Sex And The City’s highly-anticipated reboot And Just Like That… aired on Thursday. Fans will see heartbreak when the main character passes away, as well as an entirely new and woke version of the show.
This is the return of the original TV series, 23 years ago. The second movie was released 11 years later. With Sarah Jessica Parker. Carrie Bradshaw and Cynthia Nixon star as Miranda Hobbes. Kristin Davis plays Charlotte York.
While the show loses one original cast member, it gains three new ones with Sarah Ramirez (Che Diaz), Nicole Ari Parker (Lisa Todd Wedley), Karen Pittman (Dr. Nya Wallace) and Sarita Chouhdury (Seema Patell) joining the ladies.
Both the first and second episodes feature glamour and sass. There are also many references to political correctness, sensibility, and social commentary. However, we see Carrie leave as a widower after her husband, Mr Big, dies of a heart attack at the episode’s end. The second episode focuses on funeral plans and the final farewell (and subtle nods towards Samantha).
BACK! BACK
EPISODE 1
Episode one begins in a fictional New York spot called Clee. Miranda and Charlotte are waiting for Carrie. “Remember the time when you had to be six feet from each other legally? Miranda responds that Miranda has forgotten it. Carrie then asks Miranda.
Bitsy Von Miuffling (Julie Halston), a former friend of theirs, recognizes them and asks how they can greet each other post-COVID.
She inquires about the whereabouts of the “fourth musketeer”, referring to Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), and Charlotte replies that she is not with them anymore. Bitsy feels very sad and thinks Samantha is dead. Miranda confirms that Samantha is still with us, while Carrie says Carrie confirmed she’s there.
Bitsy says that she just assumed anyone she hasn’t seen in so long either died or ‘gave up and moved to Palm Beach.’
Pained. We see Carrie leave as widower when Mr Big, her husband, dies in the finale of the episode. While the second episode follows the funeral arrangements and final farewell (and subtle nods at Samantha),
Miranda added she moved to the U.K. for work, as Bitsy adds, ‘sexy sirens in their 60s are still viable over there.’
Bitsy leaves and Carrie’s table is finally called as the group walks into the restaurant. As they’re looking over menus, Miranda says she stepped on one of her son Brady’s condoms, adding now her floor is a ‘minefield.
Carrie quickly changes the subject, which surprises Miranda and Charlotte, but Carrie just says ‘life is too short.’ They all joke about their ages and Charlotte says she misses Miranda’s red hair.
Hitting back: After attempting to get a glass of wine and being rebuffed due to the time of day, Miranda then goes to a law class in Columbia and begins an awkward conversation with professor Dr. Nya Wallace about her being black
The role: Karen Pittman portrays the character. She is described as a ‘brilliant, challenging Columbia Law professor’ and she is married to Andre McLain, who is a highly successful musician.
Miranda attempts to order a glass, but is rebuffed because it’s too late. Miranda goes on to Columbia to take a law course and has an awkward conversation about being black with Dr. Nya Wallace.
Karen Pittman portrays the role. She is described as a “brilliant, challenging Columbia Law Professor” who is also married to Andre McLain, a highly successful musician.
One of her classmates assumes she is talking to a man. Miranda, panicked Miranda then states that she didn’t expect Miranda to say this. After Miranda says these things Miranda locks in an awkward discussion about Miranda’s blackness.
Miranda is embarrased by Carrie’s behavior.
Charlotte: She asks where the ‘fourth musketeer’ is, referring to Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), as Charlotte says she’s, ‘no longer with us’
Her podcast appearance comes next as she chats to Che Diaz, a non-binary (they/them) stand-up comedian, and fellow guest Jackie Lee. Che starts the podcast with the words: “I am your Post, a queer Mexican Irish Diva” before getting into a conversation about masturbation.
Jackie questions Carrie in the podcast recording. Carrie is stunned and asks, “Is it a multi-choice question?” Then she jokes that anal sex will not be allowed.
Carrie gets awkward after being asked about masturbation. She then responds, “not since Barneys close”, to embarrassment of her co-stars.
Che, Che’s podcast boss is described by her as “a large presence with an enormous heart, who has an outrageous sense of humor, progressive, human view of gender roles, and made them very popular.”
