I didn’t catch The Big C when it initially aired last year as it was airing on a network that isn’t part of my cable package. It wasn’t until it appeared on Netflix Canada in the winter that I decided to check it out. I ended up finishing the entire first season in a matter of days, and was completely captivated by Cathy Jamison (Laura Linney) and the eclectic group of people that drifted in and out of her life after she’s diagnosed with cancer.
Yes, I know, it sounds like the most depressing premise, so I was surprised to find it was a series with such heart, such humour, and a total “eff you” attitude from its protagonist. Cathy didn’t exactly deal with her diagnosis in the way you might imagine. At first, she didn’t tell a soul. She became very impulsive, let loose, enjoyed what life she had left instead of becoming a slave to toxic cancer therapies. She split up and then reconciled with her husband, Paul (Oliver Platt), had a fling with a very hot artist (Lenny, played by Idris Elba), and made an unlikely friend in her surly old neighbour across the road, Marlene, a friend that she ended up losing in a move that was both tragic and triumphant. To put it simply, it had been a while since I’d watched a series that had me experiencing such a range of emotions. By the Season 1 finale, I had laughed, cried, cheered, cringed and yelled at my TV!
The Big C returns at the end of the month, and from this promo, it looks like Cathy is continuing to flip cancer the bird!
I’m ready to welcome this series back with open arms! And I predict the “Brave Bitch” t-shirts are about to become a hit!
The Big C Season 2 premiere airs June 27th at 10:30pm ET/PT.
Image Courtesy of Showtime
