The BEST Episodes of The Big C
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Nov 6, 2019
Network: Showtime
A suburban mother faces her cancer diagnosis while trying to find humor and happiness as well
#1 - Taking the Plunge
Season 1 - Episode 13
In the Season 1 finale, Cathy receives the news about her bee treatments.
8.68 
#2 - The Finale
Season 4 - Episode 4
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.
8.55 
#3 - Crossing the Line
Season 2 - Episode 13
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.
8.54 
#4 - Quality of Death
Season 4 - Episode 3
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.
8.49 
#5 - The Darkest Day
Season 2 - Episode 12
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.
8.29 
#6 - You Can't Take It With You
Season 4 - Episode 2
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.
8.28 
#7 - Everything That Rises Must Converge
Season 1 - Episode 12
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.
8.27 
#8 - The Last Thanksgiving
Season 2 - Episode 8
Cathy invites friends and family to a Thanksgiving dinner, but a long-hidden secret she brings to light causes trouble.
8.23 
#9 - The Little c
Season 2 - Episode 6
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.
8.19 
#10 - Quality of Life
Season 4 - Episode 1
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.
8.19 
#11 - A Little Death
Season 2 - Episode 9
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.
8.15 
#12 - Goldilocks and the Bears
Season 2 - Episode 7
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.
8.13 
#13 - Playing the Cancer Car
Season 1 - Episode 4
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.
8.11 
#14 - Pilot
Season 1 - Episode 1
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.
8.02 
#15 - New Beginnings
Season 1 - Episode 11
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.
8.00 
#16 - Thin Ice
Season 3 - Episode 1
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.
7.99 
#17 - Summer Time
Season 1 - Episode 2
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.
7.89 
#18 - Two For The Road
Season 1 - Episode 7
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.
7.88 
#19 - How Bazaar
Season 3 - Episode 7
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.
7.85 
#20 - How Do You Feel?
Season 2 - Episode 10
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.
7.85 
#21 - Killjoy
Season 3 - Episode 8
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.
7.85 
#22 - Blue-Eyed Iris
Season 1 - Episode 5
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.
7.85 
#23 - Musical Chairs
Season 2 - Episode 2
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.
7.83 
#24 - Taking Lumps
Season 1 - Episode 6
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.
7.81 
#25 - What's Your Story?
Season 3 - Episode 2
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.
7.81