The BEST episodes of The Big C

Every episode of The Big C ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Big C!

A suburban mother faces her cancer diagnosis while trying to find humor and happiness as well

Last Updated: 11/6/2024Network: Paramount+ with ShowtimeStatus: Ended
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Quality of Death
star
8.29
286 votes

#1 - Quality of Death

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/13/2013

Dr. Sherman pays a visit to Cathy, who has checked herself into a hospice and is experiencing problems with her new roommate. Adam confronts Paul about his lack of parental guidance. Andrea seeks inspiration from Cathy.

Directors: Richard Heus
Writer: Jenny Bicks
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Finale
star
8.28
322 votes

#2 - The Finale

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/20/2013

Adam surprises everyone when he fulfills one of Cathy's wishes. Cathy's estranged Dad visits her. Andrea gets the opportunity of a lifetime. Sean has mixed feelings about his impending kidney surgery.

Directors: Michael Engler
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
You Can't Take It With You
star
8.25
254 votes

#3 - You Can't Take It With You

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/6/2013

Sean feels inspired to donate to charity. Cathy upsets Paul when she signs him up to an online dating service. Andrea struggles to impress her tutor, Isaac Mizrahi.

Directors: Jann Turner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Crossing the Line
star
8.20
365 votes

#4 - Crossing the Line

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 9/26/2011

Cathy is inspired by Lee’s passing to ring in the New Year in an unexpected way; burdened by financial issues, Paul tries a new tactic with the insurance agency; Adam makes a surprising connection with Dr. Todd.

Directors: Michael Engler
Writer: Darlene Hunt
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Quality of Life
star
8.11
289 votes

#5 - Quality of Life

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/29/2013

Cathy plans Adam's sixteenth birthday party. Andrea struggles settling in with her new room-mate at fashion school. Paul brings in a new assistant.

Directors: Michael Engler
Writer: Darlene Hunt
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Taking the Plunge
star
8.01
674 votes

#6 - Taking the Plunge

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 11/15/2010

In the Season 1 finale, Cathy receives the news about her bee treatments.

Directors: Michael Engler
Writer: Darlene Hunt
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Little Death
star
7.94
496 votes

#7 - A Little Death

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/22/2011

Rebecca deals with the grief over her miscarriage in an unexpected way which leads Cathy to reconnect with old friends; Andrea's relationship with Myk heats up; Adam is taken by surprise when he finally meets the girl he's been chatting with in an online cancer support group.

Writer: Jenny Bicks
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Killjoy
star
7.80
399 votes

#8 - Killjoy

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/3/2012

Cathy pays back Maxine and Dave, and confronts Joy about Paul; Sean discovers the pros and cons of his relationship with Tim and Giselle; Paul learns something new about Cathy.

Directors: Jann Turner
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Darkest Day
star
7.79
556 votes

#9 - The Darkest Day

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 9/19/2011

As Cathy prepares for her trip to Italy, she receives an amicable call from Lee. Elsewhere, Paul uncovers a secret about Myk while Adam discovers one about Poppy.

Directors: Craig Zisk
Writer: Jenny Bicks
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
How Bazaar
star
7.73
366 votes

#10 - How Bazaar

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/20/2012

Cathy and Adam go a little too far with their generosity; Joy encourages Paul to pursue an endorsement deal; Sean brings his new friends Tim and Giselle to a charity auction.

Directors: Jann Turner
Writer: Cusi Cram
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Life Rights
star
7.73
315 votes

#11 - Life Rights

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/13/2012

Cathy and Paul receive an extraordinary offer from Joy's friend.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pilot
star
7.71
1215 votes

#12 - Pilot

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/16/2010

After being diagnosed with melanoma, Cathy decides to build a pool in her backyard, much to the chagrin of her older curmudgeonly neighbor, Marlene. Cathy’s son, Adam, plays pranks on her while her husband Paul tries to get back in her good graces. Cathy also tries to reconnect with her willfully homeless brother Sean, and devises a weight-loss plan for Andrea, one of her summer school students.

Directors: Bill Condon
Writer: Darlene Hunt
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Last Thanksgiving
star
7.70
520 votes

#13 - The Last Thanksgiving

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/15/2011

Cathy invites friends and family to a Thanksgiving dinner, but a long-hidden secret she brings to light causes trouble.

Directors: Michael Engler
Writer: Darlene Hunt
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Goldilocks and the Bears
star
7.69
550 votes

#14 - Goldilocks and the Bears

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/8/2011

Lee takes Cathy to a Tibetan doctor to deal with her high blood pressure. Feeling jealousy of Lee, Paul takes Cathy and Lee out for an evening, while Adam interfere with Andrea's date.

Directors: Michael Engler
Writer: Cusi Cram
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Thin Ice
star
7.68
432 votes

#15 - Thin Ice

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/8/2012

Cathy receives medical news that gives her reason to hope for recovery; Sean supports Andrea's newfound appreciation for her African heritage; Adam turns to prayer to help his ailing mother.

Directors: Michael Engler
Writer: Darlene Hunt
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Summer Time
star
7.63
1003 votes

#16 - 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.

Directors: Michael Engler
Writer: Darlene Hunt
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Everything That Rises Must Converge
star
7.60
757 votes

#17 - 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.

Directors: Michael Engler
Writer: Jenny Bicks
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bundle of Joy
star
7.60
341 votes

#18 - 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.

Directors: Adam Bernstein
Writer: Jenny Bicks
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Playing the Cancer Car
star
7.58
819 votes

#19 - 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.

Directors: Craig Zisk
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Boo!
star
7.56
384 votes

#20 - 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.

Directors: Miguel Arteta
Writer: Cara DiPaolo
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
What's Your Story?
star
7.53
460 votes

#21 - 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.

Directors: Michael Engler
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Family Matters
star
7.52
397 votes

#22 - 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.

Directors: Adam Bernstein
Writer: Cara DiPaolo
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Little c
star
7.48
413 votes

#23 - 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.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Cats and Dogs
star
7.48
417 votes

#24 - 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

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
New Beginnings
star
7.48
830 votes

#25 - 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.

Directors: Michael Lehmann
Writer: Cara DiPaolo
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV