This show is not a comedy.. at all period. The writing is terrible. In Pauls' interview for season 2 he stated there would be 3 deaths. (ck it out) Next season she will be sleeping with another doctor. I know I'm related to the actor. Not bad for someone with terminal cancer.
Susan
September 29th, 2011 3:12 PM
That very second that Cathy said "everyone's here" and there was Paul looking confused next to Lee and Marla, I just knew that he had died. When that realization hit Cathy and she crumpled to the ground, I started to lose it. The scene was so incredibly well done and the show once again left me with my mouth hanging open and crying as if I had just lost a friend. When Marla shot herself, I was shocked and a blubbering idiot. Kudos to this show for taking me there yet again and never failing to deliver. bring on season 3!
cg
September 29th, 2011 11:39 AM
The ending blew me away. I hope they don't cop out and bring Paul back. Much like real life one day your loved ones are here and sometimes, unexpectedly and without notice, the next day they are gone.
The hardest part about that is going to their home and seeing their life paused. Bills on the table left to be paid and crossword puzzles half finished.
Wanda
September 28th, 2011 5:07 PM
I too have watched the BIG C since episode 1 and will not miss an episode, thank God for DVR! I never thought the season finale would include a daeth since we had just lost the character Lee in the previous episode. So now I have to wait til 2012 to see if Paul is alive or dead. Between now and then I am sure I will think of numerous ways that he could be bought back...or maybe he's not dead at all. Maybe he was having one of those out of body experiences and Cathy's buddies will convince him that he must go back and help Cathy make it to the end and to be there for Adam as he continues to experience loosing his mom. Who knows?? These writers are obviously brilliant so we have no way of knowing what will happen, either way I'm positive as always that it will be humorous, heartwarming and entertaining all wrapped up in one fantastic series.
MG
September 28th, 2011 5:01 PM
I disagree that Season 2 was better than Season 1. It seemed that whenever the stories began to lag in Season 2, the scriptwriters resorted to excessive sexual references or profanity, which really detracted from the stories. The characters were not as sharply drawn and the plots were just not as good. One of the worst scenes was the dinner with Dr. Sherman. How ridiculous, and what a waste of Alan Alda's talents. Paul should stay dead. We may not even watch Season 3. Cathy is surely pretty healthy for someone with terminal melanoma.
hisqueen
September 28th, 2011 9:20 AM
I'm hoping he's not dead, but had a near-death experience and came back. His role is too important. But, it was definitely a shocker and beautifully executed, as has been said.
Sandy
September 28th, 2011 1:20 AM
@Me Andrea WAS mentioned when Adam was asking Cathy if he could go to the party she stayed it was fine because the marathon was at 8 am and she mentioned that Andrea was with her parents so he should go.
Me
September 27th, 2011 10:46 PM
So...... What ever happened with Andrea?... She was not even @ the finish line?? Just cuz she left heart broken on the 21st of Dec did not clarify the relationship between her and Cathy should be permanently over 10 days later...!?!? She was not even mentioned.... Now Paul!!!.... What the.. Gotta say that we kept saying that the last finale could not be topped... Gotta give it to them... Could not stop the tears, puffy eyes in the morning and all! Was a bit disappointed of the little appearance of Marlene, love her and want continue to see more of her in the next years to come....PLEASE!! :D
Kelley
September 27th, 2011 8:49 PM
Great recap...amazing finale! A part of me wants to embrace the beauty of this twist, that Paul is dead and life can change in an instant. But of course another part of me can't fathom that he's gone!
