A Reflection on Relationships, Age, and Missed Opportunities for Social Commentary in ‘And Just Like That’
*** Spoiler Alert | S02E02 ***
I’m not sure if it was a deliberate intention of the producers, but so far in the second season, ‘And Just Like That’ feels more like a comparison to ‘Sex and the City’ — specifically in terms of getting into a relationship and sailing through a situationship, which is essentially a romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered formal or established. In my opinion, it also focuses more on the baggage that comes with dating rather than ageism.
Dating in your 20s and even 30s is comparatively “easier” than in your 40s and beyond. That’s because you still have some hope and believe “it’s about you” rather than the influence of a patriarchal society. You still hold onto the faith that you might meet someone who knows what they want and values gender equality. (I should note here that I’m referring to cisgender heterosexual relationships.) As you grow older, not just in age but also in the dating market, you become increasingly frustrated due to unmet expectations, particularly when it comes to setting boundaries. I would never identify Carrie Bradshaw as a feminist, but in ‘And Just Like That,’ her character embraces her authenticity more compared to the fashion-obsessed, luxury-seeking woman in ‘Sex and the City.’ I really liked it when she refused to enter a relationship with Franklyn and ended their situationship. My fear after watching the first episode of the second season was dispelled.
However, one thing I still dislike about Carrie Bradshaw, or about the show in general, is that they don’t address important social issues such as anti-queer feminism and racism. For example, in a commercial promoting vaginal products, Carrie referred to the vagina as “down there” and spent hours in bed with her podcast producer trying to rewrite the text, considering it “homework.” In the end, she came up with her own words, but we didn’t get to hear them. Seriously, how would Carrie sell vaginal products? Why didn’t the show’s producers let us know? Furthermore, in this episode, Nya had to deal with her husband’s phone call saying he hadn’t cheated on her yet, proposing a surrogate for his sexual desires while he was on tour. Nya started collecting her husband’s personal belongings while on the phone with Miranda, who had no idea how to calm her down and suggest exploring an open relationship. It would be too much to expect this from Miranda, who is new to LGBTQ+ communities and was even struggling to remember her significant partner’s phone number compared to Carrie’s. Come on! It’s the digital age, and everything is super-fast. How many phone numbers or even email addresses can one remember these days? It’s even more ironic that the activist and woke Che didn’t mention it to Miranda either. Instead, Che came to Miranda and begged for her understanding regarding her “technically married husband.” Thus, ‘And Just Like That’, intentionally or not, indicates that coming out of the closet doesn’t happen overnight, but rediscovering one’s sexual identity is accompanied by a repositioning within social networks.
Meanwhile, Che was asked to change their racial background from Irish/Mexican to Italian/Mexican since the actor playing their father in their show has Italian roots. #LOL This is what I mean when I say that ‘And Just Like That’ doesn’t raise a proper voice against racist discrimination. For instance, when an older man tried to convince Che to be Italian by citing examples of threats he received on social media to be canceled, why didn’t Che question why they didn’t cast a Mexican actor to play their Mexican father? It would have been a direct response to the cancel culture prevalent on social media. It’s not about an Italian guy playing a Mexican character, but rather why a Mexican actor isn’t cast to play a Mexican father. Similarly, when Herbert, Lisa’s husband, got angry because he couldn’t get a cap in front of his young daughters, nobody questioned the institutional racist violence in the USA; instead of fighting back with dignity, they fought against each other. The show’s producers don’t miss any chance to mention a series of high-end fashion brands, but does nobody really remember the name of George Floyd to remind the audience that #BlackLivesMatter? #BS
The show has aired two episodes so far, and there hasn’t been any political improvement in the storytelling. The scriptwriters have introduced new voices about societal change through young characters, such as Charlotte’s non-binary child and the protest pianist girl. Perhaps, in this way, ‘And Just Like That’ is trying to convey that the freedom-seeking women from ‘Sex and the City’ have yet to catch up with the contemporary world.
See you in the next episode!
