The Bear We Were Liars The Buccaneers What To Watch
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Welcome to Screen Time! I'm Nora, and if there's one thing you need to know about me, it's that I love watching TV and movies. I also absolutely love being absorbed in fandoms.
This week, I dive into the TV shows I am currently watching, like, can we talk about We Were Liars, please? THAT TWIST!!! I SOBBED!!! I also share what's all over my FYP — like the New York Times dropping the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century — and what we've got going on over on BuzzFeed Celeb's YouTube channel, plus more. Thanks for joining me!
We Were Liars — watch for: one of the best plot twists ever
Streaming on Prime Video
Based on the bestselling book by E. Lockhart, We Were Liars follows "The Liars," a tight-knit circle of friends who vacation every summer together on a private island in New England. While on the surface the Sinclair family is known for their good looks, generational wealth, and their close bonds, after a life-altering accident, everyone seems to have something to hide.
This book (and show) has one of the best plot twists, so if you are unspoiled, try to watch before you get spoiled, and if you've read the book already, I honestly think I loved the show more?! This adaptation works on every level. The Vampire Diaries fans, co-creator Julie Plec is behind this one, and even brings along Candice King, aka Caroline Forbes. Also, this young cast is so stellar. In particular, it was awesome getting to see Joseph Zada (aka young Haymitch in the upcoming Hunger Games movie, Sunrise on the Reaping). So, cue the fan edits already.
The Buccaneers — watch for: a show that fills the Bridgerton void with an absolutely stacked cast
Streaming on Apple TV+, new episodes every Wednesday
It's the show every Bridgerton, Dickinson, and/or Reign fan should be watching. Based on Edith Wharton's unfinished novel, The Buccaneers is set during the Gilded Age and follows a group of ambitious young women from America who travel to London for a debutante season in hopes of securing husbands and titles. I think one of my favorite TV genres might be a period piece that utilizes modern music, manners of speech, and more, because The Buccaneers and Dickinson have both done this, and I've adored them both.
Like I said, the cast is one of the main draws: Kristine Froseth, Alisha Boe, Matthew Broome, Aubri Ibrag, Guy Remmers, Mia Threapleton, Josie Totah, Imogen Waterhouse, and Christina Hendricks to name a few, and in Season 2, Leighton Meester joins, so enough said. Also, who doesn't love good Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan needle drops?!
The Bear — watch for: the cast's always entertaining dynamic
Streaming on Hulu and Disney+
The fourth season of this Emmy-winning comedy (or let's be real, drama) just dropped, and while I wasn't a big fan of the third season — I liked aspects but overall it felt super rushed and I didn't love every storyline — I will be finishing binge-watching the new season this weekend regardless. The new season will pick up with Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), Syd (Ayo Edebiri), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and the rest of the crew continuing to make their restaurant, The Bear, strive for excellence. However, as with previous seasons of The Bear, more challenges, both financial and personal, are around every corner.
Honestly, I will be watching for Ayo's performance and to see if there are any exciting guest stars this season. I'm curious if Season 4 regains the spark that Seasons 1 and 2 had, or if The Bear is just running in circles and overstaying its welcome.
These are some of my favorite things from my FYP, feed, and more:
The New York Times published its list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century. My favorite part of this project is that they asked actors, directors, and more to give their 10 favorite movies of the 21st Century, too, and it's been so cool reading them — Sofia Coppola's list is pretty flawless, but I am also obsessed with Julianne Moore having Superbad on hers — because as a Letterboxd superfan, I love this kind of stuff.
You can also make your own ballot. Mine might have some recency bias, but I feel pretty comfortable saying this is my top 10:
And I know this isn't technically a movie or TV show yet, but I just finished reading Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and it has already been optioned to be adapted, so I'm putting my love for it here, too. I've read everything she's written, consider The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo my favorite book of all time, and I loved the Daisy Jones & the Six adaptation.
A book about space deserved a photo under Grand Central's iconic constellation ceiling.
