Nowadays, it seems like everything is getting a sequel or reboot. Nostalgia is huge, and it sells, even if only out of audience curiosity. And while it may not always go over well, it’s only natural to want more of the shows and films we love. So, when aSex and the Citysequel series was announced, fans were over the moon. Even with six seasons and two films, we just can’t get enough of the show and its characters. But now that we’ve seen the new series, titledAnd Just Like That…we can’t help but wonder: Was it really needed?
Yes, it’s nice to see the girls back together, but the movies did just that and gave the same effect, and arguably did so better. Theseries lacks a lot of the charm that the original show and the movies have. It strips away so much of what we loved about the sitcom in favor of appealing to a more modern-day audience rather than the loyal fans who have loved it from the get-go. Some updates were definitely needed and have been a very welcome addition to the series, such as more representation of both characters and relationships. But the issue lies in where our pre-established characters are now.
And Just Like That…
The series follows Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s.
Samantha Jones' Absence Is Deafening in ‘And Just Like That…’
One of the biggest shocks whenAnd Just Like That…was announced was that it would be going on without the inclusion ofKim Cattrall’s Samantha Jones, who was such a pivotal piece of the show’s success. The questions began to swirl surrounding the show andKim Cattrall’s feudwithSarah Jessica Parker. Would they cast someone new as Samantha? How would they explain her absence? Would they be cruel and mention in passing that she died? When the show premiered, the answer was revealed, and it was said thatSamantha moved to London and was estranged from the group afterCarrie dropped her as her publicist. This wasn’t the only mention of her though, as you can’t haveSex and the Citywithout Samantha.
She remains a looming part of the series through texts and background events, like sending the flowers for Mr. Big’s (Chris Noth) funeral, to agreeing to meet Carrie in London to rekindle their friendship. But even still, it’s not the same. Despite how hard the showrunners try and make it work,there’s a Samantha-sized hole that just can’t be filled. The worst part is that the show has her on the outs with each of the women, which feels more like a dig at Cattrall than an actual story beat. Fans were shocked and delighted whenKim Cattrall’sAnd Just Like That…cameowas announced, meaning we would finally get to see Samantha again, even if briefly. While the Season 2 cameo does feel a bit forced, it was great to get even a moment of Samantha back on our screens.
The More ‘And Just Like That…’ Tries To Be Relatable, the More Painful It Is
And just like that, I have a headache.
But Samantha isn’t the only character missing from the series.Mr. Big, the big narcissistwho had been around since theSex and the Citypilot, dies in the very first episode of the sequel series. Whether you love him or hate him as a character, and whether you like him with Carrie or not, there’s no denying that he was a huge part of the show and that his death left a mark. His death brought on a new journey for Carrie as she grappled with her grief and struggled to move on with her life afterward, but it was an incredibly abrupt choice for the show. Yes, life is unexpected and things can happen in a flash, but when you’re already down a pivotal character, is it really such a great idea to willingly kill off another?
Miranda’s Queer Journey is Important, but Sidelines Steve
On top of Samantha’s absence and Big’s death, the show feels set on shoving aside its beloved characters in favor of new ones. One of the biggest surprises of the series wasMiranda’s (Cynthia Nixon) queer journey and self-discovery, and her subsequentrelationship with Che (Sara Ramirez). On the one hand, this storyline is an incredibly important one and a really great addition to the series. After all, the original series didn’t represent LGBTQ+ relationships often or well. Sure, there was Stanford (Willie Garson) who was an openly gay character and Carrie’s best friend, but he was still a side character and didn’t get as much development or screen time as he deserved. And of course,there’s the time Samantha became gay, but even that was played for laughs at times and mishandled, and ultimately ended in a not-so-great way. It’s time the show had some authentic and respectful representation, and it’s especially great to see that representation come from a middle-aged woman.
It’s an angle that isn’t always explored and yet is an important one, so we love to see it. What wedon’tlove is how Steve (David Eigenberg) was treated in the process. There’s nothing wrong withMiranda exploring her sexuality and realizing she isn’t straight, and it’s not even so much the fact that she cheated on Steve (though that kind of sucked). Theactual issue is how Steve just sort of disappeared from the show after Miranda told him of her affair. It makes sense that he isn’t going to be as prominent a character in the show due to him no longer being with Miranda, but he’s still Brady’s (Niall Cunningham) dad. He’s been around for so long that his sudden absence is jarring. Did he have to just disappear? What is with this show discarding its beloved characters?
‘And Just Like That…’ Needs to Prioritize the Original Cast
On that topic, one of the most frustrating parts ofAnd Just Like That…is how often the main cast, the ones we’ve watched and loved all these years, are sidelined. The new characters are nice additions and bring some much-needed representation to the show, but too often it feels like they’re getting the spotlight over the originals. It’s great to see them embedded in these storylines, but at the end of the day,we want to seeCarrie, Miranda, and Charlotte(Kristin Davis)navigate their 50s, and it feels like that’s becoming increasingly unimportantas the show goes on.
So, sure, it’s great to see these characters back, but it really isn’t necessary. Maybe a reunion special similar to the one the cast ofFriendsdid would have made more sense forSex and the City. It’s still an entertaining show, but it lacks so much of the charm that the original series had, which takes away from the appeal. We have six whole seasons of the original show, plus two full-length movies. Isn’t that enough? MaybeAnd Just Like That…Season 3will see the show come further into its own, but also, maybe this is just one idea that should have stayed exactly that: an idea.
And Just Like That…is available to stream on Max in the U.S.
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