And Just Like That… unearths a classic Carrie rivalry
This show just can't seem to leave poor Natasha alone
TV Reviews Carrie
Fortunately she’s extremely beautiful, and rich, and successful, otherwise we might feel just a little bit badly for And Just Like That…’s Natasha Mills (formerly Naginsky, formerly Preston), played by Bridget Moynahan. She fell in love with Big as a twentysomething in Paris, married him, only to have him cheat on her with Carrie in her own apartment. She catches Carrie in her home, chases after her, falls, and breaks a tooth and has to have her husband’s mistress take her to the ER. Then, after Natasha and her husband break up, Carrie tracks her to a restaurant to apologize, interrupting her lunch in an attempt to alleviate her own guilt over her role in destroying Natasha and Big’s marriage. At least Natasha didn’t let Carrie get away with that without one of the great SATC cutting remarks of all time: “Now, not only have you ruined my marriage… you’ve ruined my lunch.”
That’s the last the SATC universe has seen of Natasha until this episode, when Carrie discovers that Big left her a cool million in his will. Naturally, given her previous obsession with Big’s wife number two, the revelation sends the already grieving widow in to a tailspin, unearthing her previous guilt and insecurities related to the stunning statuesque brunette.
It’s sad that Carrie hasn’t learned much in oh, twenty-or-so years, as she immediately starts stalking Natasha again, a methodology that we know isn’t likely to work, since of course she wants as little to do with Carrie as possible (now, Natasha can just block Carrie on Instagram). Once again, Carrie is all about Carrie, but maybe a bit more understandably so this time: All she had to cling to was her and Big’s “happy sad ending” and now she doesn’t even have that. But what she doesn’t get is… what would Natasha likely get out of any interactions with her? Just a reminder of one of the worst times in her life.
Still, I am willing to suspend disbelief that in all of Manhattan, Carrie would somehow walk in on Natasha in a cafe bathroom. Basically because the conversation that followed was so good, and again, an excellent callback to the history of the show. There’s now a tooth for a tooth (well, a hand for a tooth) in Carrie burning herself, and some needed closure on both sides. Natasha, of course, is now a happily settled mom with a posh new job, and Carrie rightly surmises that the money in the will was Big’s own guilt talking. There was even that nice moment at the end—when Natasha wisely points out that they really didn’t need to follow each other on Instagram—where you could see that in an entirely different universe, they could have been friends. So long, Natasha. May you have an excellent life and never have to run into Carrie Bradshaw Preston ever again.
In the category of friends that Carrie actually has, Miranda’s after-school special continues when Charlotte finds empty mini-Tito’s bottles in her backpack, which to me seems less plausible than Carrie walking in on Natasha in the bathroom. Why would someone walk around with empty mini Tito’s bottles in their backpack (wouldn’t they clink?) Why would Miranda offer her backpack up to Charlotte knowing those were in there? Why won’t Miranda just throw those away? Is this all a misguided cry for help? Charlotte tries to bring this up to Carrie at the end of the episode, but her only other evidence of Miranda’s drinking problem is that she had two glasses of wine before the comedy show. I mean, where I come from, that’s just known as a pre-party. Not to worry, this saga will undoubtedly continue! I do like how they’re not depicting Miranda to be, like, a falling-down drunk, just someone who leans on alcohol a little too much, frantic for her second glass of cabernet at lunch.
After all, Miranda has a lot going on: starting school again, her son’s girlfriend practically living at her house, a lackluster relationship with her husband, and a burgeoning fascination with Che, Carrie’s podcast host. Yes, everything Che was saying at their comedy show was great, but also seemed to veer into the preachy? Nevertheless, it was a good reminder to, you know, change your life if you don’t like your life, something that clearly rang a gong inside Miranda.
Che’s coming-out story was undoubtedly heartwarming for Charlotte, as she deals with her own issues with Rose. Honestly, I see the concept of gender fluidity come up a lot in kids my kids’ age, probably a lot more than it would have, say 20 years ago, which is only a good thing. But I think I liked Anthony’s advice best of all: Your kid’s a sourdough starter. See what happens and through it all, to Che’s point, just support them no matter what.
