Sex and the City fans have resorted to “hate watching” the revival series, And Just Like That.
The reboot, which began its first season on HBO Max in 2021, has received a wave of criticism from dedicated fans of the original series for straying away from everything that made Sex and the City golden.
Everything was criticized, from the character of Che Diaz as a whole, to Miranda’s lovesick behavior that proved her to be a shell of her former self. Carrie, who was once extremely opinionated, chaotic, and messy, is now so mellowed out that she feels like a one-dimensional prop in a gorgeous tutu skirt. What happened to the spunky characters from Sex and the City we’ve all grown to love?
And while it’s pretty evident by now that we’ll never get the empowering spark we saw on Sex and the City, I found there to be a solid amount of potential in season 3, episode 1 of And Just Like That. Hear me out.
Miranda’s Storyline With Rosie O’Donnell As The Nun Had Me Cackling For All The Right Reasons
Maybe it’s just me, but I was laughing hysterically throughout Miranda’s storyline with the nun, played hilariously by Rosie O’Donnell. Usually, when I laugh at And Just Like That, it’s because something unintentionally hilarious happens on screen. Yet finally, finally, finally, I’ve found myself genuinely cackling at And Just Like That for a storyline that’s actually intended to be funny.
In season 3, episode 1, Miranda discovers that she took the virginity of a nun who is visiting New York for the very first time. Carrie remarks how she can’t tell what’s worse: the fact that Miranda slept with a nun or a tourist. Then, a flood of texts comes rushing Miranda’s way from the nun, where she wants to meet up in the most touristy locations imaginable. (The M&M store in Times Square.) When they finally break up, Rosie O’Donnell begins singing “For Good” from Wicked, and it’s honestly comedy gold IMO. This feels like one of the better “bad date” storylines from the original series on Sex and The City.
Carrie and Aidan Are Doomed, But Their Downward Spiral Feels Very SATC-Coded
Carrie’s romantic plotlines have felt so hollow and uninspired since And Just Like That kicked off. Sure, it was good to see her get back out there with the podcaster guy and a few other short-lived dates across the way, but there were zero stakes in these dynamics. Carrie simply wasn’t invested. This makes sense since she was still grieving over the loss of Big, but it wasn’t executed in a way where viewers felt the emotional tension.
Yet with Carrie’s rekindled romance with Aidan, it finally feels like there are high stakes again. The pair love each other deeply, but the idea of them being able to make it last with five years of long-distance, feels like a slowly moving downward spiral. Sure, their long-distance relationship led to arguably the cringiest moment in television history, (if you’ve seen Season 3, Episode 1, you know precisely what I’m talking about.) But at least we finally have some much-needed stakes that have been pretty much absent since season 1 of AJLT.
Carrie Bradshaw’s Return to Narrating The Show
At the end of Season 3, Episode 1, Carrie flipped open her laptop as fans of Sex and the City were met with a wave of nostalgia when she began to type out her thoughts. The classic Carrie Bradshaw narration was back, as she *couldn’t help but wonder* over her failed relationship with Aidan. She questions aloud, “What have I done?” leaving a major cliffhanger for fans.
While And Just Like That is still far from perfect, I think it has some great potential that I look forward to seeing explored. What are your thoughts on the season 3 premiere? Let us know in the comments section below.
