Review: The Big C, Season 2, Ep. 4 "Boo!" - Your Entertainment Corner

Air Date: Monday, July 18, 2011 10:30pm E/P

Rating ★★★★★

Review: The Big C, Season 2, Ep. 4 "Boo!" 1

Andrea makes Cathy a 'Brave Bitch' t-shirt

Halloween happens to be one of my favorite holidays. And “Boo!” gives us candy, costumes, ghosts, and vampires – what more could you ask for? I think Sean (John Benjamin Hickey) would like an exorcism because he’s hearing strange noises throughout the house. Could Marlene’s (Phyllis Somerville) ghost still be lingering? She did commit suicide there. When Andrea (Gabourey Sidibe) drops off a bag of Halloween candy to Sean, she suggests he burn sage to rid the house of spirits; one in particular: “You hear that Marlene? It’s time to crossover you old racist bitch!” (LOL!)

Meanwhile, both Paul (Oliver Platt) and Adam (Gabriel Basso) seem to be exuding some hostile feelings towards Halloween. Adam is having an off day. After getting into a scuffle at school and making Emily (Emily Kinney) cry, he is not in the mood for Halloween fun. And Paul tells a nurse who’s dressed as a vampire, “Just for the record, I find your outfit highly offensive.” It seems anything resembling death irks him even more now that Cathy (Laura Linney) is facing it.

Review: The Big C, Season 2, Ep. 4 "Boo!" 2

Laura Linney as Cathy and Oliver Platt as Paul

Isn’t Paul supposed to be the “can-cierge” so Cathy doesn’t have to worry so much about little things, like finding a parking spot at the Pinnie Oncology Center? Cathy circles the lot while Paul is being a “back-seat driver in the front seat while texting.” When the young man they supposedly hit, Lee (guest star Hugh Dancy), begins laughing hysterically, you realize he’s not really hurt. It was a big practical joke. Of course it scares the crap out of Paul and Cathy to which Lee responds, “Boo!”

I’m going to play Devil’s advocate now. Cathy has stage-four Melanoma so I understand her being on edge, but I think she’s channeling the ‘bitch’ in “Brave Bitch” embroidered on the t-shirt Andrea makes for her. “I feel braver and bitchier already.” Yeah, her being bitchier is beginning to rub me the wrong way. When she runs into (pun intended) Lee again in the waiting room, she tries to avoid being noticed, but Lee boisterously makes cracks about how the look on Cathy’s face was so funny. An extremely irritated Cathy tries to speak to him but he’s wearing ear buds, “Then take out the fucking ear buds, shut up, and let me fill out my Goddamn paperwork!”

Review: The Big C, Season 2, Ep. 4 "Boo!" 3

Lee makes cracks about the little practical joke he pulled on Cathy

Oh, that was a bit nasty don’t you think? Sure Lee’s joke was a bit over the top, perhaps even juvenile, but he, along with the rest of the people in the waiting room, is there for the same reason as Cathy – to do the clinical trial. I love the analogy Lee uses in response to Cathy’s outburst. “Let me give you a little tip, Catherine Tolkey Jamison. I’m guessing this is your first clinical trial, right? And clinical trials are very much like…um, the first day of school. Right now, cliques are forming, bonds are being made, and nobody wants to be friends with the mean blond girl.” Bravo, Lee! I am all for standing up for yourself and everyone handles their illness in their own unique way. Cathy chooses to be a bitch first, ask questions later type of gal.

As much as I love this show I think Cathy’s character needs some polishing. Negative energy can play a factor in the overall treatment and recovery, and right now she’s coming off more and more like a straight up snobby bitch. But I know she’s more than that. I think she feels partly like she can be an angry person without facing the consequences, but at the same time she should be more gracious and positive.

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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.