Miranda and Che’s connection could be spied a mile away, and it’s not too surprising that Miranda’s journey into exploring her sexuality would mimic Cynthia Nixon’s own. But I think I’m more interested in what this experimentation signifies for Miranda and yes, again, women of this age group: Your life is not settled just because you’re in your fifties! Sure, from a twentysomething perspective you would think that things would be pretty wrapped up by now. But by the time you reach this decade, hopefully, you will continue to keep learning and exploring and changing. If you’re lucky. So who knows: Miranda’s path on And Just Like That… may turn out to be the most interesting of all.
Stray observations
- “The Danish show that everyone says is confusing but worth it.”
- Carrie’s going to find something else in the Big stuff, like on his phone or his computer… right?
- Why not just ask Big’s brother about Gogi, jeebus.
- Best outfit: I think I would have liked Carrie’s ensemble at the beginning if not for the satchel she had strapped to her chest? So will have to go with Miranda’s chic burgundy jumpsuit at the comedy show, she looked amazing.
- Speaking of, the show kept the tradition of dressing Natasha in the blandest colors possible, to highlight her supposed “beige” personality. And she still looks great.
- I rewatched SATC season three’s “What Goes Around, Comes Around” for this (“Running With Scissors,” the episode where Natasha breaks her tooth, is one of my favorite episodes of the entire series). Carrie tracks Natasha down at lunch because Natasha gave her and her friends a dirty look at a restaurant, and Carrie can’t handle knowing that there’s someone in New York that hates her that much. Honey, you slept with her husband, she’s never going to like you!
- Next week: All the girls branch out with their new friendships. Which is good, because right now Lisa Todd Wexley is my favorite character on this show.
54 Comments
In this week’s thrilling episode, someone died in a DeLorean and no one at all got particularly upset about it!
The Asylum knock off will have a major character die using a Nordic Track.
Didn’t Miranda previously have chances to explore her sexuality but confirm that she was completely straight? Didn’t she also used to get mistaken for a lesbian and had to confirm she was straight?
she’s allowed to explore again, people change, people become more open to their fluidity too 🙂
Well, as we recently learned from Elvira’s story, people can realize things about their sexuality throughout their lives.
Yeah in real life, and Elvira had been in that relationship secretly for about 20 years.Usually when a TV show goes out its way to highlight a characters straightness it sticks, and Samantha was the more likely to do this as seen in later seasons.
I do wonder how much influence the actress themselves has had over the plot.
She was in her 50s when the relationship began. Miranda’s age. I’m not seeing why, “This happens in real life so it makes sense that it’s not supposed to happen on tv,” would make sense at all.
I mean, I’m 36 and quarantine gave me time to re-examine some things. It happens.
Well, since they’ve decided to make Steve into a decrepit old deaf dude, apparently Miranda will have to get her kicks elsewhere.
Steve makes my skin crawl in this. The only “plus,” I guess, is that the extreme ageism is directed toward a male, rather than a female, character for ONCE.
Later life lesbianism is a thing. Also, maybe Miranda just wasn’t attracted to that woman she experimented with so that she thought she wasn’t?
Very plausible. Even if you’re straight, if the chemistry is not there, then it’s not happening.
poor Natasha! But ok, this feels like the most Carrie thing to do ever. I like that the show still knows who Carrie is and also the super messy regressive shit we do when we grieve. as someone in recovery I very much appreciate that this show isn’t relying on rock bottom moments to show what addiction can look like. I didn’t recognize my issues with substances because I wasn’t behaving like the problematic people in television whose lives had been completely derailed by substance disorder. I hope the show continues to explore the nuances around substances, maybe Miranda doesn’t have to be abstinent but she needs to tackle whatever pain she is coping with! Maybe she can have that glass of wine one day but girl gotta figure herself out today!
Yes, I think they’re handling the “Miranda has an alcohol problem” story a lot better than the “Miranda is a Brooklyn-dwelling Ivy League-educated attorney who is completely clueless about race” story.
right? that should have been Charlotte’s storyline, who despite living in New York, might still be clueless about race.