In any case, I keep thinking about season one and the pool she was trying to build. From what I remember, the pool is still under construction in the form of a big gaping hole in her backyard. The fact that each episode opens up with her swimming in a pool with everyone looking down on her tells me that the pool has GOT to mean SOMETHING. I think Cathy and Adam (and Paul, if he survives) will ultimately stay in their house, and by the end of spring/start of summer (which will cover all the seasons since the show began, symbolically outlining the seasons of life as well), Cathy will finally have her pool built to enjoy for summer. Whether she actually gets to enjoy it physically or spiritually is a mystery yet to be seen, which is why this show is so fantastic :-)
Joanna
September 27th, 2011 7:02 PM
why is everyone assuming that Paul is dead?? I mean it could be one of those almost-died scenarios you know where he's just in a come or something and he'll come back to life! I sure hope so he's a great actor and its too soon to take him off the show! otherwise amazing show! heartbreaking, warm, funny, real.
Karen
September 27th, 2011 4:49 PM
Who needs dialogue with an actor like Oliver Platt? His facial expressions, his heavy sigh, the stillness -- yet beseeching look -- in his eyes ... a simply amazing final scene.
AJ
September 27th, 2011 4:47 PM
This season finale shocked and devastated me. Wow, impeccably acted. In a sense we should've seen it coming - labored breathing in the office, doing cocaine in general is a health risk - but just could never fathom that 1)Paul would die 2) that anyone else would die since Cathy already lost Lee. Sadly, the blindside is so true to life. It takes balls to go there on the writers' and actors' part and as a loyal viewer from the start it will be interesting to see how this develops in a comedy that is ultimately about such a serious subject.
A Sweet
September 27th, 2011 2:44 PM
Your recap is the best I've read yet... While I understand that people want Paul's character to return, I am hoping that season 3 will allow us to see how Cathy, Adam, et al react and cope with his sudden departure. His heart wrenching (literally) monologue in the insurance office made my eyes misty. When Cathy reached the finish line, I bawled. In fact, I haven't bawled that much watching a show since Adam's discovery of the storage unit his mom was using to stash gifts, in anticipation of what stage 4 means to so many.
Kudos to the writers for giving me a reason to step outside my bubble, in a time that is so economically stressful, to once again see how short life is...how it can change at any moment and the importance of living life without regret, with passion, and with love.
(and to think I used to just read for that.)
Linda
September 27th, 2011 1:48 PM
I love this show and I also have been watching this since day 1. When the scene unfolded and Cathy saw Marlene and Lee I understood where we were going, BUT I didn't see Paul joining "them". Sure he was pissed at the insurance company and he had labored breathing, but when I realized he was dead, I burst out crying and I stunned myself and made my husband run from the other room to see what happened to me. I thought of my long marriage to my husband and all we have been through in that nano second. It was compelling. It took me long hours to relax and calm down enough to go to bed. No show has made me that emotional before.
mooneyes81
September 27th, 2011 1:47 PM
Do any of you watch "Ghost Whisperer?" Maybe Paul is not dead...maybe they revive him...maybe he was having an out of body/near death experience.....hopefully he will be back next season either alive again, or in the same way we see Marlene and Lee...
marion
September 27th, 2011 12:17 PM
I have been watching this show from day one. I too have cancer and can relate to this whole thing. I can wait for Monday's to come to see what happens next. Cathy and her family have been fighting for a while up and down but they still stayed together! But i ask why did they have to kill the husband paul??????????????? Please bring him back!!!! Make the other two send him back. He is a big part of this show two and you are going to kill the whole show!!!!!!!but oh yea thats why you do you destroy everything that is good!!!!!! Please rethink it for next season.!!!!!!! Thanks
Melissa
September 27th, 2011 12:04 PM
Wow, they completely blindsided me. I should have seen it coming, expected Paul to have a heart attack or something, but not DIE! I have not cried like that since The End of Lost. I love The Big C, but it is the most unfunny comedy I have ever watched.
G Chappell
September 27th, 2011 11:10 AM
Love your article that Big C is fantastic! I totally BOOOHOOOed at the finish line. Paul is such a lovable character it totally broke my heart.
Nick
September 27th, 2011 9:13 AM
Koodos to Showtime and the writers/producers for creating and keeping a terrific show on the air. The unexpected turn in story line will keep me, and others, tuned in for yet another season - as if Laura Linney's acting wouldn't.
