Review: The Big C, Season 2, Ep 12. "The Darkest Day" (You'll laugh, cry, & get slapped)

Air Date: Monday, September 19, 2011 10:30 PM E/P

Rating ★★★★★

From being aroused by cannoli last week to needing a box of tissue this week, The Big C sure knows how to spin your emotions in every direction. Happy, giddy, confused, exasperated, angry, sad, hurt, and mournful, “The Darkest Day” makes you long for the warmth of daylight.

Review: The Big C, Season 2, Ep 12. "The Darkest Day" (You'll laugh, cry, & get slapped) 1

Dr. Atticus Sherman (Alan Alda) invites Cathy (Laura Linney) to speak to his students

Cathy (Laura Linney) is a guest speaker for one of Dr. Sherman’s (guest star Alan Alda) medical classes. I love how the actors portray the medical students with an almost realistic callous demeanor toward Cathy, probing her with questions full of complex medical terminology. Brava to Cathy for speaking up about how they should treat patients and spend more than two minutes with them. I am so happy she says something to Dr. Sherman as well. After having dinner with him and his wife (and her cannoli), you’d think that would have bridged the gap a little between doctor and patient. While I don’t always think you need to be pals with your doctor, I do think there needs to be some open dialogue on a personal level, especially if you are terminally ill.

Is it wrong for me to say I think it’s kind of a genius move on Showtime’s part to make cocaine relevant again? I mean, we hear about marijuana all the time but there aren’t enough hard drugs being written about in dark comedies anymore. Forget the booze, weed, and pill popping nurses (wink wink) – I want to see more coked out blue collar workers like Paul (Oliver Platt). Nothing says, “I’m cool with my wife’s terminal illness” like snorting cocaine! (Please note the heavy sarcasm in case you are too doped out.)

I will say I’m glad Paul stands up for Andrea (Gabourey Sidibe) when he learns Myk (Boyd Holbrook) is in the country illegally. I feel bad for Andrea but I think Paul is right – she knew somewhere deep inside something was amiss. I’m sure Myk loves her but I am not sure if he’s truly in love with her. Unfortunately, I think this will be a major setback for Andrea. She’s already very defensive about many things but even in her relationship with Myk, she questions his motives rather than trusting he cares for her.

: Lee (Hugh Dancy) calls his mole-mate Cathy to come over so he can say goodbye.

December 21^st is the winter solstice – also known as the darkest day of the year—but for Cathy, it is darker than she imagined. As they prepare to leave for their Christmas trip to Italy, Cathy gets a call from her “mole-mate” Lee (guest star Hugh Dancy). If you haven’t seen the episode, get some tissues, it’s a tear jerker…and a face slapper, although I think that is an involuntary reflex. This is the stuff dark comedies are made of. I wish premium networks weren’t so afraid to step into the gray areas of what is truly a dark comedy – finding humor in the depths of despair. A round of applause to Dancy – he really divests himself to embody this character. He’s lost so much weight and truly looks helpless.

“The Darkest Day” is an episode you can’t define simply by saying it was great or even poignant. It has humor, sarcasm, complexity, drama, and somewhere in there is a moral or two, depending on what plucks your heartstrings. I am looking forward to seeing the season finale next Monday, but also a bit sad the season will soon be over.

Tune in to the season two finale of The Big C, next Monday, Sept 26^that 10:30pm E/P only on Showtime.

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.