Not just Brooklyn, but Ft. Greene — and she moved there in the early 2000s. I can’t get over the fact that the writers let Miranda babble on about “braids” to her freaking professor. Unforgivable!
Petition to make it a thing: Being a LIL (late in life) gay
The Charlotte storyline felt so odd. Like I thought it was a really strong concept, as that particular character having to come to terms with her child not being identity has good story potential, but it all felt so condensed here. I get that it will probably continue in some manner, but we get the initial talk with Rose, then the Anthony talk which was good before the Che monologue. All of it just kind of squeezed together with no room to breathe. And the fact that they didn’t show her actually interacting with Rose afterwards but instead only got the phonecall felt so weird.On the topic of Che’s show, comedy subject, but I kept thinking that this special would bomb really hard. Not because I didn’t like the jokes because there really weren’t any jokes or really that much comedy to even have opinions about.
It sounded a bit Tony Robbins. I was waiting for the hot coals for everyone to walk over.
I loved Che’s set, I’d pay money to see that, and I felt a lot of affirmation radiating my way as a queer audience member sitting at home.I thought it was handled well enough and will be explored more. Charlotte is confused what to do, Anthony has some old school queer ideas and Che provides Charlotte relief that it’s better to just show up even if you’re uncertain.
Che’s whole character is being non binary. There are no other layers, which is a shame because Sara Ramirez is a great actor.
I don’t know- I like their interactions with Carrie. It’s good to see a younger person in a boss-type position pushing an older subordinate (?) to move out of her comfort zone and stretch herself professionally.
Isn’t this show about privileged white Karens? Why in the world would the A.V. Club readership be in interested in this?
Sex and the City is one of those shows that was a huge critical and populist hit with people and along with Oz and Sopranos, put HBO on the map for high quality original programming. S&TC in particular was one of those shows where it came out at the right time and hit the cultural zeitgeist in a lot of ways that allowed it to become something of an enduring classic, especially since it’s the only one of the late 90s/early 00s HBO shows that you can actually watch on TV in the form of the syndicated edit of the show that airs to this date on networks like E! whereas the syndicated cut of the Sopranos (the only other HBO show to have success in syndication, with an alternate cut that preserves the show due to David Chase having the foresight to film alternate footage for a future syndication release) has fallen off the face of the Earth. The fact that it had two commercially successful theatrical release sequels before Sopranos or Entourage or even Deadwood, has shown that for all of it’s flaws and at times obnoxious characters, to be a big deal and worth covering.
I’ve actually thought about watching it because The Comeback is my favorite show of all time, and Michael Patrick King must have had something to do with that. But I just can’t bring myself to even begin to give a shit about some plastic middle-aged rich white ladies and their work/life balance or whatever the fuck
You don’t have to watch shows you’re not interested in, but it’s a lot to assume that all middle-aged women are soulless husks and you needn’t ever be interested in their inner lives.
I don’t assume that at all. My top two favorite shows of all time are both about middle-aged women and their inner lives (Enlightened is the other one).It’s just that I’ve never heard anyone suggest that SATC was anything more than what it says on the tin: flimsy fluffy luxury-porn for a very specific demographic. Also, I remember when Candace Bushnell was a thing years before the show, and she always came off as a massive bimbo. I don’t know if you’ve seen The Comeback, but it’s fucking brilliant. It’s serious upper-echelon shit. I know SATC has a devoted following, but has anyone ever accused it of being brilliant?
No, it was not just fluffy luxury porn. It put women’s sexuality in the conversation in a way that nothing else on TV had done before. And it was mainly about the central relationship, which was the friendship between the four main characters. Also, I’m not saying Carrie did not lead a privileged lifestyle but she did have money problems throughout the series. The other three were always rich, I’ll give you that. But it’s kind of like the people who say Succession is just wealth porn.
Bimbo.BIMBO.
