A personal observation; cynics often have a deeply buried romantic streak.

Illustrating this is Hank Moody, played with wry perfection by David Duchovny (whose life may be imitating his art) in Showtime’s Californication. a smartly written show about sex, drugs, and Los Angeles. By episode three of the third season, Hank has convinced his ex-wife Karen to leave her fiance at the altar and give their relationship another go. Hank has every intention on re-marrying Karen and making a cohesive family with their daughter Becca, but Hank is a damaged creature. He sneaks cigarettes and alcohol when stressed, he gets into fights far too easily, and through a combination of bad luck and bad decisions, finds his sexual escapades from his single life coming back to haunt him. After one revelation too many, Karen finds that as much as she loves Hank, she can’t live with him and has to return the engagement ring he gave her. Hank, normally quick with glib quips and armored with irony and sarcasm, visibly crumbles in the face of Karen’s rejection and when Becca half-reassures Hank with “It was nice while it lasted,” he can’t mask the hurt on his face.

Another subplot of the series is Hank’s ongoing struggle with writer’s block. He is responsible for a book titled “God Hates Us All” but is now coasting on the book’s reputation. His greatest success is now an albatross around his neck, forcing him to play the misanthrope while he searches for further inspiration and self-medicate with alcohol. Californication is a comedy on the surface with a tragic center.

Duchovny has screenwriting credits himself and sells the blocked writer with seeming familiarity. His scruffy charisma makes the stream of lovers acceptably believable (but not entirely– the ratio of beautiful women to dumpy guys strains credibility). The rest of the cast are able performers with some uncomfortable material; vulnerability is a must here and every major actor here acquits themselves well. All in all, there is much pleasure in the torment of Hank Moody.