Ep 1. Pilot

Cathy Jamison is a reserved, humdrum and seemingly ordinary Minnesota schoolteacher, struggling to make ends meet and trying her best to create a comfortable life for her teenage son and immature husband. But after being diagnosed with terminal melanoma and given only a year or two to live, Cathy finds herself grappling with the curious complexities of her mortality, trying to enjoy her remaining time on Earth to the best of her ability.

As she anticipates her almost seemingly predetermined future of medical appointments, doctors visits and chemotherapy treatments, Cathy decides that rather than being passive and sitting idly by, she needs to take control of her life. In search of excitement, she embarks on a wild journey of self-discovery, which involves existential pleasure seeking, self-reflection and soul-searching, all while dealing with her new reality: she is dying.

Throughout the episode, we are introduced to the quirky, hyperactive personalities which comprise Cathy’s mundane and unspectacular existence - her son Adam, a stoned high-school student fixated on breaking into the art world; her rude, unappreciative husband Paul, a loutish caricature of a man who seems to thrive on belittling and failing those around him; and her seemingly well-meaning and friendly next door neighbor Marlene, whose persistent artistic endeavors prove to be irreverently inappropriate and infuriatingly annoying.

As Cathy begins to explore her passions and pursue a more self-fulfilling existence, she discovers that her aggressive melanoma diagnosis has allowed her to throw caution to the wind. Cathy is no longer focused on pleasing those around her, but rather on pleasing herself - indulging in frisky affairs, gambling too much money at the casino and buying herself a bright red convertible.

Despite her new-found freedom, Cathy struggles with what it means to live her best life, as she begins to question her choices and feel the weight of her mortality weighing down upon her. As her journey progresses, we see Cathy grappling with her external circumstances but also her internal conflicts as she tries to determine the best way forward that ensures that her remaining time is impactful and purposeful.

With dark humor and an honest, gritty portrayal of what it means to come to terms with mortality, The Big C takes the viewer on an emotional and personal journey that is all at once uplifting, harrowing and poignant. The heartwarming performances from the cast and the poignant script create a beautiful balance of humor and heart that is inspiring and life-affirming.