GTFO garbage person
There’s nothing problematic about my use of “bimbo” because I also use “himbo” to describe a man of that quality. So the actual insult is just the ungendered suffix “imbo”
Says you. Gross, dismissive, and snob-and-a-half all around. Just disgusting.
I have to say, your mentioning of “luxury porn” is helping me figure out how so many people have different relationships to the original series. By the time the first movie came out, “luxury porn” was a pretty accurate label I would say, and perhaps one of the biggest reasons why it was so terrible and fans hated it. Watch the Pilot episode, and then watch that movie right after: totally different universes!
I’ve spent many hours on that original series, and many more hours afterward, trying to figure out where and when the original source material, which was “Edgy” and “pushing the envelope” was reduced to so-called luxury porn, but it totally was and I’m still really sad about it.
This is what I call a slam-dunk.
Please stop with sexist Karen garbage. Do we get to call rich men on a TV show a particular name?
The Karen meme has lost all meaning. It now means woman I don’t like.
why have the relegated Hot Steve to a terrible “deaf” arc. WTF?
Sexless too. Poor Steve.
Steve deserves better. Miranda’s put him through so much shit and they’ve been trying to pull character assassination so she’s in the right.
At the time of the original show I never quite felt like the show had a great deal of use for the Steve/Miranda relationship – it’s just that the actors worked very well together and it was an easy out because they didn’t ever know what to do with Miranda anyway. I’m not surprised if they dismantle the relationship to have Miranda grasp at random plotlines for relevance again. They would have been better off killing Steve and just having Big dump Carrie once and for all and, I don’t know, go move to some place in Europe with a trophy wife.
He seems not only deaf but actually brain damaged. His lines are basically, “What?” and “I don’t know” and “Huh.”
The show is treating Steve and Harry like props.
This is one of many things I’ll never forgive this reboot for. Ive had to rewatch the scene of Miranda meeting Steve in the bar for the first time to remind myself of who this character is! Although I liked him not trying to hide the fact he was not at all interested in the Danish show that people say is challenging but worth it. It made me fondly imagine all the small fights they might have had over TV night in their marriage.
Dear god, who ever found Steve hot? He was a creepy, chipmunk-faced little twerp and now he’s an old chipmunk-faced little twerp.
You are right that, looking back, Steve was always pretty gross. Always seemed perhaps mildly brain damaged.
heh.
this gay finds him hot. that’s who, lol x
Steve of all people is a hapless, sexless couch potato now? He and Miranda haven’t had sex in years? I get they’re in their 50s and Big just died but why does this revival have to be so joyless.
This was a major improvement over the first two episodes but still Not Great. The depiction of Carrie’s grief- the walking, insomnia, then the questions about whether or not you knew this person and what else don’t you know?- 100% true to life. The talk with Natasha was perfect, though yeah, the running into her in a coffee shop thing was not remotely realistic. Char and Miranda don’t sound like them to me at all. I am interested, though, to see what the deal is with Che and Miranda. I’m finding Char boring…and whatever the actress did to her face distracting. If Sam were in the show, they could make that part of the storyline, damnit!
Why won’t Miranda just throw those away?I think that holding onto the bottles lines up with their use – surreptious, likely slipped quickly into a cup of coffee or other drink. She’ll toss the bottles when she has a chance and when it won’t draw any additional attention. Although, really, the Starbucks bathroom would have been a great place to dump them!
One thing that I’m realizing about this show is that the original SatC ended pretty satisfactorily. So even though I’m sporadically enjoying this show, I’m not really happy watching them dismantle the pleasant and satisfying ending I already got.
I thought that too about the series finale, but then I really liked the first movie? But I agree, I don’t think AJLT is adding much to the SATC legacy.
Dear god, when are we EVER going to find out about what happened to Skipper???
Here’s a stray observation – why is the show giving Natasha’s last name as Naginsky? That was never her last name – Carrie called her that in a fit of rage after Big confessed he was engaged to Natasha. Now that name suddenly shows in in Big’s legal documents? That’s a rather large miss by the show…
I’ve always loved the way Natasha said “I hate that this tooth will always be a different color than this tooth.”