Sex and fashion ..Carrie & Co are back on top form
HITTING my 20s when Sex And The City strutted into the TV cosmos in the 90s, I became obsessed with this glorious, aspirational vision of female friendships, fashion and brunch.
I wanted to be Carrie Bradshaw. We’ve all agonised over a Mr Big, wanted a walk-in wardrobe and friends we could call at 2am for a self-indulgent crisis over something irrelevant. Like why didn’t he call me back? And why didn’t they give me a Cosmopolitan in McDonalds? No one cares Carrie! But we all loved it.
When I heard about HBO’s revival And Just Like That… I felt a pang of nostalgia and also huge dread. I couldn’t help but wonder (sorry), what if they ruined it all? Could the show even survive without Samantha?
A toned-down (more grown up?) version of that plinkyplonky theme tune played in Sky’s new season premiere and Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and
Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) were back – having brunch. Obviously.
All in their mid-50s, the conversations have changed. They had to. We’d hate it if they behaved like 30-year-olds. They are no longer looking for The One and just want to be accepted - and have a decent brunch.
Miranda reveals she stepped on a condom in son Brady’s room. Yes, he’s all grown up now and getting more sex than her.
AJLT immediately tackles the Samantha Problem (Kim Cattrall is missing) with admirable sass.
“Where’s the fourth musketeer? Where’s Samantha?” asks Bitsy.
“Oh she’s no longer with us,” says Charlotte. “Oh no, she didn’t die! She’s in London, for work.” Very meta.
A Covid reference, a deep dive into whether Miranda’s grey hair ages her, a chat about
woke culture and gender roles, Carrie on Insta and a podcast (how modern!) and an introduction to black and non- binary new friends such as Prof Nya Wallace (Karen Pittman) and stand-up Che Diaz (Sara Ramirez) . Within three minutes about 17 Big Issues. And a big Big plotline.
AJLT is not so much a reboot as a new incarnation with a nod to the past. And just like that, I’m all in.
● And Just Like That… now streaming on Sky Comedy and NOW TV.