So naturally, when I finished Atmosphere, after I screamed and cried and felt every single emotion, I started fan-casting in my head, and I've proceeded to tell all my friends who have finished that Ashley Johnson would be the perfect Joan. So, please read this book. It's QUEER AND ABOUT WOMEN IN SPACE! And then tell me your fan casts for Joan and Vanessa.
This week, over on BuzzFeed Celeb, I fulfilled my Disney Channel kid dream. We had the cast of Phineas and Ferb — Dan Povenmire (creator and Dr. Doofenshmirtz), Ashley Tisdale (Candace), Jeff "Swampy" Marsh (creator and Major Monogram), Alyson Stoner (Isabella), and Vincent Martella (Phineas) — compete in a game of trivia about the show. Like, not only do they sing "Gitchee Gitchee Goo," but Ashley breaks out into "Busted," so I feel like I can die happy now. The whole thing was so fun, and they were adorably hilarious. The show just returned after 10 years for new episodes, and it's just as good as before.
A place where I answer YOUR questions about TV, movies, fandom, and more:
Question: If you had to pick your top five favorite characters of all time, who would they be and why?
Hi! Okay, I have a literal note on my phone where I list some of my favorite TV shows, movies, episodes, books, video games, and fictional characters because whenever I am asked to narrow anything down like this, I draw a blank, and I end up saying the most recent things I have hyperfixated on. So I'll do you one better, directly from my notes app, my current top TEN characters of all time:
Well, that's all I've got for this week's edition of Screen Time. Come back every week to get more TV and movie recommendations, find out which celebs we're working with, and so much more!
Have a question for me, or want to tell me what you're watching right now, or have a suggestion of what I should watch next? Send it to me now at screentime@buzzfeed.com or at this Google form.
Do you love all things TV and movies? Subscribe to the Screen Time newsletter to get your weekly dose of what to watch next and what everyone is flailing over from someone who watches everything!
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New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Turn on the TV and crank up the AC: All the shows to watch this summer
The (heat) wave of new and returning television shows is here. Summer is delivering a slew of fan-favorite series, including the return of 'Ginny & Georgia' for its third season on Netflix. Also in their third seasons are the thriller 'Squid Games' on Netflix and 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' on Prime Video. 14 Jenna Ortega as Wednesday. JONATHAN HESSION/NETFLIX 14 Jeremy Allen White in 'The Bear.' FX Viewers can also tune into new shows from all the major streamers, including Prime Video for its twisty teen thriller 'We Were Liars,' based on the popular young-adult novel of the same name by author E. Lockhart. Keep reading for all the summertime shows that should be on your watch list. 'Ginny & Georgia' 14 'Ginny & Georgia.' AMANDA MATLOVICH/NETFLIX Season 3 of the drama picks up after single mom of two Georgia Miller (Brianne Howey) was arrested for murder during her wedding to Mayor Paul Randolph (Scott Porter) in the Season 2 finale. All major characters are back, including Georgia's daughter Ginny (Antonia Gentry), plus viewers get to see some new faces enter Wellsbury High. In February, Howey, 36, spoke about the latest season. 'All of the characters are now, as we see, on their own mental health journey, and it's a really important part of the show,' the actress told Us Weekly at the time. 'Georgia, for the first time in her life, is realizing the catastrophic consequences of her actions that they have on her children.' Airing now on Netflix. 'Ironheart' 14 'Ironheart' on Disney+. Disney+ This Disney+ series follows teenage inventor/new Marvel hero Riri Williams, who created the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man in 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.' The six-episode series stars Dominique Thorne as Riri and is the conclusion of Phase Five of the MCU, in anticipation of the next 'Avengers.' Along with Riri, supervillain The Hood — portrayed by Anthony Ramos — is also mentioned in the synopsis. In the comics, The Hood gains his powers and moniker by shooting and stealing a demon's cloak and boots. For those wanting to dive into the show's backstory before watching it on the streaming platform, 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' would be a good place to start. Airing now on Disney+. 