Current Events > Halfway through season 2 of The Big C. Hasn't been great, but it picks up *spoil

(+) Yeah! (+)

*spoilers*

My favorite joke this season was where Paul has a back spasm in a gay bar and a guy gives him a bear hug to fix it, and when he drops him back on his feet Paul exclaims "is it in?!"

Hugh Dancy's character has been pretty good. Adam's becoming a worse character with every episode, I'm split on Sean and I miss Marlene. The first season has big one-off energy, like the whole appeal is that Cathy has terminal cancer and hasn't told anyone yet, and by keeping the show as wacky as it is while Cathy's seeking treatment, the formula has changed. That, or there's just not enough focus on Laura Linney.

It's like, the big comedic forces of the first season were Cathy, Marlene and Sean. Marlene has been reduced to a plot device, and Sean's storyline has changed drastically - so to make up the difference Adam has gotten more of a storyline and Paul has picked up the comedic slack. The issue is that Adam is so unlikeable at the moment that his storyline is arguably the worst part of the show, and I just don't like Paul's actor. I could buy him as a jilted, negligent husband at the whims of a fate he has no idea about, and his character's devotion to his wife is admirable. But I just don't like his delivery, and it feels like he has the same cadence all the time y'know. That was fine for a season where Cathy was the main focus, but he's sharing the focus with her and I don't enjoy the show so much with him in the picture to such a large degree.

I understand, you can't make a show about someone dying of terminal cancer and never have them tell their loved ones. The process Cathy goes through, to the point where she does tell everyone in her life, is a great arc for that first season. The issue isn't that the show isn't the same. The issue is that it's less life-affirming goofiness with Laura Linney and more of Oliver Platt phoning in a performance and the kid character being an even bigger prick with each passing episode.

And that's awkward to say, because Oliver Platt gave me the biggest laugh of the season. It was a great unexpected joke.

Season 2 feels like a retool out of necessity, and it didn't stick the landing. Cathy's friend isn't great. I miss characters who didn't make the transition. And it doesn't feel like Cathy is spreading her wings as much as she used to. Granted, she was being incredibly reckless in the first season when her wings were stretched as far as they could go, but it's scenes like her coaching the swimming team that capture the flare of her character and there's not enough of that in season 2.

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