The BEST Episodes of The Big C
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Jan 11, 2022
Network: Showtime
A suburban mother faces her cancer diagnosis while trying to find humor and happiness as well
#1 - The Finale
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired May 6, 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.
8.39 
#2 - Quality of Death
Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired May 6, 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.
8.38 
#3 - You Can't Take It With You
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired Apr 29, 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.
8.33 
#4 - Crossing the Line
Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired Sep 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.
8.22 
#5 - Quality of Life
Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired Apr 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.
8.17 
#6 - Taking the Plunge
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired Nov 15, 2010
In the Season 1 finale, Cathy receives the news about her bee treatments.
8.03 
#7 - A Little Death
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired Aug 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.
7.95 
#8 - Killjoy
Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired Jun 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.
7.81 
#9 - The Darkest Day
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired Sep 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.
7.80 
#10 - Pilot
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired Aug 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.
7.74 
#11 - How Bazaar
Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired May 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.
7.74 
#12 - Life Rights
Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired May 13, 2012
Cathy and Paul receive an extraordinary offer from Joy's friend.
7.73 
#13 - The Last Thanksgiving
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired Aug 15, 2011
Cathy invites friends and family to a Thanksgiving dinner, but a long-hidden secret she brings to light causes trouble.
7.71 
#14 - Thin Ice
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired Apr 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.
7.70 
#15 - Goldilocks and the Bears
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired Aug 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.
7.69 
#16 - Summer Time
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired Aug 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.
7.64 
#17 - Everything That Rises Must Converge
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired Nov 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.
7.61 
#18 - Bundle of Joy
Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired Apr 22, 2012
Cathy visits a joyologist while Sean and Andrea go out for Valentine's Day.
7.60 
#19 - Playing the Cancer Car
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired Sep 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.
7.58 
#20 - Boo!
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired Jul 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.
7.56 
#21 - What's Your Story?
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired Apr 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.
7.55 
#22 - Family Matters
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired Apr 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.
7.53 
#23 - The Little c
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired Aug 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.
7.50 
#24 - Cats and Dogs
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired Jul 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
7.50 
#25 - Musical Chairs
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired Jul 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.
7.48