The revival of Sex and the City in the form of brand new miniseries And Just Like That… has perhaps made the most headlines of any TV show in 2021.
Set in New York City nearly 20 years after the original series ended, the new show follows the lives of Carrie and her friends who are now in their 50s. Some fans rejected the show from the beginning, after learning that Kim Cattrall, who played Samantha Jones, would not be reprising her role.
But since the pilot aired in December 2021, many fans have given the show a positive review, claiming that it’s more realistic than Sex and the City ever was.
While Samantha’s absence is definitely meaningful—and several cast members have addressed it—millions of viewers are still giving And Just Like That… a chance. Keep reading to find out why fans are calling it more realistic than Sex and the City.
‘And Just Like That…’
In 2021, 17 years after the finale of the popular TV show Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw and her best gal pals returned for the mini-series And Just Like That… Only a few episodes in, and there have already been some major bombshells.
The character of Mr. Big, the love of Carrie’s life, and the one man she’s been chasing since the pilot aired more than 23 years ago, dies of a heart attack in the first episode.
We also find out that Samantha has had a falling out with the girls because Carrie fired her as her publicist and the former fourth BFF now lives in London.
Why Fans Are Calling It More Realistic Than ‘Sex And The City’
There have been strong reactions to the first few episodes, with fans divided over the drama. But one thing that many fans do agree on is that the new series is more realistic than Sex and the City ever was.
The Ringer points out that the show is more diverse, bringing in new characters from different communities and identities that ensure the cast does not consist of just four straight white women.
The publication also argues that it’s believable that the women live in Manhattan and lead the lifestyles they do. Carrie, for example, is married to a Wall Street financier, no longer surviving on a single column per week to somehow pay her rent and fund her high fashion addiction.
Online reviews from fans have also highlighted another small yet significant reason why And Just Like That… is more realistic than its predecessor: the subway! In the original series, the women got around New York City via cabs. Now we see Miranda taking the subway, a more affordable and realistic option.
Criticism Of ‘And Just Like That…’
Despite the fact that And Just Like That… may be more realistic than Sex and the City, some fans of the original show aren’t happy with the new material.
The biggest criticism of the show, which was very obvious even before the show aired, is the fact that Samantha isn’t in it. Sam and her absence have made some loyal fans feel like they can’t connect to a story that doesn’t include her.
Some fans have pointed out that the way Samantha’s absence was handled wasn’t true to her character. We find out that she dumped her friends and moved to London after feeling hurt because Carrie fired her.
Other long-time fans argue that this behavior is out of Samantha’s character; she thinks of her friends as her soulmates, as stated in the second film.
There are also those fans who believe that the show has destroyed the career of Miranda Hobbes, who was once a committed lawyer. And of course, lots of fans are devastated (and taking to social media to rant about it) over the death of Mr. Big.
Sarah Jessica Parker’s Thoughts On ‘And Just Like That…’
At the premiere of And Just Like That… Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays Carrie Bradshaw opened up about how she really feels about the new series.
In an interview on the red carpet, the actress said that she was grateful to be doing a new series with Carrie and that they worked hard on the project, so she hopes that the effort pays off.
Despite the criticism, many fans have fallen back in love with the story thanks to the new series, so it looks like the effort has paid off!
Kim Cattrall’s Response To ‘And Just Like That’
Kim Cattrall, who portrayed Samantha in the original series, made it clear that she would not be returning to reprise her role as Samantha in the new series. Cattrall opened up about not being good friends with her co-stars and wanting to leave the character of Samantha alone.
After the new series aired, Cattrall seemingly addressed the controversy of her lack of involvement by liking a series of tweets by fans.
Among those that she liked were fan declarations that they wouldn’t watch the new series without Samantha and those that applauded her decision to not reprise the role.
Celebrity Reactions To ‘And Just Like That…’
Mere mortals aren’t the only ones hooked on the Sex and the City revival. As People points out, celebrities are enjoying the new series too. Kim Kardashian took to social media to document herself watching And Just Like That… on a night in, publicly declaring her love for Sarah Jessica Parker.
"I will always ride or die for @sarahjessicaparker and Sex and the City or And Just Like That…” Kardashian told her millions of followers.
