My early to mid-20s (okay, late-late teens…age 19 as well) was spent being obsessed with Sex and the City, so naturally, I started watching the revival, And Just Like That… when it dropped on December 9. I even resubscribed to Crave, the streaming service airing (do you say airing when it’s streaming? Shows my age, doesn’t it?) the series in Canada, just so I could watch. Like many fans, I’m not sure what to think. On one hand, I’m glad the series is back. I missed those girls, but on the other, without Samantha, well, is it still SATC?
Actually, it’s not just the Samantha situation. I’m also not sure what to think about the over-the-top references to “woke culture.” Sure, the cast is more diverse now, but many of the non-white characters seem to be caricatures rather than realistic. And it seems that they’re really pushing the vibe rather than making it seem, you know, “natural.” Perhaps the writers are trying to be sarcastic but did a horrible job. I don’t know. They’re never going to outright admit it (probably because they’re over-worried they’d offend someone). To be honest, I would have preferred a true revival, focusing on 30-somethings (and maybe one 40-ish gal) in 2020 – three millennials and one Xennial (the 40-ish one)- in a post-pandemic world. But I doubt they’d ever go for that (just like the Wonder Years revival really should have been about a kid of Middle Eastern descent post 9/11 rather than a Black family from the same era the original was set. That’s a whole other issue, however).
Anyway, just to criticize the first episode (spoiler alert!!): So Carrie is taking part in a podcast. Why is she taking part in someone else’s show? Especially one where the creator tells her to be more “raunchy” even if she told them she’s not comfortable that way (I disagree with critics saying that she’s become a prude. Just because you’re fine doing things in writing doesn’t mean you’re okay TALKING about it). Is it the money? She could very well produce her own. She has media connections from her writing and you don’t need to have a professional equipment to record one. You can do it on your own laptop or phone. It’s REALLY EASY. Seriously. And with her connections, she should get sponsors pretty quickly and therefore, make money right away. And the Big situation? DID. NOT. SEE. THAT. COMING. Really. I mean, didn’t they deny that he was dead? Or did we fans just assume that “not dead” meant he wasn’t dead at the start of the series? And didn’t Chris Noth sign for “half a season?” I guess that means there’d be a flashback or two. Maybe.
I’m not going to talk about the f-you attitude both episodes had with Samantha and the actress who portrayed her, Kim Cattrall. I’ll let you read other reviews on that. However, what I DO want to talk about it some of the OTT-ness on woke philosophy. Take the non-binary character, for example. They’re portrayed as being very open about just anything and everything (weed smoker, even IN AN ELEVATOR (and at an event space), which is NOT legal anywhere, whether cannabis is legal or not as well as giving a smoke to someone underage (seen in episode two, where Miranda’s son, Brady, shares a joint with them). I get that they’re supposed to be a rebel, but if they’re the ONLY non-binary character on the show, then why bother going that direction? And Miranda? Ummm, she’s now that weirdo guilty white liberal that she really shouldn’t be (I see too many of those around. Gee, thanks, DE&I workshops. Now you’ve gotten people to the point that they’re going to make ASSUMPTIONS about people from different communities). Miranda is an intelligent, well-educated lawyer. Surely, she’d be more aware than that. If they were to use this as comedic effect, I’d rather they bring in a new character than write it into one of the main gals from the original series.
But there ARE good points. It’s nice to see how the Charlotte’s and Miranda’s respective children have grown up. The actors are different from the two movies, but
Of course, I shouldn’t really be judging after just two episodes. But if it’s going to continue like this, I’m unsure I’ll be in for season two, if there will be one. And if there IS going to be a second season, they better replace some of the writers. And listen to critics. Just saying.
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