Producers must catch up on the lingo to engage in current sociocultural and gender discussions to join the discussions!
*** Spoiler Alert | S02E04 ***
I don’t even know where to begin discussing the latest episode of ‘And Just Like That’ (S02E4) because it was filled with unexpected twists and turns. From open relationships to threesomes, ageism, and the intricacies of friendships, there was a lot to unpack. So, gather ‘round if you want to hear about life in the Upper East Side New Yorker (but boomer) community.
The Absence of a Clear Main Storyline
Let’s start by talking about the lack of a main story in the show. When comparing ‘And Just Like That’ to its predecessor, ‘Sex and the City,’ it’s hard not to notice the difference in storytelling. Watching Carrie Bradshaw navigate 90s New York City was all about exploring women’s friendships, dating, and establishing a personal style and authenticity, all while being intertwined with fashion. However, in the current show, it’s unclear what Carrie represents beyond her love for high-end luxury brands. In a previous blog post, I mentioned that the show lacks a clear main story, which also leads to confusion regarding its target audience.
In the first season, we saw Carrie embracing 21st-century popular culture by starting a podcast after Mr. Big’s death and dedicating a whole season to her journey of recovery. While eight episodes focused on recovery might have felt a bit excessive, it was still understandable considering Carrie’s desire to rebuild her life in her 50s. However, in the second season, I can’t help but wonder what Carrie’s true concerns are. It seems like she’s trying to find her place within the new queer and people of color communities in NYC (a.k.a. in the woke culture).
Carrie Bradshaw as a Listener instead of a Writer
At the beginning of the second season, I was excited to see Carrie exploring the dating culture, especially after she decided not to pursue a relationship with her podcast producer. It was truly exciting for women in their 40s and 50s. However, the storyline took an unexpected turn when she received a text from an anonymous man who claimed to have gotten her number from ‘a little bird.’ I strongly disagree with the idea of setting up blind dates for women in their 40s and 50s under the belief that “anyone is better than being alone,” as I’ve personally experienced its drawbacks. As it turns out, this man is involved in sexual relationships with almost everyone in the same Upper East Side New Yorker women’s community. It’s quite ironic that Carrie, who used to be the IT woman desired by men, is now being pursued in the opposite way by divorced or widowed men.
Meanwhile, Charlotte, who is typically shy and conservative when it comes to sexual discussions, surprises everyone by sharing her experience of fireworks after sex with j*rking off. It made me reconsider the stereotype that those who are afraid to talk about sex are the ones hiding their own kinks. However, it was also disheartening to see Carrie, who used to write about sex in her column, now passively listening to others talk about it.
Miranda’s Curiosity and Involvement
As a straight woman, I’ve realized that discussing poly-relationships and queer communities can be confusing for some people. However, being uninterested in open relationships doesn’t mean we should ignore their existence. It’s important to understand what they entail before deciding whether they suit us or not. The scene at Che’s new apartment, where they discussed their polyamorous relationships and Carrie left, felt quite absurd for a columnist who used to write about dating. Miranda, who is still navigating her way through queer communities, also seemed uncomfortable with the situation. By the way, it’s unclear how Miranda and Che resolved their differences after their discussion about Miranda prioritizing her role as a mother over disrupting Che’s live filming. It seems like the show didn’t fully understand how to address these issues within queer communities. From this perspective, bringing up conversations about polyamory and Che’s past relationships seemed like an ‘exotic addition,’ especially when Carrie decided to leave, and Miranda had no comment. It felt even more awkward when Miranda found herself involved in a threesome with Che and their ex-husband. While Carrie chose to stay conventional and left the room, it left me wondering about Miranda’s curiosity. In the first season, she went back to college to learn more about society, so why doesn’t she explore literature on queer relationships? The show seems to present “other” lifestyles as exceptions for both Miranda and straight women in general.
Carrie’s Shock and Ageism Concerns
The theme of ageism had a significant impact on Carrie Bradshaw. Her new book, ‘Loved and Lost,’ was published. (I wish I could read it; I’m sure I would have my fair share of criticisms. Personally, I believe Mr. Big represents toxic masculinity, but that’s a topic for another blog post discussing ‘Sex and the City’ days.) During breakfast with a friend, Carrie unexpectedly runs into Enid, her ex-editor at Vogue. We learn that Enid left Vogue and other magazines under the same company. She started an emailing list that gained popularity among women over 50. As her online success grew, Enid decided to launch an online magazine or blog and invited Carrie to join her kick-off gathering.
Carrie is shocked when she realizes that she is being associated with women in their 60s and 70s, and she questions whether she’s considered old. Her friend Seema provides reassurance, but no one addresses the issue of ageism: It’s not about being old; it’s about growing older and wiser.
Carrie’s Request for Book Promotion
In an attempt to capture the essence of 21st-century popular culture, which we can also call fame culture, Carrie asks Enid to mention her new book in her emails. However, Enid disappoints her by stating that if she includes Carrie’s book, she would have to include everyone else’s as well. Carrie takes offense and sarcastically asks if everyone has a book. Hello! Today, anyone with a sizable Instagram following can publish a book, so Enid has a point.
When Carrie attends Enid’s kick-off gathering, she realizes that Enid is actually asking for money by mentioning her deep pocket. It’s totally an anti-feminist approach to ask a woman who recently inherited millions after losing her husband for financial support. But Carrie doesn’t seem to mind it and promises $100,000. The final scene serves as an integrated marketing plug for PayPal, showcasing how the 21st-century fame culture thrives on friends’ economy — supporting each other direct or indirect financially in terms of the resources they have.
Charlotte’s Job Offer and Child-Centric Themes
This episode was particularly challenging to watch as it reflected the current confusion in New York City. On one hand, there are revolutionary queer lifestyles, and on the other hand, people of color in ‘And Just Like That’ have reached the same level of mainstream recognition as privileged white parents. For example, Lisa’s film is selected for the Tribeca Film Festival, and the success of a Black woman in the film industry is treated as the norm, as she casually mentions her husband running for city administration elections.
Lastly, the topic of kids becomes problematic. Charlotte is offered a job at a popular gallery but refuses, stating that her kids need her more than ever. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, it feels like the introduction of new characters was a ploy to give Charlotte and Miranda more opportunities to discuss their relationships with their children. While kids are undoubtedly important to some women and can be seen as their ultimate goal in life, there’s no mention of Carrie Bradshaw, who has never shown any interest in having children or even discussed being child-free by choice.
Last but not least, to the show’s producers: I urge you to familiarize yourselves with contemporary terms if you want to engage with current sociocultural and gender discussions. Put in some effort and be mindful of the themes you prese
Bear with me in the comments, and let’s meet next week for the next episode!