Way to go The Big C people for having guts to not conform to typical TV standards.
September 29th, 2011 3:37 PM
This show is not a comedy.. at all period. The writing is terrible. In Pauls' interview for season 2 he stated there would be 3 deaths. (ck it out) Next season she will be sleeping with another doctor. I know I'm related to the actor. Not bad for someone with terminal cancer.
September 29th, 2011 3:12 PM
That very second that Cathy said "everyone's here" and there was Paul looking confused next to Lee and Marla, I just knew that he had died. When that realization hit Cathy and she crumpled to the ground, I started to lose it. The scene was so incredibly well done and the show once again left me with my mouth hanging open and crying as if I had just lost a friend. When Marla shot herself, I was shocked and a blubbering idiot. Kudos to this show for taking me there yet again and never failing to deliver. bring on season 3!
September 29th, 2011 11:39 AM
The ending blew me away. I hope they don't cop out and bring Paul back. Much like real life one day your loved ones are here and sometimes, unexpectedly and without notice, the next day they are gone.
The hardest part about that is going to their home and seeing their life paused. Bills on the table left to be paid and crossword puzzles half finished.
September 28th, 2011 5:07 PM
I too have watched the BIG C since episode 1 and will not miss an episode, thank God for DVR! I never thought the season finale would include a daeth since we had just lost the character Lee in the previous episode. So now I have to wait til 2012 to see if Paul is alive or dead. Between now and then I am sure I will think of numerous ways that he could be bought back...or maybe he's not dead at all. Maybe he was having one of those out of body experiences and Cathy's buddies will convince him that he must go back and help Cathy make it to the end and to be there for Adam as he continues to experience loosing his mom. Who knows?? These writers are obviously brilliant so we have no way of knowing what will happen, either way I'm positive as always that it will be humorous, heartwarming and entertaining all wrapped up in one fantastic series.
September 28th, 2011 5:01 PM
I disagree that Season 2 was better than Season 1. It seemed that whenever the stories began to lag in Season 2, the scriptwriters resorted to excessive sexual references or profanity, which really detracted from the stories. The characters were not as sharply drawn and the plots were just not as good. One of the worst scenes was the dinner with Dr. Sherman. How ridiculous, and what a waste of Alan Alda's talents. Paul should stay dead. We may not even watch Season 3. Cathy is surely pretty healthy for someone with terminal melanoma.
September 28th, 2011 9:20 AM
I'm hoping he's not dead, but had a near-death experience and came back. His role is too important. But, it was definitely a shocker and beautifully executed, as has been said.
September 28th, 2011 1:20 AM
@Me Andrea WAS mentioned when Adam was asking Cathy if he could go to the party she stayed it was fine because the marathon was at 8 am and she mentioned that Andrea was with her parents so he should go.
September 27th, 2011 10:46 PM
So...... What ever happened with Andrea?... She was not even @ the finish line?? Just cuz she left heart broken on the 21st of Dec did not clarify the relationship between her and Cathy should be permanently over 10 days later...!?!? She was not even mentioned.... Now Paul!!!.... What the.. Gotta say that we kept saying that the last finale could not be topped... Gotta give it to them... Could not stop the tears, puffy eyes in the morning and all! Was a bit disappointed of the little appearance of Marlene, love her and want continue to see more of her in the next years to come....PLEASE!! :D
September 27th, 2011 8:49 PM
Great recap...amazing finale! A part of me wants to embrace the beauty of this twist, that Paul is dead and life can change in an instant. But of course another part of me can't fathom that he's gone!