Che: Ramirez’s Che Diaz is a non-binary (they/them) stand-up comedian who hosts a podcast that Carrie frequently appears on
Che approaches Carrie while she’s leaving the building and asks about Carrie. Carrie then gets awkward. Jackie mentions that ‘Trolls’ will call her the uptight, cis-old married woman.
Carrie responds, “I’m uncomfortable with the more graphic contents. It’s just not for me.” Her inexplicable lack of crassness is constantly criticised. Jackie tells her to ‘step her p*ssy up’
The next scene shows more romance. Carrie and Big are in Carrie’s original apartment. Carrie asks Big if he masturbates. Big replies: “I feel like it’s a trick question.”
Hello lovers! Carrie looks at her shoes for her wedding.
Then, she asks for Big masturbate. He appears stunned before indulging himself and using lubricant because ‘he’s still not 15’. But soon after that, he quickly backs away and grabs Carrie and kisses her.
Carrie runs to her second apartment and grabs her Manolos, which Big gave her to marry her. Big takes a puff of one of his cigars, and the couple plans their next trip to Hamptons. Carrie changes the departure date – a decision that is reflected in their reflections.
The scene is shot at Charlotte’s apartment. Rose and Charlotte argue over Rose’s choice of dress for her recital. Rose gives her punky interpretation of the outfit as they reach an agreement on the dress.
“Does your masturbate?” Big and Carrie, who are now in more romance, then go back to her apartment and ask him whether he masturbates. Big responds: ‘I think that’s a trick query’
True love: She then asks to watch Big masturbate as he appears shocked before indulging his wife and using lubricant as ‘he’s not 15’ – yet soon backs out and instead grabs Carrie for kisses and says: ‘Oh Carrie I must have you’
Heartbreak: Anthony is then shocked and disgusted at the ensemble before Rose heads in. Willy Garson’s Stanford is then seen entering – this was his final appearance before his actual-life death earlier in the year.
Rose then enters, and Anthony becomes shocked and dismayed at Rose’s ensemble. Willy Garson’s Stanford enters the room – one last time he was seen before his death in real life earlier this year.
Miranda shares her concerns about being a meme following her gaffes against her professor. She says, “I guess I was so concerned about saying the wrong things in this climate.”
Carrie states, “It is funny that you can’t stop talking and have been told that I can’t talk enough” by her podcast boss. Carrie handles the male toilets door while Miranda goes to the washroom.
We are then shown Lisa Todd Wexley as Nicole. She introduces Charlotte’s mother to Carrie and is her hero. Parker plays Lisa Todd Wexley on Park Avenue. She is married to Herbert Wexley, an accomplished hedge fund manager (Hamilton’s Christopher Jackson).
The women are concentrating on Lisa’s boy’s performance while Big takes to the Peleton at home. We then witness Miranda’s daughter Brady having an intimate moment with his girlfriend at the recital, something Miranda is determined to end.
Lily then takes to the podium and performs an epic show that straddles Big’s home workout on a bike at work.
Big works out while the recital goes on
Lily then takes to the podium and performs an epic show that straddles Big’s home-based bike workout.
Big can be seen riding his bike and working hard before he receives a text. He then drops his phone into the bathroom. He is clearly in pain as he reach for his phone to get it.
After holding onto his arm, he suffers from a heart attack. He is then seen slumped beside the running water. We shoot the scene back to Carrie, who is unsure of his fate.
Carrie, unwittingly, tries to get a cab outside of the recital. Big is lying flat on the floor. Carrie then runs out to her apartment and shouts, “JOHN!” while holding onto his weak body and sobbing.
Then leaving audience’s jaws on the floor – Carrie says: ‘And just like that… Big died’.
Pained: As the music swells to epis proportions, Big is seen on his bike, working harder and harder before receiving a text and dropping his phone in the shower. He is clearly in pain as he reach out for his phone.
Help: Carrie yelps: ‘JOHN’ and runs to try and help her husband while sobbing and holding his weakened body
Died: Then leaving audience’s jaws on the floor – Carrie says: ‘And just like that… Big died’
EPISODE TWO
Episode two begins with Steve and Miranda having sex, and Steve appearing to be in tension before Carrie arrives to tell her about their pain.
