If Season 1 was about a man trying to outrun his past, Season 2 is about him running headfirst into a mirror. Released in 2008, the second outing of Showtime’s Californication remains a fan-favorite, largely because it balances the show’s signature debauchery with a surprisingly deep exploration of the "artist’s soul" and the gravity of self-sabotage. 🎸 The Legend of Lew Ashby

The heartbeat of this season is undoubtedly (Callum Keith Rennie), a reclusive, legendary rock producer who hires Hank to write his biography. Ashby serves as a dark reflection of Hank—a man who has everything but the one thing he actually wants.

: The season kicks off with a botched vasectomy and a case of mistaken identity at a party that sets the tone for the 12-episode run.

While Hank spends the season trying to "do right" by Karen and Becca, his natural instinct for chaos ensures things never stay stable for long.

: Watching Hank and Lew trade barbs is some of the series' best writing.

"Californication" (Showtime, Season Two) | TheFutonCritic.com

: Lew’s tragic backstory forces Hank to confront his own inability to commit to the women who actually matter. 🏠 The Chaos of Domesticity