And Just like That

The inevitability of Change

Having recently finished season two of “And Just Like That” and reading several “gossip” posts about the new the show, I find myself sorting through a variety of emotions as well as several questions: What is the purpose of Adien’s return to Carrie’s life if he was only going to disappear for another five years? Will Maranda find her voice, one that was so prevalent throughout the series’ first run and two subsequent movies? What is the purpose of the new characters? Should Anthony become the new “Samantha?” Will the actual “Samantha” return to the series in a limited capacity? Will any of the characters find their “purpose” other than Charlotte who now seems to be heading back into the work force? What is up with Carrie? Yes, she still writes as she has published a number of books, but what does she do on a day-to-day basis? What is Carrie doing with her life now that her husband has died? And most importantly, just how much money did Big leave her? While these questions tumble around my mind, there is one issue the new series has forced its millions of fans to contend with: the inevitability of change, and how we and the characters deal with it.

When it was announced that a new chapter in the Sex and the City universe would be gracing our TVs, I along with millions of fans was ecstatic at the chance of once again getting caught up with our favorite foursome: Charlotte, Miranda, Carrie and Samantha. Would the show be the same? Would there still be lots of sex? Where were the ladies in their lives? How would the public feud between Kim Catrell and SJP, affect the show? And would Ms. Catrell return as Samantha? With these questions on the mind’s of the shows diehard enthusiasts, the cast, crew, and producers hand an unbelievable and undeliverable task in front of them: breathing life back into a pop cultural phenomenon like Sex and the City in a way that would appease the show’s millions of followers. The most realistic and probably the easiest answer to these questions is: you don’t. At least, you don’t bring the show back using the original concept: four single ladies in search of love in New York. Our ladies are no longer in their 20’s and looking for love. They are now in their fifties dealing with new issues. To bring the show back, the producers would have to deliver a show in which we find the characters on a new path, dealing with new issues.

And Just Like That is not a continuation of Sex and the City, it was never meant to be. Instead, as the title suggests, it’s a new chapter in the Sex and the City universe. This new series gives us a new chapter of our beloved ladies lives, as well as new characters. The ladies we see today are in many aspects new versions who we can either fall in love with or not. Charlotte, Miranda and Carrie have changed since we first met them over twenty years ago, and now we see them in new aspects of their lives. We see them dealing with changes we all encounter in life, the death of a loved one, a divorce, a return to the work force, and in some cases, problems with drinking. Change is not easy, and sometimes it hurts, as what once was, is no more. Friendships fall apart, a loved one dies, new people come into our lives, and sometimes we lose track of who we are and then struggle to either reclaim who we were or find a new version our self. Which is exactly what our beloved characters are experiencing. Charlette had raised a family and is now getting back into the workplace and pursuing what she wants; Miranda left corporate law and is struggling with her new identity and what she wants out of life. Carrie must deal with the biggest life altering event of all: the death of her husband. Our beloved ladies are changing, their characters are evolving, which is something we must all do at some point in life. 

Change and dealing with change is the essence of And Just like That. This new series allows us to see how our beloved ladies have progressed over the years, how they’ve grown, and how they are embracing their new lives, and here lies the issue many fans, myself included, are encountering with the new show: we don’t like change. With that said, if the producers hadn’t changed and gone in a new direction, wouldn’t people be complaining about this as well? In the beginning of the new series, I found myself feeling that something was missing in the show, but I couldn’t figure out what it was. After watching the next few episodes, I realized what it was: the voice over that was so prevalent in the original series was gone. Instead at the end of each episode we have a simple line, “And just like that . . .” from Carrie. And just like that the producers gave us a new show, a new format, with evolving characters. While many fans and critics continue to struggle with the new show, one should remember that this isn’t the original Sex and the City, this is a new show that present the ladies navigating life in their fifties. It’s a show about change, it shows that change is something we must face and go through. While we may not like it, life evolves, we evolve, and so have our beloved ladies. We can change with them, or we can hold onto the way they used to be, which would be like holding onto a version of ourselves that we shouldn’t hold on to. I for one, am with them, I’m here to evolve with them, as well as evolve in my own personal life. While change hurts and is scary, it’s something we must all face and adjust to. Life doesn’t stand still. While change is scary, it’s also exciting, as who knows what kind of new and exciting adventures it can bring.