossible to live with. “Hank, I love you,” she says, “but I can’t be with you.”

Two more episodes to go… we’ll see how long that lasts.

Cast of Dinner with Friends:
Rob Lowe – Eddie Nero
Oliver Cooper – Levon
Heather Graham – Julia
Michael Imperioli – Rick Rath
Stephen Tobolowsky – Stu Beggs
Steve Jones – Krull
Hana Mae Lee – Mi