'Squid Game' 14 'Squid Game.' No Ju-han/Netflix Season 3 of the highly anticipated Korean drama series 'Squid Game' is back on Netflix, six months after its sophomore season aired in December. Picking up right where the show left off, Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) will continue his mission to stop the deadly games. But the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) has his own dangerous agenda. The new season is also set to be the last, and in December, director and creator Hwang Dong-hyuk told USA Today about the season 2 finale: 'Gi-hun has a huge sense of loss, defeat and guilt weighing on him. 'When he is just filled with complete, utter loss and guilt after all of his attempts (to stop the games) fail, I thought that was the adequate ending to give closure to the second season.' Airing now on Netflix. 'We Were Liars' 14 'We Were Liars.' Jessie Redmond/Prime The new show is based on the book of the same name by E. Lockhart and tells the mysterious story of Cadence Sinclair Eastman (Emily Alyn Lind), who tries to remember what happened the summer she was 15 and suffered a tragic accident. Mamie Gummer ('True Detective'), Caitlin FitzGerald ('Succession') and 'The Vampire Diaries' star Candice King star as the three Sinclair sisters. In September, the show's producer, Julie Plec, told The Post what readers can expect from the adaptation. 'What drew me to it is the deep emotional roller coaster that this story takes you on, starting from what seems just like a very simple, sweet, nostalgic coming-of-age story about first love and best friends and summer, and takes you from basically all those vibes on a very twisty-turny, surprising journey into a big tone shift,' she said. Airing now on Prime Video. 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' 14 A first look at 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Season 3.' Erika Doss/Prime The hit drama is back for its third and final installment following the best-selling novels by Jenny Han. The show tells the tale of Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) and her love triangle with her childhood friends, brothers Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) and Conrad (Christopher Briney), in Cousins Beach, Massachusetts. 'My preference was three seasons, but I also wanted to allow the storytelling room in case I felt like we needed more time,' Han, 44, told Entertainment Weekly in May. She added that at one point, she thought about splitting the third book into two seasons because 'there's a lot of story, and it covers a wide expanse of time.' 'We needed more canvas for the story, so that's how we ended up with 11 episodes,' the author explained. 'But yeah, three books, three seasons. It feels right to me.' Premiere date: July 16 on Prime Video. 'Wednesday' 14 'Wednesday' cast Joonas Suotamo as Lurch, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, Jenna Ortega as Wednesday, Isaac Ordonez aÈ Pugsley Addams, Thing, Luis GuzmaÌn as Gomez Addams. HELEN SLOAN/NETFLIX Everyone's favorite doom and gloom character, Wednesday Addams, is back. 'Season 2 is bigger, bolder, gorier, and a bit darker,' Jenna Ortega told Harper's Bazaar. 'It's sillier in the best way possible.' Reflecting on how she landed the role in the first place, the 22-year-old said she was 'getting to this point in my career where I was doing movies and getting in the rooms.' 'So I kept telling everyone no,' she explained. 'I almost didn't want to hear what Tim [Burton] had to say, and really like it, and feel like I needed to do it—which is kind of what happened.' Burton, 66, told the outlet, 'She's playing the character, and I always felt her instincts were right.' Premiere date: August 6 on Netflix. 'Stick' 14 AppleTV+ show 'Stick.' This show is a major hole in one. Owen Wilson is starring in the new golf comedy 'Stick,' playing a down-on-his-luck former golf pro who decides to mentor a young golf prodigy. Wilson, 56, said he's been gearing up for this role his whole life. 'I've joked around that I've watched a lot of sports, and some people could say that I've spent too much time watching sports,' he told Men's Health earlier this month. 