The WORST episodes of The Big C
Every episode of The Big C ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The Big C!
A suburban mother faces her cancer diagnosis while trying to find humor and happiness as well
#1 - Fly Away
Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/17/2012
Cathy finds herself spending time with a stranger; Paul is flattered by the attentions of an American tourist; Sean is guilt-ridden when his sister doesn't return to the dive boat.
#2 - Fight or Flight
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 9/12/2011
After an argument with Lee and a revealing dinner with Dr. Sherman, Cathy (Laura Linney) comes to a major crossroads. Elsewhere, Adam searches for his AWOL uncle and an impulsive Andrea makes a decision about Myk.
#3 - Two For The Road
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/4/2010
Cathy and Sean hit the open road to visit their dad. During the trip, Cathy tells Sean she has cancer. Sean falls apart at the news, so Cathy pretends it was a big joke. Adam gets drunk while under the supervision of Paul. Marlene finds Adam on the front lawn puking. Marlene will keep it a secret, but Adam is in further servitude to her.
#4 - Face Off
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/6/2012
Cathy goes to great lengths to impress the parents of the baby she hopes to adopt; Joy encourages Paul to share his near-death experience with a live audience, while Jessie encourages Adam to deepen his relationship with God.
#5 - The Ecstasy and the Agony
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/18/2010
Dr. Todd tells Cathy that she’s been rejected from the clinical trial. Sean sets up Marlene on a date. At a party, Adam gets into a fight with Andrea. Cathy and Lenny take ecstasy together. Paul catches Cathy and Lenny having sex. Paul gets too drunk at the dinner to celebrate his promotion, forcing Adam to drive home. Paul tells Cathy he wants a divorce.
#6 - There's No C in Team
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/30/2010
When Cathy's attempt to connect to the people closest to her fails, she signs up for a well-meaning but overbearing cancer support group. Adam rebuffs Cathy's attempts to connect with him, so she decides to put together a dinner party with Andrea, Sean and Daphne. Meanwhile, Paul tries to win back his wife's love with an elaborately romantic gesture. Marlene discovers Cathy's cancer secret in a most unusual way.
#7 - Taking Lumps
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/27/2010
Cathy needs a lump on her butt removed and someone to pick her up after surgery. She asks Marlene, who becomes disoriented - so Lenny picks up Cathy instead. Sean moves into Cathy's backyard because he got beat up on the streets. Paul and Adam win the local bathtub races. The event brings Cathy and Paul back together, but at the point of reconciliation, Paul confesses to an indiscretion with Tina and Cathy rejects the reunion. Meanwhile, Andrea breaks into the school and destroys the mural Lenny painted.
#8 - Divine Intervention
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/25/2010
Cathy’s unexpected visit to Andrea’s home yields many surprises. Later, Cathy seeks spiritual advice at church and while helping around the house. Rebecca calls it quits with Sean in order to reconcile her friendship with Cathy. Adam apologizes to Andrea. Paul sleeps with Tina. Cathy reveals to Paul she has cancer.
#9 - Happy Birthday, Cancer
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/11/2010
For her birthday, Paul surprises Cathy with a party just when Lenny has invited her to an art opening on the Bahamas. At the party, Cathy's brother begins a fling with Cathy's eccentric college friend Rebecca. Meanwhile, picks up Marlene who is wandering around in the backyard.
#10 - Losing Patients
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/27/2011
Cathy seeks a second opinion, causing a strain on her relationship with Dr. Todd; Sean learns about his sister's cancer while adjusting to life with a pregnant Rebecca; Adam sees a therapist against his will.
#11 - How Do You Feel?
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/29/2011
Cathy helps Lee check a few items off his "bucket list;" Poppy takes Adam to her high school reunion; a distraught Sean takes issue with his new neighbors.
#12 - Sexual Healing
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/11/2011
Cathy and Paul experience frustrations in bed and with the help of their new house mate Andrea, realize they need to set some patient-caregiver limits; Rebecca is put off by the newly medicated Sean; unsatisfied by his physical relationship with Mia, Adam turns to another girl, Emily.
#13 - Blue-Eyed Iris
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/20/2010
Cathy meets someone new to feel sexy again. Meanwhile, Cathy's eccentric brother Sean tries to keep his building and Adam is caught while watching pornography.
#14 - Vaya Con Dios
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/10/2012
Cathy tries scuba diving in an effort to maximize the fun on her Puerto Rico vacation; Paul, reeling from the news about Joy, tries to keep it together during a speaking engagement. Later, Sean decides to take a respite from dating after undergoing yet another breakup.
#15 - Musical Chairs
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/4/2011
Frustrated at not being able to land a spot in the clinical trial of a new treatment by a respected oncologist, Cathy resorts to supernatural aid; Sean becomes assertive around the house; Adam capitalizes on his classmates' sympathy about his mother's illness.
#16 - New Beginnings
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/1/2010
Paul seeks support from people at his work place, but gets more than he bargained for. Sean pulls away from Rebecca when it appears she’s getting too serious. Cathy, Marlene and Rebecca have a girl’s lunch at a strip joint -- which unexpectedly influences Cathy’s thoughts about her cancer. Adam meets a girl, Mia, at the bus stop.
#17 - The Little c
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 8/1/2011
Adam's shocking indiscretion threatens Cathy's new job as a swim coach; sparks fly between Andrea and Myk, a Ukrainian coworker that Paul is mentoring; Sean seeks advice on taking the "next step" with Rebecca.
#18 - Cats and Dogs
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/25/2011
Due to Paul's layoff, Cathy starts to pawn her jewelry and meets Lee there as well. Adam gets into a situation that he may need help with to get out of. Sean is kicked out of a mother's group when he tests out his homemade sling at the park
#19 - Family Matters
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/29/2012
Cathy focuses on her new personal pursuit while Adam and Andrea each cope with her new direction in their own ways; Sean meets Willy (guest star Victor Garber), the former owner of his sex line business.
#20 - What's Your Story?
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/15/2012
Sean discovers a new and unusual way to generate income; Andrea tries to start an African-American interest club; Adam becomes increasingly devoted to his faith and joins a Bible study group at school.
#21 - Boo!
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/18/2011
Cathy is intrigued by Lee, a fellow cancer patient she meets on the first day of her clinical trial; Adam's downward spiral continues with a fight at school and refusal to take responsibility for his actions with Emily; Sean is worried that his new house is haunted.
#22 - Playing the Cancer Car
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/13/2010
Cathy, eager to try on a carefree, impulsive persona, drains her 401K, buys a convertible and imagines what life would be like if she were Dr. Todd's girlfriend. At his therapist's urging, Paul reignites his passion for rugby. Sean goes to great lengths to knock out a tooth without the help of a dentist. Meanwhile, Adam gets caught stealing and is surprised when Marlene comes to his rescue, until he finds out there are strings attached.
#23 - Bundle of Joy
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/22/2012
Cathy visits a joyologist while Sean and Andrea go out for Valentine's Day.
#24 - Everything That Rises Must Converge
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/8/2010
Dr. Todd and Cathy go to see the Bee Man to seek non-traditional treatment for her cancer. Paul is overly supportive of Cathy around the house. Sean gives Adam relationship advice about Mia.
#25 - Summer Time
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/23/2010
Cathy learns from Dr. Todd just how little time she has left, and for the first time in her life, starts to appreciate her body. Paul tries to make sense of his wife's request to live apart for the summer by signing up for couples therapy. Adam, desperate to get away from his "crazy" mom, attempts to sneak off to soccer camp without her knowing.