Derek Miller
Third Review
April 26, 2013
The
Big C
“The Big C” is
about Cathy Jamison (Laura Linney) who was once a type-A personality teacher
who was diagnosed with melanoma. Throughout the first three seasons we went
through the diagnosis, treatments, tests with Cathy and last season we got the
worst news. Cathy’s treatment is not working, so she along with the show will
be dying this season.
Although the
subject matter of the show can be depressing, the show is about more than
cancer. We see the progression of a character and her family as they receive
such terrible news. We see the hope but ultimately the loss of hope that one has
for their future. Through Cathy, we see that you should live life to the
fullest everyday because you are not guaranteed tomorrow.
Cancer may be
title and the reason for the show yet it is often just a gateway for other
conversations to be had. Cathy’s cancer has led a quest to live a better, more
fulfilled life. Cancer is her motivation and inspiration versus a death
sentence. We see the struggles she has trying to parent a 15 year old son Adam
(Gabriel Basso) while attempting to prepare him for life without her but also
enjoy each others company. Cathy also works on her strained marriage to her
husband Paul (Oliver Platt). Although
she is dying, all her problems do not go by the wayside and she just enjoys her
day. She has to fix all the problems and then build the relationships back in
order to enjoy them. These are struggles that not only dying people deal but
ones that most American’s deal with. In due time, we generally fix out our
issues or they resolve themselves. Cathy is on a shorter time table than most
and is working hard to resolve these things.
The subject matter
of the show is quite polarizing, as is the title. My friend’s mother is going
through the cancer battle and she cannot watch the show because she is afraid
it will give her less hope for her mother. I understand her reasoning and that
is what held a lot of viewers back. With such a stark title, one assumes the
entire show is about cancer. The first 3 seasons were about Cathy who just so
happened to have cancer. This final season will be the season that cancer is
the true focus. As Cathy begins to
slowly lose her life, I will slowly begin to gain my Sunday night’s back. I do
not want Cathy to die, simply because I want this show to continue. I’ve never
laughed so hard about cancer in my life. It has made cancer seem less scary to
me and I believe if given a different title it could do the same for many others.
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