Miranda comes to Carrie’s home and finds her crying, while the coroners collect the body. This scene shows Carrie imagining Big’s first encounter and flashbacks to the first season when Big first appeared.
Miranda stays with Carrie, and she comforts Carrie in her bed when Carrie complains about her back.
Carrie is seen looking at funeral homes on her computer before Charlotte assists Carrie in choosing the right funeral.
Carrie consoles Charlotte as she breaks down in tears. Charlotte believes that the death of her husband was not her fault, as Carrie was present at his funeral.
Carrie takes her to the Uber, and she says that Carrie is her comfort.
Miranda returns to her law class, where she discusses her professor’s identity.
Agony: We shoot to Miranda and Steve getting ready and claiming he shouldnt have been on his Peleton: ‘It wasn’t the bike Steve, he used it for over 1000 rides’
Charlotte, getting ready to go for the funeral, speaks through her grief with her daughters: “Death can be the most difficult part of life. It reminds us just how dear our loved ones are to us.”
Miranda and Steve are getting ready.
Miranda says, “Death suckers” while she comforts her husband. Brady then joins the couple for a hug.
Carrie is seen in Big’s clothing looking devastated before joining Anthony and Stanford at the funeral.
Hysterical: Charlotte breaks down into floods of tears leading to Carrie comforting her. As Carrie was present at his recital, she fears that her death is due to her.
Big was upset to see flowers in the coffin. She seems annoyed that she has flowers.
Carrie said she wanted the funeral perfect
The women looked at each other and said that the flowers were for Samantha. With all of the women looking so sad in their first acknowledgement to Kim Cattrall being absent.
Gloria Big, Gloria’s assistant speaks to Carrie about the businessman who died.
Heartfelt: Miranda is now the one to address the crowd.
Explaining: Charlotte is seen getting ready for the funeral and speaks her daughters through death: ‘Death is the saddest part of life, it reminds us how much our loved ones mean to us’
Miranda is now on the podium and gives the eulogy.
This one-of-a-kind man is lucky to be able to enjoy dinners, deals, and cigars. It seems like we’ve known him for a long time. It seems like he has been with us for so long, but we don’t know how much. He was so large in our entire lives.
“He will make a huge hole.” This is so sad, but we should remember the blessings of today.
Miranda says that Carrie wrote these beautiful words just before Big’s brother spoke. He said, “He said it was his happiest time ever in his entire life. Carrie, thank you so much for making him happy.”
Open and honest: Miranda reveals Carrie penned the beautiful words before Big’s brother took to the stand and said: ‘When I spoke to Big last week he said it was the happiest he had been in his life so Carrie I thank you for giving him that’
As Gloria sobs loudly, an animated montage of Big’s life is displayed above the coffin. Bitsy comes to Carrie’s aid and tells her that Bobby is gone.
Susan Sharon, Carrie’s friend in series 3, surprises Carrie by revealing that she holds a grudge against Carrie to her shock.
Miranda questions: What happened between you? before Carrie says: ‘I hope you knew’.
Brady then smokes a bong with Che – leading to Miranda scolding Che saying: ‘He’s a minor – he’s 17 – who the f**k are you anyway?’ She then squares up to the podcaster and tells her to: ‘Back the f**k up’.
What is the point of all this? Susan Sharon, Carrie’s best friend from series 3, surprises Carrie by revealing that she had a grudge against Carrie. This shocks the widower.
Furious: Brady then smokes a bong with Che – leading to Miranda scolding Che saying: ‘He’s a minor – he’s 17 – who the f**k are you anyway?’ She then squares up to the podcaster and tells her to: ‘Back the f**k up’
Then, she scolds Brady and even says: “Maybe I should murder myself?”
Miranda, shocked when Carrie introduced Che as her boss is shocked and asks, ‘Why didn’t you tell me who I was? Prior to Che’s move, Miranda was shocked by Carrie’s introduction of Che as her boss.
They soon become flirty — possibly a nod to Miranda’s lewd lesbian past.
