Ep 1. Slip of the Tongue

In the season 2 premiere of Californication, titled "Slip of the Tongue," we catch up with our protagonist, Hank Moody (David Duchovny), as he tries to move on from his complicated relationship with Karen (Natascha McElhone) and his one-night stand with Mia (Madeline Zima), who turns out to be only 16 years old.

Hank is still reeling from the fallout of his actions, which led to him being charged with statutory rape and publicly shamed. While he ultimately escaped jail time, the incident has left a stain on his reputation and made him a pariah in the eyes of many.

As the episode begins, we see Hank attempting to get his life back on track. He's been sober for a month, attending AA meetings, and trying to write a new book to keep himself occupied. But he's still haunted by his past and struggling to find his place in the world.

Things start to spiral out of control when Hank gets into a drunken altercation with Ronnie (Adam Goldberg), the ex-boyfriend of Karen's friend Marcy (Pamela Adlon). Ronnie accuses Hank of stealing his girlfriend and punches him in the face, prompting Hank to retaliate by smashing a bottle over Ronnie's head. The situation quickly escalates and ends with Hank being arrested for assault.

Meanwhile, Karen is trying to move on with her life as well. She's started dating Bill (Damian Young), a successful businessman, and seems to be enjoying her new relationship. However, she's still conflicted about her feelings for Hank, and we see her grappling with the decision to reach out to him or move on.

The episode also introduces a new character, Daisy (Carla Gallo), a young talent agent who takes an interest in Hank's writing and offers to represent him. Although Hank is initially wary of getting involved with her, he eventually decides to give her a chance and agrees to let her help him shop his new book around to publishers.

Overall, "Slip of the Tongue" is a strong start to the second season of Californication. It doesn't shy away from the consequences of Hank's actions from the previous season and shows him struggling to make amends and move on from his mistakes. The addition of Daisy also adds a new dynamic to the show and sets up some interesting storylines for the rest of the season.