Sex and the City lost its ‘zsa zsa zsu' years ago, we couldn't accept it until we saw literal sh*t on screen in And Just Like That finale

Indian Express

8 hours ago

The most powerful pieces of art evoke the strongest of reactions but when that reaction is unintended disgust, you need to start questioning how you got yourself in a place where literal sh*t floats on screen as you bid goodbye to one of the most beloved shows of all time. Sex and the City's revival, And Just Like That, ended its barely dramatic and unwelcome run last week and for a show that had a strong hold on millennials as it dictated the cultural zeitgeist of an era, it felt rather tragic. After existing for close to three decades, if a show's creator and lead star has to answer questions about the audience 'hate-watching' their material, it is obvious that they went terribly wrong somewhere along the way. The nostalgia wielding crowd demanded a return for their favourite show, the makers gave them something that they felt was an 'updated' version of the 90s, but it ended up being a confused mess where Carrie continued to be just as self-centered but Miranda somehow lost herself, despite being the most well-adjusted grown-up of the lot.
And Just Like That started after the cancelled third film, and Kim Catrall's firm decision to never return to the series despite the popularity it brought her. But soon after the revival of SATC's new avatar, it was clear that the show was a bad, and a hasty decision, that was probably made when the Covid clouds were yet to clear. The storyline of Che Diaz, who somehow became the most-hated character in a series where even Anthony managed to hold on to his place until the end; the desperate attempt to turn a new friend group into the original gang; the undignified exit of Stanford's character after Willie Garson's death, and the many other little tragedies turned And Just Like That into a show that was out to prove that it was 'woke with the times'. The comfort viewing of Sex and the City was a thing of the past because And Just Like That was too busy crossing hot-topics off a list so it could justify its presence in a post-pandemic world because now, they couldn't explain why a character owned 500 pairs of shoes, but not have enough money for rent.
The idea of a revival, or a comeback, or a spin-off is profitable for corporations as they can continue to milk their IPs, and for the audience, it manages to take them back to a time that they cherish. However, it is after revisiting that said era, they realise that some things are best left untouched for they aren't all that great to begin with. And Just Like That didn't manage to make people fall in love with its new world, in fact, it made them question what they even liked in that old world where women spent an ungodly amount of time talking about their hetero relationships, and lived with the assumption that if they didn't find themselves a man, they wouldn't have a fulfilling life. This was a world where Samantha was often shamed by her peers for her active sex life, Miranda wasn't celebrated for her achievements, Carrie wasn't called out for her selfishness and Charlotte never got the chance to be her own person.
As show moved on after its big premiere where Mr Big dies, which somehow coincided with #MeToo allegations against actor Chris Noth, Carrie's character moved on like she had not spent a lifetime with the love of her life. In fact, by the end of the third season, it started to almost feel like he was never in the picture. The man who had been the center of all her dramatic life moments was dead, and the show now found it shameful to revisit his memory so they chose to act like he never existed. Miranda and Charlotte were severely shortchanged through the run of the series and somehow, Kim Cattrall's decisions started to make sense.
Kim's infamous beef with Sarah Jessica Parker made her part ways with the show but we would like to believe that it had something to do with artistic integrity as well. She knew when to cut the cord and move on, and perhaps, we should have done the same. Holding on this show felt like holding on to a toxic ex-boyfriend, who has mistreated you enough times, but you are yet to wake up and smell the coffee. You keep hoping for the toxicity to end knowing fully well that this relationship is way past its expiration date. The relationship between the viewers and the franchise was starting to get sour as well but the last couple of years made it inedible.
Carrie once spoke about a certain 'zsa zsa zsu', an undefined spark that attracted her to Burger. She described it as the kind of feeling that makes you attracted to someone and even when things aren't going great, the memory of that 'zsa zsa zsu' keeps you invested in that relationship. Sex and the City started to lose its 'zsa zsa zsu' when it went on its movie route, and they lost whatever was left when they decided to go ahead with And Just Like That.