The Sex and the City spin-off “And Just Like That” came to an end. It was exciting to see some of our favorite characters back for a few more years to share a short glimpse of what they have been up to, and what challenges they are facing now.
Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda came back almost twenty years after the last episode of Sex and the City premiered. They made new friends, new partners, a lot of things in their lives have changed, but there are elements of the plots, the clothes, and their actions that were debatable to say the least.
As we honor these legendary characters with the extraordinary and glamorous addition of Lisa Todd Wexley and Seema Patel, let’s recap some highlights and “low”-lights of And Just Like That. This week, we will focus on the positive things that we rescue from the show —those that made us smile, laugh, learn something new, or feel seen on the screens week after week.
1.-Being alone is not being lonely
Sex and the City was all about looking for the right man. There were ups and downs, funny characters, and some others with toxic traits that the girls were dating. We were witnesses to Charlotte’s mental breakdowns when she found herself single, frustrated, and without knowing when she would be able to find her soulmate. “I’ve been dating since I was 15. Where is he?”
In “And just like that”, Big died, then Carrie flirted with the idea of dating apps for a little bit, until she reached out to Aidan in an attempt to reheat nachos that were not meant to be reheated a third time. Duncan and then no Duncan, big house or old apartment, even the ending of her cringy novel were surrounded by the question Carrie was asking herself and people around her were asking themselves. Is it okay to be alone?
There might be more dates… or not. Duncan might come back, or he might not. But Carrie, with Charlotte’s support, was able to embrace the idea that she could live alone and that there was nothing wrong with it. In fact, this was a healthier choice for her than going back with Aidan for round 4 or chasing Duncan in London and pretending to be someone she is not. (Remember when she went with Petrovsky to Paris and quit her column?)
2.-The Imperfection of Lisa Todd Wexley
When we first met Lisa in season 1, it almost seemed as though she had everything under control, and she managed to be on top of everything. But it was refreshing to see the “behind the scenes” of a mother who does-it-all. A woman who is beautiful, smart, strong, and has a successful career. But during the second season, Lisa struggled with questions about having another child and dealt with a painful miscarriage, a film-maker who is charming, sophisticated, and friendly, but deals with feelings of guilt and hesitations for “firting” (working / flirting) with his editor.
No one shall blame or shame her for feeling attracted to her editor, a young good-looking smart man who she spent several hours working with. Yet it was the way she kept navigating these challenges and overcame them that made us want to be Lisa’s friend. The more we knew about Lisa Todd Wexley, the more beloved her character became.
3.-Corporate America slaps on Semma Patel’s face
It’s not a matter of celebration that corporate America slapped on our girl Semma. She did not deserve that. But it is worth highlighting the realistic elements that we are rescuing and that viewers and fans are celebrating, and creating a strong connection with the show. (Which, as we will mention on the second part of this series, sometimes felt too utopian).
Seema Patel’s real estate journey seems admirable, remarkable, and almost perfect. Her car matches her copper and metallic animal print outfits. Her Birkins are a trophy of her successful career, and her contacts at the tip of her finger speak volumes about how well connected she is amongst Manhattan’s elite.
But the third season gave us a splash of reality. Turns out, being a person of color in America signifies dealing with obstacles that Seema’s coworkers didn’t have to deal with. Despite camaraderie and friendliness from his White male coworkers, Seema was next in line to be an investor of the real estate firm and lead a business with the vision, clarity, and savviness that she had dealt with her entire career. They didn’t say, “We don’t choose you Seema, because you are a woman, or because you are a person of color”. Why would they be so transparent when they can just say “we chose to go in another direction” or “we moved forward with another candidate with a different background”.
Thank you And Just Like That, for not making this an entirely utopian reality and make Seema an inspiring, entrepreneurial, clever soul who faces challenges but continues to succeed despite them.
4.-I was someone before all of you.
Charlotte came back from having drinks with her coworkers because she was “slaying” at work. She dropped her phone in a margarita and arrived home late. Harry, Lily, and Rock (Charlotte’s husband and children) are asking her where she was, why she didn’t answer her phone, and expressed how much they need her. “I was someone before all of you,” Charlotte yells, fighting to stay on her feet without falling.
Charlotte dreamed and fought hard for that life. She wanted to get married and she wanted to have kids. At the same time, a person is so much more than a wife and a mother. Charlotte is a friend, an art expert, an extraordinary dog owner, and a woman with a cute Upper East Side clothing style that can’t be curated overnight. How powerful of Charlotte to go to brunch with friends and party with coworkers, especially as we contrast her with the Charlotte of the second movie, when she felt guilt of being separated from her kids and husband when she went to Abu Dhabi with the girls.
A person is so much more than a family role, and for Charlotte, specifically, to verbalize it on And Just Like That was a meaningful highlight of the entire show.
5.-A healthy breakup for a change.
When Carrie said, “I gave you my 100% and it still wasn’t enough”, it made it seem as though she is going to therapy and she has it all under control. It was a very mature evaluation of the situation. As beloved as Aidan is, was, and will be for fans of different generations, it was crystal clear that the relationship was not working. She was waiting in an empty huge apartment, waiting to furnish it together. He came every once in a while with his own family issues and was insecure about Carrie and what she had been up to. They were trying to relive a romance from two decades ago, but there were too many elephants in the room: trust issues, family issues, and an odd negligence of Big’s existence —it was too painful to watch them carry on.
6.- Fashion communicating how life, style, love, and sex prevail and thrive in your 50’s and 60’s
During Sex and the City, fashion played the important role of placing meaningful, desirable objects into pop culture. It is because of Carrie Bradshaw that Manolo Blahnik’s became widely known for millennials and Gen-Z, and it was also because of Bradshaw’s styling in the 90s that the Fendi baguette became such a popular bag.
In And Just Like That, Carrie is still going to Bergdorf’s to buy a ton of high-heeled shoes. But the role of fashion in this spin-off is different. Not every outfit is meant to slay. In fact, the costume department of the spin-off confessed that there are some outfits that are intended to be “hideous”. But the bigger premise here is that all of these women are wearing different clothes, putting makeup on, trying different styles and seeing what suits them and what doesn’t. There is no age when one should stop pursuing these creative decisions —not if it’s because of people’s expectations surrounding our age.
7.Rock’s lessons on gender fluidity
Rock’s character is one of the best non-binary representations on TV yet. Their personality is not stereotypical, and the plots and choices within their personality are really an exemplification of gender fluidity that makes it easier for others to understand what gender fluidity can look like. Rock came out as non-binary in the first season of And Just Like That. Rock was raised as a girl but she embraced their new name Rock and their androgynous, fluid, and masculine clothes for the day-to-day. Yes, there was some resistance from Charlotte, who was used to seeing them in pink dresses and ruffles, but they were able to work together as a family to support Rock on their coming-out journey.
So in the final season of And Just Like That, we see a Rock who is practicing for the school production "Thoroughly Modern Millie,” and Rock is wearing a beautiful sparkly red dress, and they have makeup on. Charlotte feels guilty even telling her friends that Rock looks “pretty”. But Rock simply sees it as show business and has no conflict seeing this dress and makeup as a costume, rather than as clothes and elements that belong to who Rock is.
8.- Unhinged scenes.
Seema setting her mattress on fire, Charlotte falling on a bed with a white substance, Carrie’s cat watching her have phone sex and Miranda sleeping with a nun were some of those moments that made the original show so special. It was very fun and hard to see these unhinged moments coming. Thank you, and just like that for this.
Come back next week for the second part of this series to discuss the “low”lights of And Just Like That.
