And Just Like That

TV review by Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media
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Common Sense says

age 15+

Frank sexuality, strong female friendship in series reboot.

HBO Max Comedy 2021
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age 18+

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that And Just Like That is a continuation of the characters and storylines of Sex and the City, with the same actors taking on the same central roles. As in the original, sexual talk is frank, with references to body parts, sexual acts, casual sex, and many other sexual topics. The visuals include characters moving rhythmically and moaning, kissing, moving their hands suggestively, and more; there's no actual nudity or sex depicted -- body parts are covered by clothing or sheets. Violence is infrequent but a main character dies and the impact from that death affects the tone and direction of the show. Substance abuse is also a plot point, with a character drinking to calm and soothe herself; expect her drinking to become part of her character arc. Other characters frequently drink, including in scenes where they are handling emotional blows, or at parties and get-togethers to celebrate. Another character smokes pot on-screen, including in one scene with a 17-year-old boy. Language includes "f--k," "s--t," "hell," as well as words for body parts ("p---y") and sex ("jerking it"). Conspicuous consumption is not as front-and-center as in the original, but these characters are still wealthy and show it, with luxury apartments, fancy cars, designer clothing, upscale restaurant meals, and so on. Female friendship is strong and central, and women in their 50s are shown to be vital, sexy, full of energy and oomph. However, the show still focuses on and centers White wealthy characters, and though side characters are diverse, they still mainly comment on and pay attention to the personal lives of White characters and have little agency of their own. The original show was criticized for being straight, White, and coming from a place of clueless privilege, and the main characters in this reboot remain White, heterosexual, and wealthy. Minor characters are diverse, but the representation feels forced, as when Carrie does a podcast with a "queer nonbinary Mexican Irish diva" who says things like, "What can I as a straight cis male personally do to eradicate the harmful patriarchal system of the gender binary and compulsory heterosexuality?" There are more characters of color on the show, but the action is still centered on the White main characters, with characters of color in supportive roles without their own agency.

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What's the Story?

Continuing on with the characters and universe of Sex and the City, AND JUST LIKE THAT meets up with Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) as they navigate the highs and lows of their lives together. The three remain in New York City, living out the lives that will be familiar to fans of the show and movie series: Carrie is still married to Big (Chris Noth), now writing books instead of a newspaper column from her luxury apartment. Miranda has left her three-decade career as a corporate lawyer to go back to school to do advocacy work; she's married to Steve (David Eigenberg) and struggling with her teenaged son, Brady (Niall Cunningham). And Charlotte is still with Harry (Evan Handler), and pulling Upper East Side super-mom duty to teenaged daughters Lily (Cathy Ang) and Rose (Alexa Swinton). It's a lot to handle it, but the women do it, together, with style.

Is It Any Good?

There are two shows fighting for dominance in this reboot: a restart of the frothy series fans remember (with service to said memories), and one that grasps for the sexy relevance of the original. Only one of the two is good, and whether And Just Like That is painful or pleasurable at any given moment mostly depends on where we're landing. First, the good: Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte still have chemistry and the actresses haven't lost their comic chops. Watching them quipping around a brunch table once more is like a delightful, if slightly disorienting, dip into pop culture history, and it feels both right and enjoyable to watch these venerable friends going through life's up and downs together again. Moments of fan service range from amusing to ridiculous (the soundtrack actually emits an angelic chord when Carrie first opens the doors to her shoe closet), but TV shows about glamorous, successful women in their 50s are rare on TV and it's interesting to watch this ultimate '90s moneyed gaggle of privileged women struggling a bit in an era when their type of conspicuous consumption has faded from fashion. Their lives, along with those of their fans, are less about sex and romance and more about family and career and their own inner peace or lack thereof, all anchored by a longtime group friendship that's still vital and heartfelt, which And Just Like That reflects in a way that feels genuine and compelling.

On the other hand, beware the scenes that attempt to regain Sex and the City's former status as an agenda-setting show on the leading edge of culture. Whether it's Miranda learning her college classmates' preferred pronouns or Carrie holding down a spot on a podcast that revolves around sexual and gender identity, such scenes feel forced and unnatural, with characters who are types rather than people. At these moments, And Just Like That is a slog. It's true that SATC was rightfully criticized as blithely white/het/privileged, which came off as particularly tone-deaf given the diversity of its writ-out-loud NYC setting. But cramming in complications and characters merely for diversity's sake doesn't work, at least not here. It all adds up to a show that's muddled, but not without its strong points. Fans won't be able to stop themselves from watching, nor should they.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about friendship. How is friendship depicted in this show? How do friends help you cope with the ups and downs of life? Are there times when a friend's input is more important than family's? How does our need for friendship change as our life situations change?

  • The original Sex and the City focused on a group of women who were single, in their 20s or early 30s, and not yet settled into career/family life. How does And Just Like That reflect the time that has passed since the original aired? How are things different, or the same? Has the tone of the show changed?

  • Sex is a frequent plot point in this show, so talk with teens about the messages the content sends. Do any of the physical relationships seem healthy? Does a person need a romantic relationship to feel complete? How does sex change in the context of a long-term relationship? Does a person's desire for sex change or wane when they exit their procreative years?

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