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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 8.2/10

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 1 Episode 12 - The Last Waltz
    8.2/10(29 votes)

    #1 - The Last Waltz

    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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  2. Californication Season 1 Episode 11 - Turn the Page
    8.1/10(29 votes)

    #2 - Turn the Page

    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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  3. Californication Season 2 Episode 4 - The Raw & the Cooked
    8.1/10(26 votes)

    #3 - The Raw & the Cooked

    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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  4. Californication Season 2 Episode 12 - La Petite Mort
    8.1/10(24 votes)

    #4 - La Petite Mort

    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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  5. Californication Season 1 Episode 8 - California Son
    8.0/10(34 votes)

    #5 - California Son

    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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  6. Californication Season 2 Episode 11 - Blues from Laurel Canyon
    8.0/10(24 votes)

    #6 - Blues from Laurel Canyon

    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 1 Episode 6 - Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
    7.9/10(35 votes)

    #7 - Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

    S1:E6

    Hank spends the night with a sexy surfer girl and in return she robs him. Mia wants more of Hank's writing to pass her class, instead he offers her to help her with her own writing. Charlie wants to spice up the sex life with his wife, but she is not as fond of spanking as Dani is.

    Director:Ken Whittingham
    Writers:Tom Kapinos, Eric Weinberg

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  8. Californication Season 1 Episode 9 - Filthy Lucre
    7.9/10(31 votes)

    #8 - Filthy Lucre

    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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  9. Californication Season 3 Episode 12 - Mia Culpa
    7.9/10(26 votes)

    #9 - Mia Culpa

    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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  10. Californication Season 1 Episode 2 - Hell-A Woman
    7.8/10(45 votes)

    #10 - Hell-A Woman

    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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  11. Californication Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    7.7/10(48 votes)

    #11 - Pilot

    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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  12. Californication Season 1 Episode 4 - Fear and Loathing at the Fundraiser
    7.7/10(38 votes)

    #12 - Fear and Loathing at the Fundraiser

    S1:E4

    Meredith convinces Hank to escort her to an environmental fundraiser. Coincidentally Bill and Karen are at the same event, where Karen makes a scene. Also, Hank runs into Dani and Charlie while they are in his office.

    Director:Michael Lembeck
    Writer:Daisy Gardner

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  13. Californication Season 2 Episode 10 - In Utero
    7.7/10(23 votes)

    #13 - In Utero

    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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  14. Californication Season 3 Episode 8 - The Apartment
    7.7/10(29 votes)

    #14 - The Apartment

    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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  15. Californication Season 4 Episode 10 - The Trial
    7.7/10(23 votes)

    #15 - The Trial

    S4:E10

    A nervous Hank discovers that he's got good reason to panic when his trial turns into an all-out character assassination, with even friendly witnesses Charlie and Karen unable to portray him as anything other than a drunken, oversexed lout.

    Director:Seith Mann
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  16. Californication Season 4 Episode 12 - ...And Justice for All
    7.7/10(24 votes)

    #16 - ...And Justice for All

    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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  17. Californication Season 1 Episode 5 - LOL
    7.6/10(37 votes)

    #17 - LOL

    S1:E5

    Bill asks Hank to step in as a guest speaker at Mia's creative writing class. During a radio interview, Hank talks about his writing and motivations. Meanwhile, Becca develops a crush on her guitar teacher Dave, but he ends up with Mia.

    Director:Bart Freundlich
    Writer:Susan McMartin

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  18. Californication Season 2 Episode 7 - In a Lonely Place
    7.6/10(24 votes)

    #18 - In a Lonely Place

    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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  19. Californication Season 5 Episode 12 - Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be
    7.6/10(25 votes)

    #19 - Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be

    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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  20. Californication Season 1 Episode 3 - The Whore of Babylon
    7.5/10(40 votes)

    #20 - The Whore of Babylon

    S1:E3

    At a book signing, Hank gets into a scrap with the disgruntled director of the film based on his novel, and later runs into a woman whom he embarrassed and insulted on a blind date. Mia attempts to steal some of Hank's work to use for her high-school creative-writing class.

    Director:Scott Winant
    Writer:Tom Kapinos

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  21. Californication Season 1 Episode 10 - The Devil's Threesome
    7.5/10(34 votes)

    #21 - The Devil's Threesome

    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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  22. Californication Season 2 Episode 3 - No Way to Treat a Lady
    7.5/10(26 votes)

    #22 - No Way to Treat a Lady

    S2:E3

    Charlie wants to help Daisy with her porn career, while Hanks starts writing Lew Ashby's biography. Becca has her first day at a private school, while Karen meets Sonja and Julian again.

    Director:John Dahl
    Writer:Gina Fattore

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  23. Californication Season 2 Episode 6 - Coke Dick & the First Kick
    7.5/10(24 votes)

    #23 - Coke Dick & the First Kick

    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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  24. Californication Season 2 Episode 8 - Going Down and Out in Beverly Hills
    7.5/10(23 votes)

    #24 - Going Down and Out in Beverly Hills

    S2:E8

    Hank tries to get the truth about Ashby; Karen confronts the record producer; Marcy detoxes at her mother's house; Charlie succumbs to temptation.

    Director:Daniel Ducovny
    Writer:Daisy Gardner

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  25. Californication Season 3 Episode 1 - Wish You Were Here
    7.5/10(26 votes)

    #25 - Wish You Were Here

    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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Best Episodes Summary

"The Last Waltz" is the best rated episode of "Californication". It scored 8.2/10 based on 29 votes. Directed by Scott Winant and written by Tom Kapinos, it aired on 10/29/2007. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Turn the Page".