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The Best Episodes of Californication

Every episode of Californication ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Californication!

Binge this in 1d 15h•Peaking at 9.3/10

A self-loathing, alcoholic writer attempts to repair his damaged relationships with his daughter and her mother while combating sex addiction, a budding drug problem, and the seeming inability to avoid making bad decisions.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Californication Season 3 Episode 8 - The Apartment
    9.3/10(2366 votes)

    S3:E8

    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.

    Director:Adam Bernstein
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  2. Californication Season 3 Episode 12 - Mia Culpa
    9.1/10(1878 votes)

    S3:E12

    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.

    Director:Stephen Hopkins
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  3. Californication Season 1 Episode 12 - The Last Waltz
    8.7/10(1763 votes)

    S1:E12

    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.

    Director:Scott Winant
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  4. Californication Season 4 Episode 12 - ...And Justice for All
    8.7/10(1391 votes)

    S4:E12

    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.

    Director:Adam Bernstein
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  5. Californication Season 2 Episode 4 - The Raw & the Cooked
    8.5/10(1435 votes)

    S2:E4

    Hank proposes to Karen right before a dinner party, to which Mia, Charlie, Marcy, Lew Ashby, Sonja and Julian are invited. Drugs and special circumstances turn the evening in an unexpected direction.

    Director:David Von Ancken
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  6. Californication Season 2 Episode 11 - Blues from Laurel Canyon
    8.5/10(1326 votes)

    S2:E11

    Ashby hosts a party to celebrate the publication of Mia's book. Becca is devastated to catch Damien cheating on her.

    Director:Michael Lehmann
    Writer:Gina Fattore

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Californication

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  7. Californication Season 2 Episode 12 - La Petite Mort
    8.5/10(1387 votes)

    S2:E12

    Hank completes his biography of Ashby. Charlie is reduced to working at a car dealership. Sonja gives birth. Karen accepts a job offer back home in New York, forcing Hank and Becca to make painful choices.

    Director:Bart Freundlich
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  8. Californication Season 4 Episode 4 - Monkey Business
    8.5/10(1217 votes)

    S4:E4

    Hank Moody is notified by his attorney Abby that he will be going to trial for statutory rape. But not before Hank hands the completed F&P script to Charlie, who promptly drags him to a meeting with the Director, producer Stu Beggs and eccentric financier Zig Samitaur, setting off a chain of events that leads to Hank and Charlie having to explain why there’s a dead billionaire in the bathroom.

    Director:Bart Freundlich
    Writers:Matt Patterson, Gabriel Roth

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  9. Californication Season 1 Episode 10 - The Devil's Threesome
    8.4/10(1676 votes)

    S1:E10

    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.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  10. Californication Season 4 Episode 1 - Exile on Main St.
    8.4/10(1243 votes)

    S4:E1

    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.

    Director:David Von Ancken
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  11. Californication Season 7 Episode 12 - Grace
    8.4/10(1515 votes)

    S7:E12

    Hank makes a life-altering decision. Series finale.

    Director:Adam Bernstein
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Californication Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.3/10(2777 votes)

    S1:E1

    A transplanted author suffers from writer's block and is disappointed that his novel has been turned into a romantic comedy for the big screen. He also learns his ex is engaged and that their 12-year-old daughter is acting on her “emerging sexuality.”

    Director:Stephen Hopkins
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  13. Californication Season 1 Episode 8 - California Son
    8.2/10(1811 votes)

    S1:E8

    Hank's father dies. Despite the memories of his father floating to the surface, he doesn't want to go to the funeral. To ease his pain, he goes to bed with a hooker named Trixie, despite the fact he doesn't have enough money to pay her. Meanwhile, Karen does her best to help him overcome the pain.

    Director:Scott Winant
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  14. Californication Season 3 Episode 4 - Zoso
    8.2/10(1259 votes)

    S3:E4

    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.

    Director:Bart Freundlich
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  15. Californication Season 5 Episode 12 - Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be
    8.2/10(1315 votes)

    S5:E12

    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.

    Director:Adam Bernstein
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Californication Season 1 Episode 2 - Hell-A Woman
    8.1/10(2094 votes)

    S1:E2

    Hank begins his blogging job at Hell-A-Magazine. Karen is able to set Hank up with her friend Sonja by disguising the get together as a family dinner. At dinner, Becca reveals how Hank met Karen.

    Director:Scott Winant
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  17. Californication Season 1 Episode 9 - Filthy Lucre
    8.1/10(1522 votes)

    S1:E9

    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.

    Director:Scott Z. Burns
    Writer:Ildy Modrovich

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  18. Californication Season 2 Episode 1 - Slip of the Tongue
    8.1/10(1595 votes)

    S2:E1

    After reuniting at the end of Season One, Hank and Karen decide to pack up and head to New York. As part of the reconciliation, Hank undergoes a grueling vasectomy at Karen's request. Hank has an accident when he confuses a partygoer for Karen. Hank gets arrested for driving under the influence and assaulting an officer.

    Director:David Duchovny
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  19. Californication Season 2 Episode 6 - Coke Dick & the First Kick
    8.1/10(1307 votes)

    S2:E6

    Hank decides to seek out Lew Ashby’s long lost love, Janie Jones. Hank accidentally walks in on Julian going at it with a rocker chick he’s “mentoring”. Mia spends the day trailed by Rolling Stone reporter Annika Staley. The Runkle residence is transformed into the set of Vaginatown.

    Director:Michael Lehmann
    Writers:Gina Fattore, Gabriel Roth

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  20. Californication Season 2 Episode 10 - In Utero
    8.1/10(1377 votes)

    S2:E10

    Hank awaits test results and reflects on his early days with Karen; Charlie begs Daisy to move out.

    Director:David Von Ancken
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  21. Californication Season 3 Episode 1 - Wish You Were Here
    8.1/10(1355 votes)

    S3:E1

    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.

    Director:David Duchovny
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  22. Californication Season 4 Episode 2 - Suicide Solution
    8.1/10(1126 votes)

    S4:E2

    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.

    Director:David Duchovny
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  23. Californication Season 5 Episode 11 - The Party
    8.1/10(1049 votes)

    S5:E11

    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.

    Director:Michael Lehmann
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Californication Season 1 Episode 11 - Turn the Page
    8.0/10(1484 votes)

    S1:E11

    Charlie and Dani represent Mia after she wrote a book that seems to have come out of Hank's feather. Becca decides to move out of Bill and Karen's home to live with her dad Hank.

    Director:David Von Ancken
    Writers:Gina Fattore, Eric Weinberg

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  25. Californication Season 2 Episode 7 - In a Lonely Place
    8.0/10(1255 votes)

    S2:E7

    Hank attempts to find a love interest for Becca's teacher. Charlie uncovers Marcy's secret which could have fatal effects on their finances.

    Director:Jake Kasdan
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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Best Episodes Summary

"The Apartment" is the best rated episode of "Californication". It scored 9.3/10 based on 2366 votes. Directed by Adam Bernstein and written by Tom Kapinos, it aired on 11/15/2009. This episode scored 0.2 points higher than the second highest rated, "Mia Culpa".