The Big C: Season 2

When I was a kid, anyone who got cancer was usually dead a few months later. Flash forward to 2011 and I know many people in stage four cancers who are lasting year after year. I am five years past colon cancer 2A so I am familiar with the whole current routine.

This show picks up where cancer is today. It is a much longer event and one must live a life while also carrying around this disease for who knows how long. Laura Linney as the cancer patient continues her excellent job from season one.

One distinct improvement this season is that her oncologist was replaced by an actor who is doing a more believable job. This is Alan Alda. Alda always brings interesting juxtapositions to his roles. He is able to play a competent professional doing his job yet also turn the role on its head by being a smarmy fool married to a much younger woman.

Likewise, Kathy has a friend now also in her clinical trial and he is a valuable addition to the show. He has had cancer a lot longer that Kathy. This is not his first clinical trial. He covers a gamut of emotions far more advanced than Kathy's. While she is still in strong survival mode, focused solely on beating cancer, he is not so sure he wants to continue the battle. The knowledge has set in that he cannot beat it; he can only forestall it. Additionally, they are both stage fours so they face constant chemo (or similar) or they will die. This strong piece of acting is done by Brit actor Hugh Dancy who is totally believable as an American cancer patient.

I've noticed that more and more shows bill themselves as comedies. This one also does so, with the tag line, "A suburban mom, diagnosed with cancer, tries to find the humor in the disease." I do not find this an accurate depiction of this show. Although there are comedic moments, there are far many more dramatic moments.

I will take issue with only one thing that I think is wrong about this show in depicting cancer. When Kathy is getting chemo, she looks far too healthy. People who are getting chemo have a certain grayness to them, a sickly pallor. This is because poison is being pumped into their veins. Kathy looks radiant, by contrast. Hugh Dancy, playing her cancer buddy in the clinical trial, actually looks like someone going through chemo. I don't know why this wasn't done to both actors.

If I were not a cancer patient, I might give this series four stars instead of five. However, it is the most germane piece of tv work I've seen relative to my own illness so for me personally it is worth the five stars.

All I can say is "WOW"! The Big C has me laughing, crying, and literally glued to the TV!!! The acting is superb, the stories are so believable, and this is truly one of my favorite shows on TV (I actually subscribed to Showtime just to see it after watching a couple of episodes at a friend's house). I've watched the entire first season, and about half of the second season, and I can't wait to purchase the DVD of the 2nd season (I already own Season 1).

Watch this show and you'll be hooked too! Why can't they make shows like this for regular television?

isn't the finest actress on the planet, please tell me who is. this is her show, with an excellent supporting cast, great writing and directing. one of the finest series on television, and makes me almost forgive showtime for cancelling THE BROTHERHOOD. almost!
last night i viewed the last chapter of the 2nd season; i won't give away anything, just to say that it was the most moving 3 minutes i've ever seen in any tv episode. this ending got to me; right up there with the conclusion of SIX FEET UNDER.

long may this dynamite show run, and long may laura linney continue to be the finest actress on the planet!

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 7 reviews  4.9 out of 5 stars