While the show does contain a few obvious penis punch lines, it is so much more than its gimmicky name suggests, offering plenty of heart, along with worthwhile riffs on the national economy, American resourcefulness and, yes, gender dynamics.

Thanks to Adams and Kreskoff's delightfully wicked power struggle, Hung feels fresher now than it felt last summer and more textured.

Although at times Hung unravels and feels as lost as Ray Drecker himself, its individual scenes present as darkly funny and disturbing a parable of the disheartening state of American culture as you'll find on the small screen.

Hung remains less of a comedy than HBO presents it as, but it's certainly more platable in season two.

I feel that there's a really good dark comedy about the decline of the American dream struggling to emerge from the often-forced plots.

Season two, unfortunately, takes that start and heads in the wrong direction.

It turns out, not merely depressing, but unfunny in its comedic moments and unmoving in its dramatic ones. Which is weird, because Thomas Jane is charming as gigolo Ray and Jane Adams' Tanya is always interesting as his pimp.