And Just Like That … Season-Premiere Recap: Fake It Till You Make It

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As someone who’s found themselves reminiscing about “Sex and the City” just like you, I can’t help but be reminded of a particular moment from season three that still chills me to the bone – Aidan asking Carrie to wait an entire five years for him! Yes, five long years. Just thinking about it now makes my day feel ruined.

In the season premiere, we discover that this arrangement is even more heartbreaking than we initially thought. Not only was Carrie supposed to hold off on being with Aidan so he could sort out his troubled 14-year-old son Wyatt, but they weren’t allowed to see each other or even communicate for the entire five years! I mean, sending each other blank postcards? That hardly qualifies as a relationship. It feels more like a hostage situation.

Now, you might wonder how Carrie Bradshaw, who famously declared that some women aren’t meant to be tamed, could possibly accept such a setup? Impossible, I say! In fact, Anthony compares her to Rapunzel, waiting in her tower for her prince, but this situation is starting to give off more Miss Havisham vibes – except instead of a wedding dress, Carrie will be sporting increasingly bizarre hats. And believe me, this is just the beginning of it all.

In simpler terms, the series suggests from the start that Carrie’s current situation might not be ideal – it appears they could have explored other possibilities instead of staying apart for years. When Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Anthony attend a ballet preview together, Anthony becomes curious about the new arrangement, expressing concerns any good friend would have. While Miranda and Charlotte are supportive, Carrie seems more resigned than content with the situation. Her friend Anthony asks questions about their relationship given her lack of knowledge about his return, which is typical concern-filled questions for a friend. Despite this, Carrie dismisses his concerns, showing obvious anger. Giuseppe, a sympathetic character, advises Anthony to relax. By the end of the episode, it’s Anthony who apologizes to Carrie for judging her too harshly. Although Carrie acknowledges that others have opinions about her situation, only Anthony voices them. Strangely, she seems determined to portray this unusual circumstance as normal.

Carrie may act differently with her friends, but we can see directly that this plan isn’t going to succeed. Aidan, who promised not to talk to his girlfriend for five years, was the one who broke the rule, calling Carrie in the middle of the night, drunk from three beers and hiding from his kids in his truck. It’s funny because even three beers won’t get him drunk, but he still calls her and asks for a sexual encounter. This goes against his own rules, and just moments later, he expresses his desire for them to have phone sex. However, an unexpected car horn and a stare from their cat Shoe ruin the moment for Carrie. While Aidan finishes, she pretends to climax. Afterwards, she feels guilty about lying to him. Carrie admits that their sexual relationship is the only honest part of them, but things take a turn when… well, it gets even more complicated!

In an attempt to rectify what seemed like a mistake, Carrie asks Shoe to leave her private space and contacts Aidan for a confession and a fresh start. However, upon initiating the conversation, he informs her that he’s entangled with Wyatt in bed, who had a particularly difficult day, making it impossible for him to comply at the moment. Yet, whenever he desires phone intimacy, he is free to break the rules and reach out to her. It seems unfair that he cannot help Carrie when she needs him, especially since she’s been forced to fake more than just orgasms in this relationship. Her choice to hang up instead of ending things with this man could be a desperate plea for understanding and change. Furthermore, the persistent activation of Carrie’s high-tech security system at her luxurious Gramercy Park residence may serve as a deafening metaphor, one that we can only hope she recognizes herself. This recurring alarm could symbolize Carrie’s emotional state, which appears to be far from peaceful and stable.

In Carrie’s circle, it appears that not many are content at the moment, with Harry being the exception – especially when he watches Herbert perform with his college a cappella group during Harry’s comptroller campaign fundraiser. Few will experience such happiness as him. (It’s great to see And Just Like That … make use of Christopher Jackson’s vocal talent!) Seema, who at the end of season two chose to wait for her man alongside Carrie, doesn’t even last five months before ending things with Ravi, the perpetual scarf-wearer. Given his behavior, it’s understandable why she would leave him. This season, Ravi seems less sophisticated and frequently misses their scheduled FaceTime calls for intimate moments, instead having his assistant inform Seema of these changes. (One might wonder why his assistant couldn’t simply call or text to spare her the embarrassment.) Seema nearly sets fire to her apartment after dozing off with a lit cigarette while waiting for him. The final straw is when he agrees to visit her in New York but turns it into a work trip, using her as a location scout for his team. Thankfully, Seema puts an end to this relationship by sundown. She is a woman who recognizes her worth, and she deserves infinitely more than being a snack container for Cool Ranch potato chips and Sprite in the back of a van. She possesses too many silk coordinated sets for such trivial matters.

