Fans were keenly anticipating the Sex and the City revival, And Just Like That… since it was first announced. All cast members, except Kim Cattrall, returned to reprise their famous roles as Manhattan’s favorite women, though Cynthia Nixon only returned on the condition that the show not be a reboot.
She made it clear that she wanted the new show to be significantly different from the original series. And it was.
While some fans have praised the series for its diversity and entertaining storylines, others have condemned the show. But does the cast have any regrets?
Cynthia Nixon revealed that if she had her time again, she would do one important thing differently. And it has to do with the backlash the show has received over changes to the old characters, the introduction of new characters, and surprising storylines.
‘And Just Like That…'
In late 2020, the highly anticipated Sex and the City revival And Just Like That… aired on HBO. Set nearly two decades after the original Sex and the City series ended, the series follows the lives of Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes, and Charlotte York — the beloved characters from the original series — as they navigate life in their 50s.
The fourth star of the original series, Samantha Jones, is notably absent from the reboot as actress Kim Cattrall did not wish to reprise her role.
While the original series showed the women finding love in New York City, And Just Like That… focuses on their lives after marriage. Carrie deals with suddenly being single again after the death of her husband Big, Miranda deals with an unhappy marriage and drinking problem, and Charlotte deals with the ups and downs of being a mom to two teenagers.
The Criticism Faced By The Show
The show received mixed reviews after airing, with many fans taking to social media to vent their frustrations with the reboot. One of the main criticisms was that the show was “trying too hard to be woke” by including diverse characters for the sake of inclusion.
Many fans also had a problem with Miranda’s new storyline and character arc. In the series, she falls in love with bartender Steve Brady and, after breaking up a few times, finally marries him and finds happiness by moving with him and their son to Brooklyn.
In And Just Like That…, Miranda is unhappy in her marriage and cheats on Steve with Carrie’s boss, Che Diaz, who has been called the worst character on TV in a decade. Fans have expressed that Miranda acts foolishly as she falls in love with Che, who makes it clear that she doesn’t want a traditional relationship and left Miranda on read.
Cynthia Nixon Responded To Fan Backlash
The cast responded to the backlash, including Cynthia Nixon who defended Miranda’s actions.
"It reminds me very much of Carrie and some of her most sentimental moments of being in love with Mr. Big and trying to make herself be in love with Aidan but having an affair," Nixon shared (via BuzzFeed).
"Like I was saying before, a feminist show shouldn't be agitprop, it shouldn't be propaganda showing women as these sensible, wise, kind, attractive people. First of all, who wants to watch that? I don't want to watch that."
Cynthia Nixon Believes Miranda Hasn’t Changed Drastically
While defending Miranda and slamming critics, Nixon also revealed that it wasn’t out of character for Miranda to have an affair with Che as she has always been reckless and spontaneous along with being smart and tenacious.
“She's never been levelheaded!" Nixon explained (via BuzzFeed). "She's a loose cannon, a very opinionated loose cannon. She's always been a bull in a china shop and losing her temper and blowing things up then having to backtrack when she calms down."
What Would Cynthia Nixon Do Differently?
In a recent interview with Vogue, Cynthia Nixon confessed that she loves And Just Like That…, but if she had her time again, she would do one thing differently: make it super clear that the reboot would not be a clone of Sex and the City.
“I would have made sure we said to people in letters 10 feet tall, this is not Sex and the City. If you’re looking for Sex and the City, you should watch the reruns. This is a new show for this moment and for the moment in these original characters’ lives.”
Fans believe that Nixon has this regret because she believes much of the criticism comes from fans comparing the reboot to the original and expecting similar storylines.
The Defense Of ‘And Just Like That…”
Though there has been widespread criticism of And Just Like That…, some critics and fans have stepped out to defend the show.
Harper’s Bazaar published an article defending the reboot, claiming that it was authentic and had a message to share, even though it wasn’t perfect.
The series has been commended for the performances of the actors and for being genuinely entertaining, even if some of its social commentary was off.
