The holidays ate my lunch in terms of regular updates about this show, so I’m going to attempt to condense a few down using some bullets episodes by episode.
Let’s start with some random thoughts from the last few!
I really appreciate that when Rose said she didn’t “feel like a girl,” Charlotte took it straight to Anthony, who poo-poo’d it. I think it would’ve been easy to have a gay character immediately take up Rose’s cause of gender ambiguity/non-binary feelings and become her champion, but instead, the writers chose to place Anthony in his generation more than in his sexuality. It further proves that the LGBTQ+ community is not a monolith, and that everyone has their own struggles or points of tension in their understanding — even within the community itself. I loved this little piece of writing. And I loved Charlotte’s reaction at the comedy show when Che’s words hit her. You can see it all over her face that she gets it, even if she isn’t ready to get it.
The clothes porn in the “Carrie returning to her apartment” episode. If you’re a superfan, you already spotted it, but not to be missed: the coat from her “fashion roadkill” moment being used as her bedsheet; the giant tulle skirt and white booties from seasons of yore being re-used. The purple sequined Fendi Baguette.
The Stanford of it all is ridiculous. What in the hell. I know they had to find a way to write him out, but this felt so flippant and silly with little context and (at least for now) no follow-up is such a whiff.
The entire Natasha stalking plot line, y’all…why. Why?
Seema handing Carrie her ass when she was acting like a whiny brat was excellent television. Carrie tends to be incredibly egocentric and having a sturdy woman clap back at her in a kind but firm way was just the medicine she needed. More Seema!
And while we’re here…Carrie was a brat to Charlotte when Charlotte brought up Miranda’s drinking. Yes, Charlotte is a meddler and very prim. But she’s also a sweet friend who loves her bestie and is noticing a troubling pattern. Care more, Carrie!
The Miranda/Nya lunch and the “kids are great but not that great” moment. It’s a hard one to watch. Miranda is so repressed and unhappy that it’s seeping out of her pores. I loved getting to explore the “Should I become a mom?” questions through the eyes of these two women. And I’ve said it before: God bless the folks who know they don’t want kids and stick to their guns. Children aren’t ever something that someone should be coerced into having, and I respect the hell out of people who know it’s not for them.
Episode 5: Painfully Hip
Carrie’s apartment has had another makeover and the wallpaper is TO DIE.
I like that they’re rotating in Samantha subs. They didn’t designate one character to replace her - we’ve had Stanford, Anthony, Seema, sometimes no one.
I feel like the Big of it all being gone is making Carrie lighter and brighter. She has laughed and smiled more this episode than any so far.
This little shitty girlfriend ordering lube and tube socks to Miranda and Steve’s, then saying “That’s why I don’t order things online.” First of all, you just did?! You’re holding them? And secondly, I loathe choice to just let high school Brady have a live-in girlfriend. I know I sound like a grandma here, but it’s INAPPROP and you can’t convince me otherwise.
Bringing a colorful and insane knit blanket to the hospital is so perfect and on-brand. I once saw Carrie Bradshaw bring her laptop to a repair shop in a pashmina, so I brought my broken apple laptop into a repair shop in a pashmina. And now, whenever I have hip surgery or have another baby, I will bring an insane, brightly colored knit blanket.
“I think it was a false alarm.” “Um, Carrie? You’re peeing.” “I am?” “Yes!” “…am I done?” “Nope. I’ll let you know.” Drugged Carrie is amazing.
Carrie eating a baguette in the back of a bread van getting carried by a giant muscled hottie, I am LIVING.
I love watching Charlotte and Harry journey through Rock’s exploration together. I think it’s both rough and real.
How do we feel about about Miranda’s transition into experimenting with Che?? I’m Team Miranda always AND also it’s an interesting move for this character. Obviously we know Cynthia Nixon is gay in real life and that Sara Ramirez is both bisexual and nonbinary, so we’ve got that piece of context to help explain why their sex scene was raw, beautiful, passionate, and electric (not that two straight women couldn’t have pulled this off, but this felt like it was on another level of fire). At first, I felt like it was a little bit of a curveball to see Miranda, who had up to this point in the series showed no indication of being interested in women (that I remember, am I wrong here?), suddenly make that jump. Then again, using someone’s past history of sexuality to indicate where their heart truly lies is silly and ignorant; plenty of people make changes later in the lives because of any number of factors. I ended up feeling like it isn’t actually that big a leap, and the relief and glow on Miranda’s face after that kitchen romp were gorgeous. The ensuing conflict between Miranda and Carrie is gritty and great. Sometimes the fact that these two women (Cynthia Nixon and SJP) have known each other since they were teenagers really shows up and makes a scene shine.
But also, she cheated on Steve. Which I hate.
Sara Ramirez continues to crush it.
I appreciate that this episode centers around the three original gals. I love the new additions to the cast and want to see more of them in the rest of the series, but the show had tipped too far in the early episodes in the direction of making the LTW, Seema, Nya, and Che need to be included in every storyline, even when it wasn’t natural/when the storyline had to be centered around the original 3’s relationship to the new cast members. To me, it felt contrived and like an over-correction to the lack of diversity in the original series’ canon. This episode felt natural, easy, and like a real old-school SATC; the newer characters were included seamlessly and naturally, in ways that made sense and moved the story. Chef’s kiss!
That we’re five in also makes me acutely aware of the fact that there are only 5 more episodes, and it just now feels like the show has gotten its sea legs. Killing off Big was necessary to get the girls back to their truest form, but that plot choice sucked up three four episodes and I feel a little resentful of it.
Samantha returning via text message continues to be a Choice. Anyone who knows me knows I am vehemently ride or die for SJP, and yet I can’t help but wonder (wink!) how Kim Cattrall feels about all this. She shit the bed, she caused the problem, and yet…it is her character. That’s got to be hard.
Goodbye, alcohol. Hello, Miranda.
COME ON LEGS, back in heels!!!! That dress, that hair, in the final shot in her closet? Goosebumps.