Cool Hand Joe

I’ve been waiting for something like The Big C to come along for a while now.

I hate how television shows have to peak and fall like they do but that’s the reality of the business. Weeds and True Blood are almost entirely different shows than they started out to be. I enjoy them both, even still, but they’re different. The Big C… it’s at that point where everything is just perfect.

Enter supporting-star Precious aka Gabourey Sidibe… who neglects to be included in the opening credits leading me to believe she’ll be axed before the second season. Also, I’m not sure she can actually act but the character makes me laugh, so I don’t care.

I’m not sure how long the show can work legitimately but I don’t even really care at this point. The plot centers around a fourty-something mother who discovers that she’s living with terminal cancer. She keeps it a secret from those in her life and goes from boring housewife drone to Nancy Botwin within the initial pilot episode. The episodes following have thus far been progressively better and better. I’ve noticed that critics consider the primary narrative, the fact that Cathy can die at any moment, at a fault; however, if a show like True Blood can show three seasons over the course of a two month period within the narrative than a show like The Big C can do the same. Who cares if it’s 2010 within the narrative for a few years screening time, right?

The show is simple at this point. The lead, Laura Linney as Cathy, discovers the cancer and subsequently is step by step becoming more and more rebellious and fun. It’s so smart, though, in that most of the other characters are so unlikable, in that they abuse Cathy and take her for granted, that the audience gravitates towards her unbelievably.

I’m not sure how long this process can last before the show has to become more complicated but I’m honestly hoping it doesn’t pull a Weeds and sharply deter from the starting point. I mean, screen an episode from season one of Weeds back to back with an episode from the current season to someone who has never seen the show before and they’ll be fucked. I still love Nancy though and, if you’re a Nancy fan too, you’ll most likely enjoy The Big C because Cathy is reminiscent, in a strange way, of Botwin. She’s just a little more likable.