And Just Like That

The Grand Dames of Sex and the City are Back!

Without Samantha.

I just binged watched the first four episodes of “And Just Like That,” the spinoff of “Sex and the City.” Back in the 90s, “Sex and the City” was the show on HBO. Every Sunday night at 9 pm, you couldn’t pull me off the couch unless the house was on fire.

I have to admit, I began watching “Sex and the City” when it was in its third season. I didn’t get into the show that much at first. But once I saw the risque sex scenes, the unadulterated boldness of the female characters, and the fantastic backdrop of New York City — I was hooked.

I think what really pulled me in was the fashion. The ladies knew how to wear statement outfits before the trend took over in the 2000s. From jewelry to dresses, pants to suits, the ladies of Sex and the City made every day the outfit of the day.

I also like the storyline. There were four women navigating their 30s and 40s in areas of dating, marriage, career, and motherhood. Carrie, the lead character, was the trendy writer. I was most drawn to her because she wrote and loved fashion. Next was Miranda, the level-headed lawyer whose temper was as fiery as her hair. There was Charlotte, the demure one, with high morals, looking for her Prince Charming. And finally, there was Samantha. She was my favorite after Carrie, who was the resident sexpot and business owner.

Every Sunday night, I felt like I was the fifth friend. I was there during their meetups for lunch and their venting at dinner. I was there when they were shopping on Fifth Avenue or grabbing breakfast in Soho. I was there for all of their good, bad, and ugly dates. I was there for the arguments and the makeup. I was there for the fights and the breakups. Each week was an adventure that really shaped how I wanted to live my life and present myself to the world.

While I have the fashion down, everything else hasn’t quite worked out. And in “And Just Like That”, the gals are also going through some growing pains.

SPOILER ALERT (If you haven’t watched the series yet, you may want to stop reading NOW).

Big dies. Yes, Chris Noth’s character, John James Preston, aka Mr. Big, dies at the end of episode one. I had heard the rumors, but I didn’t want it to be true. But it is. Big is gone and Carrie must somehow go on.

Miranda has a drinking problem. Is she an alcoholic? I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but her steady habit of imbibing wine throughout each episode does raise an eyebrow or two. Plus, there’s a scene where Charlotte goes through Miranda’s bag and finds three empty nip bottles. It would seem as if Miranda has a problem.

Charlotte is juggling her family, especially her youngest daughter, who may be transgender with her desire to expand her friendship circle. In fact, all three ladies meet new people in their lives and are exploring new relationships. I can’t wait to see how that plays out in future episodes.

But I do miss Samantha. She was the life of the party. Samantha was the boldest of them all. She didn’t let morals or values stand in her way. In fact, Samantha stomped on morals and values with her stiletto and kept it moving. Plus, she was pulling men nearly half her age. Samantha wasn’t a cougar — she was a man-eater. She was my hero.

I hope Samantha returns. With Mr. Big gone and another cast member dying in real life (Carrie’s gay best friend), this series needs more spark. While the supporting cast of characters is interesting, the show needs something more. I did like how the first episode touched on the women being in their 50s, I think more of that should be done. It’s time for a series that shows women in their 50s navigating life and love.

I plan to continue watching to see how it all plays out.