4 Ways 'And Just Like That' Betrayed Everything 'Sex and the City' Stood For
Here's why And Just Like That was a fatal mistake from the start.
The Sex and the City sequel, And Just Like That, was supposed to highlight the paths of women who experienced the freedom of the big city in their prime.
As the third season airs on HBO Max, diehard fans are still hoping for a change for the better. However, that hope is fading.
1. 'AJLT' Abandoned Coherent Storytelling for Chaotic Overload
The creators of And Just Like That seem to be testing how many storylines they can squeeze into a 40-minute episode. Rather than focusing on one or two coherent arcs, viewers are shown a kaleidoscope of side storylines.
The action jumps from the Met Gala to Halloween and back to summer. In between, the writers mention important events that are never shown.
Locations like Aidan's house remain off-screen – we're told the characters were there, but we never see it. Consequently, the show loses its last vestiges of realism – the characters react to experiences that viewers did not share.
2. Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte Are Strangers in Their Own Universe Now
Carrie lives in a luxurious townhouse, no longer writes columns, and no longer asks tough questions. Mr. Big's death could have given her a chance to become independent, but Aidan's return stopped that progress for good.
Miranda suddenly loses her home and becomes embroiled in absurd situations. Charlotte has become a caricature of a caring mother who endlessly takes care of her daughters.
Instead of powerful character arcs of growth and rethinking aging, we see characters who don't develop at all.
3. 'AJLT' Is Full of New Characters and Storylines, but Lacks Meaningful Development
One of the reboot's main promises was to correct the mistakes of the original by making the world of Carrie and her friends more diverse and progressive, which sounded like a great idea.
In reality, however, the new characters often seem like mere checkmarks on a list of topics. Rather than fleshed-out characters, viewers are presented with empty shells with minimal development. Seema, Nya, and Lisa appear for a few scenes and then suddenly disappear without explanation.
In an attempt to be perfect And Just Like That loses the frankness for which Sex and the City was loved so much.
4. 'AJLT' Is a Pure Hate-Watching Experience
The main paradox of And Just Like That is that people still watch it, even if they hate it. Scenes like Harry and Charlotte's sex don't add depth – they make the series a cringeworthy circus.
This has its own strange appeal – And Just Like That is now the best option for hate-watching. However, there is no real drama or fresh thought behind this – it's just an endless spectacle of cringe that only keeps those who still miss the original show glued to the screen.