'Like, 'Oh, that's a waste of time.' But I like to be able to say now, no, it was all preparation for this.' Reflecting on the dynamic between his character Pryce Cahill and Peter Dager's Santi Wheeler, Wilson noted: 'Sports is just the backdrop.' 'How do you connect with any human being?' he asked. 'Figuring out how to navigate these relationships is what it's like to be human.' Airing now on AppleTV+. 'The Waterfront' 14 'The Waterfront.' DANA HAWLEY/NETFLIX From the creator of 'Dawson's Creek' and 'Scream,' Kevin Williamson wrote and executive produced this drama that follows the Buckley family. While this series is set in the fictional town of Havenport, North Carolina, it is inspired by true events and stars Holt McCallany, Maria Bello, Melissa Benoist, and Jake Weary. 'This is about a working man who's trying to make a go of it for his family. They've pulled themselves up from nothing and they've built this mini fishing empire in their small little town,' Williamson, 60, said earlier this month. 'Now it's being taken away from them bit by bit. They'll do anything to hold onto it, because it represents their family.' Airing now on Netflix. 'The Buccaneers' 14 'The Buccaneers.' Angus Pigott Season 2 of the critically-acclaimed series is back in full swing. 'The Buccaneers' follows young American women who were sent to London to secure husbands and titles in the 1870s. Fans are in store for some major guest appearances, including 'Gossip Girl' alum Leighton Meester. Sharing a reel on Instagram in October, the streaming service wrote, 'Darlings, welcome Leighton Meester to The Buccaneers Season 2.' Meanwhile, the series creator Katherine Jakeways released a heartwarming statement ahead of the Season 2 premiere. 'It's been a complete thrill to watch people all over the world fall in love with these characters, who've been brought to such vibrant life by our spectacular cast,' she said. 'We know season one left audiences desperate to know what's next for our buccaneers, so I'm absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to explore the further adventures of this smart, joyful, messy sisterhood.' Airing now on AppleTV+. 'The Bear' 14 Jeremy Allen White as Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto in 'The Bear.' FX Season 4? Yes, Chef! The Emmy award-winning series is back for its fourth season, starring Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Season 3 ended last June with the cliffhanger that saw Sydney (Edebiri) having a panic attack trying to figure out if she should step away from the Chicago restaurant for good. Hulu dropped a new trailer last month that showed the beloved kitchen staff dealing with food critics, their toxic work environment and trying to keep the restaurant afloat despite financial struggles. Airing now on Hulu. 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' 14 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.' The sun is about to shine a little brighter soon. Season 17 of the sitcom, which has been on the air since 2005, is around the corner, starring the core group: Rob McElhenney as Mac, Glenn Howerton as Dennis, Charlie Day as Charlie, Kaitlin Olson as Dee and Danny DeVito as Frank. This season, 'It's Always Sunny' will also debut the second part of its crossover episode with 'Abbott Elementary.' In October, Lisa Anna Walter exclusively told The Post what viewers are in store for. 'I can't wait,' she said at Warner Brothers' Fall TV Season Celebration. 'I think it's going to be unhinged. We did our side of it. We're in the middle of doing it. We're not done. And then I just got a script today for their side, but I haven't read it yet.' Premiere date: July 9 on FXX. 'Peacemaker' 14 'Peacemaker' stars John Cena and Danielle Brooks. John Cena is keeping the peace — at least, on the small screen as Peacemaker, the DC antihero who fights for peace at any cost. The action series created by James Gunn is headed into Season 2 and also stars Jennifer Holland, Robert Patrick, Freddie Stroma, and Danielle Brooks. Cena, 48, said of the upcoming season: 'This time around, everybody looked at it through a different lens, knowing how much the audience enjoyed the first one. '[We knew] this is going to be a cornerstone of the show, so let's dive in. Everyone gave their best in season 1, but I just think people now know the importance of it and hopefully it shines through in season 2.' Premiere date: August 21 on MAX.
