On Sunday it was announced we would see the return of Carrie and co. on HBO max as their story continued. We’re asking the burning questions of what a revival would look like…
Dust off your gold name necklaces, because Carrie and the girls are back. Long-time fans of the HBO classic Sex and the City were celebrating over the weekend as the stars posted an update that our girls would be making a comeback in a new series. While the world has certainly missed Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha, a revival raised a few questions about how an updated version of the beloved series would look in the 2020s.
Here’s what we know so far. The series, titled And Just Like That… will stream on HBO Max. Production begins in late spring of this year, so we probably won’t see it until sometime in 2022. Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis will be reprising their roles from the series, however Kim Cattrall is not returning to the franchise, which means the future of Samantha Jones is still very much up in the air. Cattrall’s absence from the reboot isn’t surprising though. She had a very public falling-out with SJP in 2017 and had also publicly stated she wasn’t interested in playing Samantha Jones anymore, and although the admired the character, she felt her time playing her had passed its expiration. Cattrall also voiced her desire for an actress of colour to take on the role in a bid to diversify the cast.
Even with the absence of Samantha, this revival feels like reconnecting with old friends, and we have a few questions about what this new chapter will look like in a world where we hope products of popular culture are a bit more progressive to reflect the world a lot of us currently live in.
Are Carrie and Big currently in a stable relationship?
The turbulent relationship of Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big remained a large plot point throughout the entire series. Even when the series ended, and the two realized it was time to settle down with each other, their relationship continued to hit rocky roads in both movies. In the new series have Carrie and Big moved past their decade-long rocky phase? Or are they still stuck in a toxic pattern? I think it’s safe to say on behalf of all fans of the show, seeing these two go through another hiccup would be something we’re not interested in seeing again.
Bonus:
Are the rest of the girls still with their partners we last saw them with? Miranda and Steve remained stable through the second movie after his infidelity in the first, and Charlotte and Harry have been rock steady since their engagement.
What about Samantha?
Ok, so we’re stating the obvious. Samantha is a fan favourite and regarded to be the most sexually progressive of the girls in the original series among fans. Her storylines (SMITH) remained some of the highlights of the series, and her absence will be felt by long time fans. Sarah Jessica Parker has already stated that Samantha will not be part of this story, but how are they going to explain her absence in this chapter? They have to say something. Maybe she moved back to Los Angeles, maybe their friendship fell through? Wherever Samantha is, I hope she’s living her best life. On an unrelated topic, I hope Smith is also doing alright.
Will we see any of the girls reconnect with their exes?
After Carrie and Big had their perfect courthouse wedding at the end of the first movie, we were sure that would be the end of their troubles. After going through the rollercoaster of Carrie and Big in the first movie, this was a ride a lot of fans weren’t keen to take so soon. Is reconnecting with exes on the plot list for this reboot? Will Charlotte or Miranda reconnect with any of their old flames? Will we see Trey again? Is Bunny still alive? Where is Skipper? I am a firm believer that the past should be left in the past, so I hope this doesn’t happen. However, I will be living in fear of a Trey/Bunny comeback until we have confirmed answers.
What will they wear?
Thanks to the show’s legendary stylist Patricia Field, the girls were early 2000s style icons through the first run of the series. The costuming was amplified for the movies, where we saw the girls wearing clothes from the world’s most luxurious and exclusive brands. The anticipation to see what current trends Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda will be wearing in the revival is high. Right now, there is an early 2000s renaissance with fashion, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see some original favourites sprinkled in with new pieces (hello Dior saddle bag). This would also be an easy way to bring the girls into the environmentally concious 2020s. Maybe we’ll even see Carrie shopping at a vintage store. After all, her iconic pink tulle skirt was famously found in a bargain bin by Field.
Will the show feel more progressive?
Lockdown binges had us all re-watching our favourite shows. As fans of the show spent their days streaming the series, they voiced their disappointment online when they realized Carrie and the girls, weren’t the progressive cosmopolitan ladies they once knew and loved. At least by today’s standards. While the original series didn’t shy away from talking about sex, and it was considered progressive in the late 90s when it originally aired, some episodes haven’t held up over time. For example, the episode where Carrie dated a man who happened to be bisexual. The coffee talk between the girls about his bisexuality completely invalidated his sexuality. We now know this to be incredibly problematic and incorrect. This, along with various discussions surrounding race throughout the series just don’t measure up to today’s progressive standards, nor does it reflect the boundaries that current HBO shows typically break. Considering Sarah, Cynthia, and Kristin are all serving as executive producers on the revival, I am hoping that if these subjects will be addressed, they will be presented in a more progressive way.
Considering everything, there are still a lot of reasons to be excited for this revival. Fans of this show now span from Gen X all the way to Gen Z, so it will be interesting to see how this revival, which will follow the girls as they navigate friendship in their 50s can relate back to the multi-generational fan base. Taking this series, which is quintessentially early 2000s, and bringing into a more modern New York City, while still making it feel like an old favourite may be difficult, but if anyone can do it, it’s Carrie Bradshaw in a pair of Manolo Blanks.
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