In a humorous twist, despite continuing misfortunes in love, Miranda’s story provides plenty of amusement and awkward moments. It’s fascinating to note that Miranda, on an adventure of self-discovery and New York City exploration, encounters a character named Mary, portrayed comically by Rosie O’Donnell. This Mary is actually a nun, leading to numerous humorous references about the Virgin Mary and ghosting. The most entertaining joke, however, comes when Carrie realizes she’s more concerned about Miranda sleeping with a tourist than deflowering a virgin nun. Every time Miranda receives a message from Mary inviting her to meet at popular spots like Tavern on the Green or the Central Park Carousel, Carrie chuckles. Mary, inexperienced and exploring the world for the first time, makes typical tourist choices, as we all sometimes do. Despite Carrie’s amusement, Miranda finds it difficult to ignore this nun. Maybe it’s due to her compassion for a woman on a personal journey, but I suspect part of it is because Mary described their encounter as “electric.” These characters are nothing if not self-absorbed, yet charming in their narcissism.

In this scenario, Miranda Hobbes unexpectedly encounters a nun in Times Square, pleading with her not to abandon faith. It’s quite the moment! Fortunately, Mary had no intention of leaving the convent; she was merely exploring a new aspect of herself. To show her gratitude for Miranda’s influence, Mary surprises her by singing a few lines from her first Broadway production, “For Good,” in Times Square, even sharing the stage with a person dressed as a giant gorilla. Cynthia Nixon’s response to this unusual serenade, captured on TV, is priceless and left me chuckling long after Miranda and her unconventional admirer went their separate ways.

In the third season of “And Just Like That … “, Miranda decides she’d rather avoid Times Square, Seema re-enters the dating scene, and Carrie clings to her unrealistic expectations for her “relationship”. A hint that Carrie might be facing the reality of her situation with Aidan is her return to writing, finding inspiration after a break. What does she choose to write about? “She pondered over what she had gotten herself into,” she types, a sentiment we can all relate to, Carrie.

This and That

Throughout much of the episode, Charlotte strives to clear her dog Richard Burton’s name following a misunderstanding at the park where he bit someone. This comedic plotline leads nowhere significant (with her cherished pet proven innocent as expected), yet my primary motivation for watching this show remains spending quality time with Charlotte and Harry.

In an attempt to launch her PBS docusery focusing on unrecognized Black women, LTW encounters a snag when the PBS executives insist on including Michelle Obama, a figure far from being unsung. Baffled about how to proceed, she discovers a potential lead in the final scene of the episode, through Herbert’s campaign manager Chauncey, who could have connections within the Obama Administration.

Herbert frequently bothers LTW, adding to her stress by constantly asking if he’s “cool” or not. Yet, his charming voice prevents me from ever hating him. Regrettably, I must admit that truthfully, Herbert is not cool and should embrace that fact. After all, his name is Herbert – it’s challenging for him to be perceived as cool.

It seems Lily harbors feelings for one of the dancers from the New York City Ballet, which is unfortunate as it looks like Charlotte and Miranda’s daughters’ romantic journey won’t progress further. Brady, step up to defend your love interest!

At this point, there isn’t much more to comment on Carrie’s Maryam Keyhani gingham hat, is there? Apart from the obvious issue that it appears quite impractical for summer in New York City (one might think her head is drenched in sweat), I can’t help but wonder what she’s trying to achieve. Does she resemble a Neapolitan ice cream cone? Or perhaps she’s auditioning for the role of Toad’s sultry aunt in the next Mario movie? It’s all rather puzzling, and to be honest, I don’t feel compelled to unravel the mystery. Madness has always been a defining aspect of Carrie’s style, and we aren’t going to alter that anytime soon.

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2025-05-30 07:54