1753 - The Big C: season three

When the second season ended on a cliff-hanger that assumed we might not be seeing Oliver Platt returning, I was pretty impressed by the bold move.  I was instantly unimpressed when they whisked it away right from the get-go in this season.
I'm going to rant for a moment about what I think is an essential issue when it comes to the Showtime series of shows.  It's a company that fosters really bold and original ideas - but doesn't know what the hell to do with them to the point where it just feels like it drags stories on to no end and for no good reason.  It has a laundry list of shows like this one, Californication, Dexter, United States of Tara, Nurse Jackie, wherein these fucked up main characters do whatever is most convenient at that moment to ensure that the series continues on a few seasons more, rather than offering an honest progression.  Some of those shows above do it worse than others - but sadly none of them really feel like the series are going towards anything, or have an over-all game plan.
In a world where almost everyone has been touched by the illness of cancer, I have no idea why I'm supposed to like the character of Cathy who is a bi-polar bitch.  Gotta give Linney props for making her human and likeable in small doses, but you can't fix what's a problem at the core.  We have no reason to care for her, and less for her family as they go on.  The supporting cast has become cartoon characters with quirks.  Andrea (now Ibabu) has absolutely no reason to be on the show outside of being the quirky outsider.  Son Adam is now, for whatever reason, religious.  Paul is a self-help guru, and brother Sean, the character whom had the most morals and dimensions, is not a running gag. 
Will I come back for a fourth season?  I'm sure I'll check out an episode or two, but I just don't know - in a world full of shows I've yet to see, I'm not sure this one is worth my time anymore.  It's a shame since there's a lot of great talent involved.  Alas.

1652 - The Big C: season two

The first season ended on quite the gut-punch that could have easily been a finale - it was ridiculously strong and made me weep like a child with a skinned knee.  This season ended on a different kind of kick to the gut - but I'll get to that.  And, clearly, here's your SPOILER warning up front. 

I think this show has improved quite a bit.  The first season was good, but this one really stepped it up a notch.  I like that their relationships are moving in new directions and that they don't just keep beating the same horse.  The stuff with the brother and the baby was solid and heartbreaking.  Wonder if we'll see the lovely Cynthia Nixon again.  I like her a lot.  I loved that we saw Cathy dealing with her cancer and getting involved in other patients.  I loved her relationship with her son and husband.  I was meh on the son's sexual issues and felt like the Parker Posey storyline died way too fast.  But the worst storyline, or worst two, come off of the same new character - Mick.  The storyline with Andrea was clearly obvious from the get-go and she was a smarter person than that for it to have never come up.  And the cocaine thing just didn't feel like it fit at all... In fact, if they really have decided to kill Oliver Platt off then they've made a seriously bizarre choice.  He's a great actor and addition to the cast.  Although it would create an interesting dynamic - everyone has been working to mentally prepare for Cathy's death, but it's a death that they weren't expecting that they have to deal with - that I think is quite interesting.  They've renewed the series for another go-around so I suppose we'll get to see how they play it out.  I'll be there. 

All in all a solid season for a show that continues to improve.  Give it a whirl - both seasons are on Netflix.

1494 - The Big C: season one

I'd intended to watch this series during it's first run, but somehow missed it. That's the problem right now - so much good television - so little time. So here I am now.
First, it's kind of surprising that there hasn't been a "cancer" show yet. That's not to say that there haven't been shows in which characters deal with having cancer, but to have it as it's primary thrust is something else. In a time where it's hard to find someone in North America who hasn't been touched in some way by at least one of the variation iterations of the disease (my own mother passed away when I was a teenager from ovarian cancer), it's surprising that this is the first kick at the can of a very universal topic. I suppose the problem is tone. And that's where this show really excels. It's not preachy at all, it's not sappy or sugary. Its not mean spirited, despite some characters doing some fairly emotionally horrible things to one another. What this show is about is what cancer does to you - and not physically, but otherwise. And cancer as a metaphor as well for things that eat away at us.
The cast for this show is stellar. Laura Linney has always been amazing and she's tour-de-force here. Oliver Platt is one of my favorites and he does not disappoint. John Benjamin Hickey is a breath of fresh air as Cathy's off-the-grid brother, and Gabriel Basso does a great turn as her son that needs a kick in the pants. Gabourey Sidibe's performance here makes me actually wants to watch Precious now.
This show connects with me because it's a comedy with heart, and that's what I dig. In particular the season finale just kicked my ass. I'm sure it has a lot to do with my personal connection to the topic, but damn did they ever do a good job - right up to the point where I wonder where the show can go next? They did a really good job of completely all of their characters first stages of their arcs that it almost felt like they could have wrapped it up there.
Only time will tell... Looking forward to season two...
The Big C