In any case, I keep thinking about season one and the pool she was trying to build. From what I remember, the pool is still under construction in the form of a big gaping hole in her backyard. The fact that each episode opens up with her swimming in a pool with everyone looking down on her tells me that the pool has GOT to mean SOMETHING. I think Cathy and Adam (and Paul, if he survives) will ultimately stay in their house, and by the end of spring/start of summer (which will cover all the seasons since the show began, symbolically outlining the seasons of life as well), Cathy will finally have her pool built to enjoy for summer. Whether she actually gets to enjoy it physically or spiritually is a mystery yet to be seen, which is why this show is so fantastic :-)
September 27th, 2011 7:02 PM
why is everyone assuming that Paul is dead?? I mean it could be one of those almost-died scenarios you know where he's just in a come or something and he'll come back to life! I sure hope so he's a great actor and its too soon to take him off the show! otherwise amazing show! heartbreaking, warm, funny, real.
September 27th, 2011 4:49 PM
Who needs dialogue with an actor like Oliver Platt? His facial expressions, his heavy sigh, the stillness -- yet beseeching look -- in his eyes ... a simply amazing final scene.
September 27th, 2011 4:47 PM
This season finale shocked and devastated me. Wow, impeccably acted. In a sense we should've seen it coming - labored breathing in the office, doing cocaine in general is a health risk - but just could never fathom that 1)Paul would die 2) that anyone else would die since Cathy already lost Lee. Sadly, the blindside is so true to life. It takes balls to go there on the writers' and actors' part and as a loyal viewer from the start it will be interesting to see how this develops in a comedy that is ultimately about such a serious subject.
September 27th, 2011 2:44 PM
Your recap is the best I've read yet... While I understand that people want Paul's character to return, I am hoping that season 3 will allow us to see how Cathy, Adam, et al react and cope with his sudden departure. His heart wrenching (literally) monologue in the insurance office made my eyes misty. When Cathy reached the finish line, I bawled. In fact, I haven't bawled that much watching a show since Adam's discovery of the storage unit his mom was using to stash gifts, in anticipation of what stage 4 means to so many.
Kudos to the writers for giving me a reason to step outside my bubble, in a time that is so economically stressful, to once again see how short life is...how it can change at any moment and the importance of living life without regret, with passion, and with love.
(and to think I used to just read for that.)
September 27th, 2011 1:48 PM
I love this show and I also have been watching this since day 1. When the scene unfolded and Cathy saw Marlene and Lee I understood where we were going, BUT I didn't see Paul joining "them". Sure he was pissed at the insurance company and he had labored breathing, but when I realized he was dead, I burst out crying and I stunned myself and made my husband run from the other room to see what happened to me. I thought of my long marriage to my husband and all we have been through in that nano second. It was compelling. It took me long hours to relax and calm down enough to go to bed. No show has made me that emotional before.
September 27th, 2011 1:47 PM
Do any of you watch "Ghost Whisperer?" Maybe Paul is not dead...maybe they revive him...maybe he was having an out of body/near death experience.....hopefully he will be back next season either alive again, or in the same way we see Marlene and Lee...
September 27th, 2011 12:17 PM
I have been watching this show from day one. I too have cancer and can relate to this whole thing. I can wait for Monday's to come to see what happens next. Cathy and her family have been fighting for a while up and down but they still stayed together! But i ask why did they have to kill the husband paul??????????????? Please bring him back!!!! Make the other two send him back. He is a big part of this show two and you are going to kill the whole show!!!!!!!but oh yea thats why you do you destroy everything that is good!!!!!! Please rethink it for next season.!!!!!!! Thanks
September 27th, 2011 12:04 PM
Wow, they completely blindsided me. I should have seen it coming, expected Paul to have a heart attack or something, but not DIE! I have not cried like that since The End of Lost. I love The Big C, but it is the most unfunny comedy I have ever watched.
September 27th, 2011 11:10 AM
Love your article that Big C is fantastic! I totally BOOOHOOOed at the finish line. Paul is such a lovable character it totally broke my heart.
September 27th, 2011 9:13 AM
Koodos to Showtime and the writers/producers for creating and keeping a terrific show on the air. The unexpected turn in story line will keep me, and others, tuned in for yet another season - as if Laura Linney's acting wouldn't.
Way to go The Big C people for having guts to not conform to typical TV standards.