Sex and the City is a landmark of American television. The show gave a refreshing and unashamed look into the sexual lives and desires of four women in their early thirties. Sex and the City broke boundaries and challenged expectations, cementing its network, HBO, as the home for prestigious stories.
The show received mostly positive reviews from the audience and critics. S Sex and the City was anchored by a chaotic but irresistible performance from Sarah Jessica Parker. The word iconic is used freely and carelessly these days, but it is genuinely fitting. The series dared the audience to take a closer look at subjects previously considered taboo. The women of Sex and the City were bold and open about their sexuality, even prudish Charlotte was more risque than the typical leading lady of prime time television.
Sex and the City entered a privileged place in the cultural zeitgeist, one populated by only a few shows and movies that audiences refuse to forget. They kept it alive in the collective imaginary by missing it. Those who had never watched Sex and the City were familiar with Carrie Bradshaw. The show was brought back for a movie because of the devotion of the fans. Sex and the City received mixed-to-positive reviews, but it was an overwhelming commercial success, grossing over $400 million worldwide. A sequel quickly followed.
Sex and the City 2, a movie so bad it derailed the franchise for years and ruined its reputation, has been said enough. Sex and the City 2 is bad, and not so-bad-its-good; it's so bad that I hate these characters now. For a long time, it seemed like the franchise wouldn't come back from such a failure. Things got worse as the long-rumored behind-the-scenes feud between Kim Cattrall andParker came to light. Both actresses had a very public back-and-forth that culminated with Cattrall making a harsh post on her social media account.
And just like that happened.
When the news of a sequel to Sex and the City first came out, eyebrows were raised and eyes were rolling. It was seen as an attempt to bring some much-needed name content into the struggling streaming service. Why else would they resuscitate a franchise whose popularity was at an all-time low, if they were trying to shore up their subscription numbers?
Sex and the City 2 or theParker and Cattrall feud was not the only one. Since the terrible second movie, many video essays and think pieces have been written about Sex and the City and its legacy. The character of Carrie Bradshaw was criticized for being selfish, self-destructive, and an awful friend. Fans and critics criticized the series for its lack of diversity and conservative views on sex and sexuality.
At a time when people were more prepared to scrutinize, analyze, and rip apart a property than ever before, why resurrect it? Well, because of that. They watched, analyzed, and ripped apart Sex and the City, not knowing what to expect from the show.
It is not Sex and the City, for better and worse, what they got. It has the same characters and themes, but its essence is different. The city is now gloomy, dull, and surprisingly melancholic after being vibrant and full of promises. The show used to be horny and proud of it, but now it's safe in terms of sexual experimentation. In Sex and the City, the girls dealt with a lot of disappointment, but they were still hopeful. They might be in And Just Like That, facing unexpected situations that disrupt their privileged lives and handling them with varying degrees of success.
Changes that attempted to right the original series were included in And Just Like That. Charlotte's daughter comes out as nonbinary, and the girls all have a friend. The biggest change is in Miranda, who starts an affair with a stand-up comedian, eventually leaving Steve for them.
The audience became divided after these narrative choices were made. The original Sex and the City wasn't universally acclaimed despite being an awards darling and received mixed reviews throughout much of its run. The franchise's real power is its ability to strike a nerve with its audience. Fans and critics discussed the series throughout its ninety-four-episode run, and they did the same with And Just Like That, with some tearing it apart with seeing hatred and others trying to defend it as a welcome and necessary update to an already dated franchise. They kept And Just Like That alive in social media and the pop-culture vocabulary, thus injecting some much-needed vitality to a franchise on life support.
The roar that brought Sex and the City back to life wasn't just a loud scream in a crowded room. It was loud enough for people to hear it, but they might not have understood what the show was trying to say, but at least they listened to the words and repeated them. If they want to survive, shows need to spark a conversation.
Audiences fell back into the Carrie Bradshaw trap. They got frustrated with and angry at her, wondering how she was able to stay the same for twenty-plus years. She is a complicated character, hero and villain, likable one moment and unsympathetic the next. Carrie is imperfect and messy, inviting valid criticism, yet there is a charm in her many flaws, an appeal that makes it hard to root against her.
Carrie is the all-seeing, all-knowing central figure of her show, and she holds a place of honor in television. Carrie's world revolves around her, to the point where it's almost like she's writing a novel. She is television's ultimate writer, an almost mythical figure who wills her dreams and desires to life with a few well-chosen words. She is loud, selfish, messy, and constantly moving.
If Carrie's story was that she would always be the same, and with the noticeable absence of oneSamantha Jones, it was up to Miranda and Charlotte to keep the series fresh and innovative. Fans reacted differently to their stories.
Charlotte was still Charlotte for most of the time, but Miranda was a completely different character than the original Sex and the City left her. Her character was completely different, she was a desperate and needy woman who hurt those closest to her and showed no remorse.
At least fans and critics reacted to Miranda's storyline. The recent revivals and remakes of popular shows have become almost irrelevant before airing their entire seasons.
And Just Like That prevailed, sparking a conversation many other shows would love to have. The fashion received a lot of attention, with Carrie's outfits getting examined by multiple outlets. Charlotte's reaction to Rock's storyline attracted both positive and negative criticism. Che Diaz is the most divisive character in the show and there are many sarcastic pieces about him. Some pieces were critical of the show, but they still cared enough to explain why they hated it.
In a way, she might be right about all publicity being good publicity. Television is brutal and ruthless, and only infamy can save one-to-many projects. Even though Sex and the City had legions of devoted and forgiving fans, there were two that defended it. Sex and the City is a relic of a bygone era that inspire both derision and respect because few current shows inspire that kind of loyalty.
The end of And Just Like That was everything but conclusive. The characters were placed on a clear path for a more exciting and compelling story, which made them seem like a stepping stone to better things. The ending was so promising that it seemed like it would go back to Sex and the City. It achieved what it set out to do and didn't die. It proved its formula could work in the complicated television landscape and without the fan-favorite character ofSamantha Jones.
The freshman effort did well, according to the little information that was released to the public. The Sex and the City brand makes it one of the best shows on HBO Max, meaning casual and hesitant viewers will keep discovering it in the following weeks.
It should come as no surprise that And Just Like That was renewed for a second season. It should come back for another round of vintage, designer fashion, and woke posturing. It provided its franchise with something that no money can buy. Audiences still care about miss Bradshaw and will tune in to see her doing what she does best: screw things up. Carrie, welcome back. We have missed you, but not everyone will admit it.
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