I’ve said many times that I’m a late bloomer when it comes to Sex And The City. While the original series ran, I was living my own Carrie Bradshaw life, writing for a series of newspapers in NYC and then for a local New Jersey paper after 9/11. I was living alone and dating up a storm. By the time the second movie was out, I was happily married and working for myself as a book editor and gearing up for writing my first book. Sex And The City was not on my radar. Until one day my business was a little slow and I was under the weather. I laid down on the couch to chill and put on the television. I fell asleep, then woke up in a daze and saw one of the early episodes of Sex And The City. I was hooked!! I caught up on all the episodes I missed and watched both movies within a matter of weeks. Over the years I re-watched several times. It was a fun show and reminded me why I’m happy I’m no longer single. Many of the episodes reminded me of some bad ex. I’ve invested in the characters and had a love/cringe relationship with all of them. (I wouldn’t say love/hate because I honestly don’t hate any of them, including the least popular Jack Berger).
I wasn’t going to watch And Just Like That, mainly because I do not have HBO/MAX. However, once I heard Big died–wow, that made me sign up in a heartbeat. The scene was so tragic, it stuck with me for days. A fake TV character died, yet felt like I lost a friend. Something this intense deserves a watch. And Just Like That, I purchased an HBO/MAX subscription.
During the 10 episodes of And Just Like That, I had mixed feelings.
As a professional writer/editor, I feel there shouldn’t be holes in any story. In And Just Like That, there were many. That’s what irked me the most. TV should be relaxing, not work. We shouldn’t have to use our imaginations in order to justify sloppiness. And that’s exactly what I did.
For example, they start off with Bitsy running into the girls, Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte. Bitsy asks where Samantha is. Charlotte says, “We lost her.” (Meaning she moved away to England after a fight with Carrie). Bitsy’s face dropped because at first she thinks Samantha died. There is no mention that Bitsy’s hubby Bobby died 18 months ago, but we find out at Big’s funeral. So, why is Bitsy so jolly when her husband had just passed? Major fail #1, in the very first episode.
Fail #2. The children. According to the timeline, all the kids should be older than teenagers. If we use our imaginations, you can assume the time of a TV show or movie stretches out a bit, making time go slower than real time. What was supposed to be 20 years later is only 15 years later. But then how would that explain…
Fail #3? Why are the characters appearing so much older than mid-50s? This is the biggest fail. This is what is angering many fans, including myself. It’s so ageist. First of all, these are high society characters. They have the money to go to the gym, access to the best doctors, the best of food, they don’t have money worries that middle and lower class people do. They SHOULD look and BE healthier than portrayed! But we have Steve with hearing aids, Harry getting a colonoscopy, and Carrie getting hip replacement. I’m a good three years older than these characters and have none of their health problems! Nor do I sit on TV every night eating desserts as Steve and Miranda do. Which brings me to the most obnoxious comment ever, from Michael Patrick King, producer of the show. He said that 90 percent of married couples are unhappy. Uh, where did he get that demographic? I’ve been happily married since 2011 and with my husband since late 2005. ALL — and I do mean ALL of our coupled friends have been together even longer, some since the 1980s and are HAPPY!! YES MPK, we are all HAPPY! I don’t know what planet you come from, but perhaps try hanging out with more positive people? Don’t be such an angry little elf. Happiness exists! Single people, do not listen to MPK!
Fail #4 – What happened in Cleveland stayed in Cleveland. In one of the later episodes, we have Miranda surprising her lover Che by taking off to go meet with her in Cleveland unexpectedly. The show ends with Miranda gleefully saying, “I’m in a rom com!” But the next show picks up with no mention of Cleveland, yet Miranda surprises Che by showing up at her apartment unexpectedly. Che gets taken aback from this. So, was it okay that she showed up in Cleveland, but not at the apartment? Or did Miranda back out and not go to Cleveland. I guess we’ll never know.
There were also other cringe moments and timeline fails that I don’t care to get into, but you can find out yourself by watching the series, or reading the reviews of others. I’d rather spend some time on the positives of the show.
But it had its moments
With all the messiness, I did LIKE the show. I just didn’t love it. Nor did I “hate watch” it. And I would love to see a Series 2. Here are some of my favorite moments from the series:
- Hello It’s Me. When Carrie and Big were listening to Big’s record collection and Big sang “Hello It’s Me” to Carrie. Totally romantic. It reminded me so much of my own relationship. We dance and talk and listen to records. So old fashioned and cool, which is why when Big died, I felt a part of me died too. I never take my marriage for granted to begin with, but this episode really had me thinking. What would life be like without my husband? I can’t even imagine! I felt Carrie’s pain–Big time (no pun intended, that’s Carrie’s job).
- Steve’s reaction to Miranda breaking up with him. David Eigenberg’s acting was so realistic, I almost cried. We had another epic Eigenberg moment during a painting scene where Steve asked Carrie about Miranda and Che’s relationship. You just wanted to reach into the screen and give him a hug!
- The new characters. No matter what we thought of these characters in the beginning they all grow on you. By the end of the series, the viewer becomes interested in their lives too.
- The fashion. While there were many fashion fails, there were plenty of wins, along with cute hairstyles. Many fans complained about Miranda’s wig, but I liked it.
- The final episode had two fab moments–when Carrie texts Samantha and they agree to meet for lunch in Paris; and when the producer of the podcast gives Carrie her own podcast called “Sex And The City.”
And Just Like That, my Thursday morning show is over. I really hope there is a Season 2. What do you think?
Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.
She is the author of the following books:
“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary
“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You
Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/
Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.