And Just Like That...Sex and the City is back with a whole new chapter!
There's a lot to take in with the new series -- some questionable fashion taste (sorry, Carrie), the uncomfortable over-use of podcasts (again, sorry, Carrie), and the random occurrence of a certain someone dying (really sorry about that one, Carrie) -- but above all, we're left with a greater thought to ponder: is the rebooted version of the beloved HBO series finally righting the wrongs they caused nearly two decades ago?
This might go without saying, but Sex and the City was the TV cult classic of the early 2000s that so many folks loved. It was undeniably groundbreaking for its exploration of taboo topics like masturbation, sexual pleasure, and women's health, but still, it's no secret that the series had its fair share of issues. Queer characters and characters of color were rarely seen throughout the series, and if they were, it was often for comedic play rather than storytelling. So why bring back a show with a history of some problematic elements? It seems that sometimes, the simple drive to do better is exactly what's needed to actually do better, and show star Cynthia Nixon (who is best known for playing lawyer and mother Miranda Hobbes) told Elle UK that that was the reason she wanted to sign on to And Just Like That in the first place.
"It's part of the reason we wanted to do the show," Nixon told the magazine. "To go back and [undo] the things that we really got wrong."
And boy, did they get some things wrong. I mean, this was a show that claimed bisexuality was "just a layover on the way to Gaytown," not to mention the various racist and transphobic statements that were sprinkled in throughout seasons. For good reason, the Emmy winner had a lot of trepidation. After all, in a time of two extremes -- "woke" and "canceled" -- it almost seemed impossible that the revival could match up to our current social and political climate.
"As wonderful as [SATC] is, to do that show right now would be incredibly tone-deaf," Nixon acknowledged. "So I was really worried that the transformation wouldn't be big enough, and my fears are very allayed."
Her fears translated into an almost Miranda-less show, as the actress questioned whether the project was really the right step.
"I was nervous about the whole thing," Nixon shared. "I was very reluctant at first. I said I probably wasn't going to sign back on because I felt like there would have to be a sea change to happen to make this show."
While a "sea change" might be difficult to live up to, the series has made major shifts that haven't gone unnoticed. For instance, the cast finally represents a world that (at least somewhat) reflects what we see in real life: people of different genders and identities (including nonbinary folks), different ethnicities, and different ages. (These women are in their fifties and fabulous, duh!)
Despite some try-hard tactics and, at times, some preachy white feminism, just like that, it seems Carrie and the gang are finally getting with it!
New episodes of And Just Like That stream weekly on HBO Max.
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