Carrie and Miranda are seen with Charlotte and Miranda in a lift that takes them to Carrie’s flat. There, they find flowers and other gifts, as well as a disco gift.
After that, she takes out her phone from her lap and begins to write messages for Samantha. The screen displays a number of messages unread. I thought of you.
Gone? Next, she takes out her phone from her lap and writes letters to Samantha. The screen displays a series of unread messages. Thinking of you
Carrie receives then a delivery that contains Big’s ashes. Stanford and Miranda sit down with Miranda, drinking cocktails. They look alarmed. Carrie arrives to meet Charlotte and asks Stanford for help to cover her face to keep Charlotte from thinking that she isn’t invited.
She replies, “I’ll say to her that I’m down,” which she is. Charlotte says she bought Carrie Vogues in different parts of the globe.
Charlotte, as expected, bursts in tears. Carrie pleads with her to ‘not make it about herself’.
Carrie stated that she was mad at herself for not going to the Hamptons Wednesday night as I would have liked to. She then invited Charlotte to join her.
Heartbreak: Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte are seen in a lift to Carrie’s apartment, where her home is filled with flowers and gifts- including a gift playing disco music
Uh oh: She says: ‘I’ll tell her I’m depressed, which I am’. Charlotte tells Charlotte that she purchased Carrie Vogues in different parts of the world
While it rains outside, Miranda lies in bed and she says that she’s never going to sleep.
“And just like this, I discovered how difficult five hours can be.”
Chouhdury’s Seema Ptel is the final character. She has been described as an “unique, self-made powerhouse Manhattan realty broker.”
Filming began in New York City in June. Production wrapped just days later. Other filming took place around the world, including in Paris.
Mother of three: Parker’s Lisa Todd Wexley, a Park Avenue mother of three who also works as a documentarian, married to a successful hedge fund manager Herbert (Hamilton’s Christopher Jackson)
Nya: Pittman’s Dr. Nya is described by Andre as a brilliant and challenging Columbia Law Professor. (LeRoy McCLain).
Seema: The final new character is Chouhdury’s Seema Patel, described as a, ‘single, self-made powerhouse Manhattan real estate broker’
Fan reaction was quite loud when Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw was photographed kissing Jon Tenney on the Paris set.
The fans began to speculate wild about Carrie’s marital situation with her ex-boyfriend Mr. Big (Chris Noth), and they finally got married at the conclusion of the Sex and the City movie.
Trailers for the 10-episode new series suggest that they are still a happy couple. However, given their history of conflict, it is possible that they might split in future episodes.
Marital: Fans began wildly speculating about the marital status of Carrie and her long-time on-and-off lover Mr. Big (Chris Noth), who finally tied the knot at the end of the first Sex and the City movie
Happy couple: The trailers released for the new 10-episode series seem to indicate that they’re still quite the happy couple, though given their on-and-off history, it’s possible they could split at some time in the series
However, Cynthia Nixon & Kristin Davis confirmed to The Late Show with Steven Colbert that the fake scenes were filmed in order to confuse rabid viewers.
‘Yes, definitely!’ Davis exclaimed and Nixon laughed with a smile. Nixon replied, ‘Absolutely!’
Colbert pointed to Davis, and said: ‘I believe,’ then Colbert repeated the question and Nixon smiled and admitted, “It may be true.”
Fake scenes: Still, while promoting the show Tuesday night on The Late Show with Steven Colbert, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis essentially confirmed that they filmed ‘fake scenes’ to throw rabid fans off
It’s not clear if Jon Tenney’s Paris kissing scene was real or fake.
Mario Cantone, Evan Handler, Harry Goldblatt, David Eigenberg, Steve Brady, and Willie Garson are other returning stars. Willie Garson filmed three episodes with Carrie as Stanford Blatch’s friend before succumbing to pancreatic cancer at the age of 57.
Michael Patrick King’s Just Like That… was based upon Candace Bushnell’s books.
Passing: Other returning stars include Mario Cantone (Anthony Marentino), Evan Handler (Harry Goldblatt), David Eigenberg (Steve Brady), and the late Willie Garson (above), who filmed three episodes as Carrie’s longtime friend Stanford Blatch, before passing away from pancreatic cancer in September at age 57