Showtime’s “The Big C” is engaging new series

Showtime’s new drama series “The Big C” stars Laura Linney as Cathy Jamison, a cautious, restricted Minneapolis schoolteacher who is diagnosed with terminal Stage Four melanoma.

I was a little apprehensive in my expectations for this show.

Would it be possible to make a story about someone with terminal cancer humorous and upbeat, as it was seeming to be promoted, and not always end up being sad and/or depressing?

Considering Showtime is behind such series as “Dexter,” which makes a serial killer a believable, likeable character, and “Nurse Jackie,” which is about a nurse with drug addiction and fidelity issues, but who is also caring and captivating, I shouldn’t have had any doubt that “The Big C” would be worthwhile.

After previewing just a few episodes, I don’t know that I can say I like it as much as the previously mentioned shows, but it did draw me in.

There are moments that are uplifting and I admire Cathy’s determination to make the best of the cards she’s been dealt.

Laura Linney is sensational in this role – when you can’t imagine another actor portraying a character – it’s kismet.

As far as the story line goes, even though I question Cathy’s decision-making involving sharing the news about her health, it just adds to this character’s personality.

Oliver Platt is solid as her husband Paul, who, along with their son Adam (Gabriel Basso) don’t know how to handle Cathy’s new attitude.

Gabourey Sidibe displays feistiness in her role as Andrea, one of Cathy’s students.

In the beginning of the series, these two don’t exactly hit it off, but they begin to form a bond.

Cathy also has an interesting relationship with her neighbor Marlene.

They fight with each other one minute, then wind up on the same wavelength with each other the next.

Then, there’s Cathy’s brother Sean (John Benjamin Hickey), who’s exactly the opposite of Cathy – he’s a free spirit – so free in fact that he’s selectively homeless and wildly outspoken.

There can never be enough television shows with good writing and acting and this is definitely one of them, with its interesting plot and characters, and the potential “The Big C” displays deserves an A.

– Melissa Hayer

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