CNET
2 hours ago
- CNET
My Favorite Movie Is Spicy and Mesmerizing -- And You Can Stream It for Free Right Now
There is only one movie that I wish I could erase from my memory simply to have the pleasure of watching it again for the first time. That film is Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Céline Sciamma's 2019 masterpiece of forbidden love, tension, drama and enough historical period reverie to make my costume-loving heart soar. I can count on one hand the number of times I've finished watching a film for the first time and immediately turned around to rewatch it again, and this film makes the cut. Best of yet, it streams for free on Kanopy, so seriously, what are you waiting for? Ok, fine. If you need a little more convincing, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a visually stunning, relevant and surprisingly modern film that absolutely brims with slow-burn passion. And that's before you throw in the breathtaking cinematography. From the moment I saw the movie as an undergraduate film student at UNC Chapel Hill, I've racked up at least a dozen viewings. And I'm hooked. The best option, in my not-so-humble opinion, is to watch free on Kanopy, but it's also available on HBO Max -- one of CNET's picks for best streaming service -- with a paid subscription or available to rent on Prime Video, but the easiest option is to watch free right now on Kanopy with your (also free) public library login or university ID credentials. Almost every scene in Portrait of a Lady on Fire looks like a masterpiece painting. Lilies Films/Hold-Up Films/Arte France Cinéma Set in 1770 Brittany, in northern France, Portrait of a Lady on Fire tells the story of Marianne, a middle-class painter commissioned by a countess to paint the wedding portrait of her daughter, Héloïse, a young woman forced to leave the convent to enter an arranged marriage with a Milanese nobleman. Opposing the marriage, Héloïse refuses to sit for any portrait, which would guarantee her marriage, so Marianne must produce the portrait in secret. Having already exhausted other painters, the Countess instructs Marianne to act as Héloïse's companion, accompanying her day to day while silently memorizing her features to paint in secret. Through these meetings, the two women form a friendship and eventually a romance that transcends boundaries of class and sexuality. Tragically, Marianne is forced to create the one object that will ensure the end of her blossoming relationship with Héloïse. Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel deliver engrossing and elegant performances. Lilies Films/Hold-Up Films/Arte France Cinéma Starring Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel, accompanied by an almost entirely female cast, the film is a powerfully acted LGBTQ+ romance that studies power, memory, passion and desire through the eyes of women. Despite its 18th century setting, the film unflinchingly examines modern themes of gender, class, sexuality and reproductive rights -- all of which suffocate under a repressive patriarchal society, yet flourish when those strict confines are removed. Noted as a feminist film that banishes the male gaze, reinterprets the classic Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, and subverts expectations of the master/muse relationship, Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a rare feminist triumph. With its nuanced themes, exquisite cinematography and emotionally resonant performances, it's a beautifully moving film and you're sure to have a profound and unforgettable cinematic experience. Or, if you're like me, you'll just sob in front of a theater full of strangers and not even care. Either way, you're in for a treat. (And while you're at it, I will probably be watching it for the umpteenth time.) Portrait of a Lady on Fire won the Queer Palm at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. Lilies Films/Hold-Up Films/Arte France Cinéma Portrait of a Lady on Fire was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. The film lost that top honor to Bong Joon-ho's Parasite, but won the Queer Palm, becoming the first film directed by a woman to win the award. Sciamma also won the award for Best Screenplay at Cannes in 2019. Portrait of a Lady on Fire is just one of our CNET experts' favorite movies that's available to stream now. You should also explore our full rundown of the best movies on Max, Netflix and Amazon Prime. Plus, stream our favorite horror double feature on Netflix. More movie recommendations:
Cosmopolitan
3 hours ago
- Cosmopolitan
10 Iconic Sex Scenes From ‘Sex and the City'
