And Just Like That has been receiving backlash before it even aired on HBO Max. Kim Cattrall's absence from the Sex and the City reboot was enough to put fans on edge. It just got worse when Mr. Big died after a Peloton session in the second episode. Add the fact that Chris Noth has been alleged of sexual assault following his exit. This show just can't catch a break, and the fans have plenty of complaints as well. We went on the show's subreddit and found 10 forced moments viewers blame on bad writing. We now have some questions, too...
10 The Innuendo-Filled Funeral Speech
"How long... How very long? Not nearly long enough... How large he was... He will leave a big hole." Yes, that was Miranda Hobbes' (Cynthia Nixon) supposedly serious eulogy for Mr. Big. Fans thought it was a joke at first. "[I] was like...this is a joke about how bad the speech is right??" a fan wrote.
What's worse is that viewers were forced to go "aww" after Miranda revealed that Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) wrote it for her late husband. "And then it's revealed [Carrie] wrote it and we're supposed to think it's beautiful," the Redditor added. "[I] guess her columns were always hokey, and it was in keeping with that style (that's somehow very successful in this world...like her career is amazing?)."
9 Che Diaz's Unfunny Stand-Up
Fans were expecting a lot from Sara Ramirez's character, Che Diaz. There was just so much emphasis on their being a standup comedian. Then came their performance, and viewers were disappointed. "I did not laugh or even smile a single time during Che's standup," wrote a Redditor. "I didn't disagree with it, but I just found it incredibly, incredibly boring and unfunny. It was just a bunch of trite opinions and slogans. Where were the jokes???" Another fan added that "it felt more like a motivational speech at a rally than a standup set."
8 Unrealistic Introduction Of New Characters
In a post titled "A better way to have introduced new characters," a fan cited how "the writers are doing a horrible job of writing realistically about [middle-aged] women." According to them, it was just a lot of huge things happening at once, and all after Big's death. They said the show could have been written in a way where we "see the girls with side friendships, ALREADY IN PROGRESS." Another fan agreed, saying that the show's "exposition and pacing feels like high school writing."
7 Wokeness At Every Chance
Sex and the City hasn't really aged well over the years. Fans think it's the reason And Just Like That inserts "wokeness and political correctness" every chance they get. Nothing wrong with educating viewers, but fans think it's "lousy writing" that makes it cringe-worthy. "I keep reading posts about how the show being too preoccupied with wokeness and political correctness is giving us this mess," wrote a Redditor.
"But it's clear that the writers just don't know how to write about these topics. Race, class, health, death and age can be [portrayed] in a sensitive and clever demeanor, AJLT is lousy writing. They are trying to make amends for the [show's] previous errors and they don't know how to or they simply don't care, which is worst."
6 Aging Steve Brady 'Beyond His Age'
Steve Brady may be an underrated character, but he's beloved by many fans. So it was sad to see him in the reboot as this hearing aid-wearing, gray-haired dad. "I hate how much they've 'aged' Steve beyond his age," wrote a fan. "Steve was so interesting before. The gray is fine, and I get the hearing loss angle, but damn, they reduced him to the personality of a slow shell of a human. The taking out his aid during the boy's piano was amusing for a second, but that's it."
With Miranda and Che's affair escalating, fans are even more upset that this is how the writers plan on "making it easy" to break off Miranda and Steve's marriage. "I think this is the angle they’re taking and it makes me SO MAD," another fan wrote. "We spent 10 years rooting for them to be together. Then because the writers need content break them up?! F OFF."
5 Alcoholic Miranda Hobbes
Over the years, Miranda has gained a cult following for being a progressive girl boss. Now fans think And Just Like That destroyed her. "I think they’re trying a little too hard to arbitrarily assign life’s challenges to the characters," wrote a Reddit commenter. "Especially for Miranda it’s missing any context for how her character could have gone from seeming the most to the least equipped to deal with their particular season of life. If it made sense for anyone to become an alcoholic it would be Charlotte whose life has been lacking a central focus outside of her husband and kids for seeming 15+ years now." Fair shade on Charlotte, to be honest.
4 The 'Awkward' Podcast
It seems like the writers decided to pour all the woke stuff they've got onto the podcast. "It really does feel like the vibe they are going with for the podcast is 'woke offended millenial edgelord,'" wrote a fan. "Which is SO off from what us millenials are actually discussing and concerned about. Most of us are just worried about mortgages, marriage and kids right now. Not discussing masturbation on the subway." True that.
3 Not Enough Focus On POC's Lives
Fans think the show doesn't focus on POC's lives. "The people of color on the show seem to be bringing their A game," a fan complained. "Really they should lose SJP, [Nixon], [Davis] and make a whole new show with the woman of color on the show. Finding a way for [Ramirez], [Nicole Ari Parker], [Sarita Choudhury], and [Karen Pittman] character's to interact and then become friends and follow their lives would be far more interesting."
Then again, it's always been a show centered on white women's lives. "I think it comes down to this," wrote a fan. "How do you incorporate women of color into a 20+ year old show where your main characters are upper class 50 year old white women who explored modern age feminism in all areas except race? It can’t help but be awkward."
2 Miranda Hobbes And Che Diaz
Fans have mixed feelings about Miranda exploring her sexuality and having an affair with Che who identifies as non-binary. In a Reddit post titled "Even as a nonbinary I don’t see Che with Miranda……#feelsforced," fans shared their critical thoughts of the plot twist, saying that, in real life, someone like "Che would not be into Miranda."
However, they think Che serves some purpose on Miranda's evolution. "I think Che is just there to wake Miranda up a bit and make her realize that she is capable of more (and WANTS more) than a sexless marriage," a fan speculated. "Miranda and Steve are platonic roommates at this point, and they both deserve better."
1 The Attempt To Have A New Samantha Jones
Samantha Jones can never be replaced. It's exactly why fans were all ready to boycott the show the moment it was confirmed that Kim Cattrall won't be rejoining the cast. Still, And Just Like That tries to fill that gap with new characters — even with existing ones like Anthony Marentino (Mario Cantone) bringing his sassy mouth to the table during brunch with the girls.
But fans don't think it's enough, even with Carrie's realtor, Seema Patel (Sarita Choudhury) — a single gal in her 50s who's "still putting herself out there." Fans think "there’s absolutely nothing fun about it so far" and that "no one could do Sam like Kim Cattrall."