For a show with 'sex' right there in the title, I think it's fair to say that Sex and the City isn't really all that sexy in the sense of being, like, sexually arousing. Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of sex happening—but it often tends to be happening more as a plot point to give the gals something to chat about at brunch in the next scene than to make the viewers reach for our vibrators. And while we do hear about Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and (especially) Samantha having great sex, a lot of the the sex we actually see on screen usually feels more comedic than erotic, like when Samantha blows the guy with the 'funky spunk,' Miranda tries to dodge a man's incredibly unsubtle invitation to eat his ass, or some guy literally falls asleep during sex with Charlotte. Basically, I'd argue that Sex and the City is a show that's less about actually having sex than it is about rehashing the dirty and/or unhinged details with your friends (or in your column). Which is to say that, while SATC boasts a fair amount of nudity (a kind of shocking amount, even, if you, like me, grew up watching the heavily censored reruns on cable and have only recently been exposed to the full-fledged level of tits and ass on display now that the show's in its streaming era), it's no Bridgerton in terms of actual steaminess. In other words, I'm pretty sure no one's watching Sex and the City for the sex scenes themselves. But while most of Sex and the City's sex scenes may not be all that horny, many of them are—like the show itself—iconic. Below, a roundup of some of the most memorable sex scenes to grace the series. (And by the series I mean the original six season run, because I refuse to acknowledge the humiliation ritual that is And Just Like That…, thank you very much). Known, of course, as 'the sex swing episode,' this season 3 gem features Samantha bumping into her male counterpart—a man known throughout the city for his prolific sex life. Back at his place, he asks Samantha if she 'swings,' revealing his very own in-home sex swing. But before they can get to it, he asks Samantha another important pre-sex question: 'When were you last tested?' So for the sake of the swing, Samantha gets her very first STI exam, and the episode ends with a very acrobatic sex sesh in the swing—which looks to me like something that requires more core strength than I'm personally looking to deploy during sex, but they seem to be having a good time! Honestly, shoutout to this episode for raising awareness re: the importance of regular STI screening and having open conversations about it with sexual partners, no matter how casual. And on a completely unrelated note, I also feel compelled to give this episode another shoutout for being the one where Miranda falls in love with a sandwich. A truly unhinged masterpiece. In what I believe is the show's only instance of rim job representation, Miranda hooks up with a hot guy from her run club (SATC, eternally ahead of its time, knew run clubs were the new dating apps before dating apps existed) and is surprised when he licks her asshole during a sweaty post-run sex sesh. Recapping the event over lunch with the crew, Miranda remains confused but curious, Carrie is weirdly scandalized, Samantha is predictably here for it, and we find out Charlotte is secretly a big-time rim job queen—which, love that for her. Aside from Charlotte, however, the consensus seems to be that while it's fine to receive a little rimming, they'd never toss a man's salad in return (one of the show's many paradoxically prudish takes that haven't aged particularly well). The next time Miranda hooks up with her marathon man, she offers him a post-sex massage, which he seems to interpret as an opportunity to get a rim job of his own. In an image that is permanently burned into my brain, he proceeds to not at all subtly raise his butt, wiggling it in Miranda's face until she screams, 'I don't wanna do that!' He replies, 'Well, why didn't you just say you weren't interested?' Which, fair point. But frankly, I think there were some pretty big communication failures involved in this one all around. The lesson is, if you want to lick someone's ass (or want them to lick yours), you should always ask first! Use your words, friends! Charlotte is having tasteful missionary sex with her latest fling when, mid-orgasm, he yells, 'You fucking bitch, you fucking whore,' before collapsing on top of her in a post-coital heap. Naturally, this disturbs Charlotte, who attempts to bring it up delicately on their next date, only to find that her otherwise seemingly perfect gentleman of a lover has no recollection of his outburst. She decides to move past it, but that night during sex, he breaks into the same mid-orgasm refrain. While there's nothing wrong with a little consensual degradation during dirty talk, this is…not that. Carrie is forced to spend time with Aidan, her boyfriend who she obviously doesn't like, at his country cabin upstate, which she likes even less. She makes Samantha go with her to share in her misery, I guess, and for some reason Samantha agrees. Naturally, Sam hates it too, but she finds a perfect way to pass the time: fucking the hot farmer next door. After some suggestive cow-milking foreplay that ends with Samantha getting a milk facial, the two go for a literal roll in the hay, featuring an enthusiastic (and loud) performance by Samantha on top. Threesomes do not fare well in this show, but that doesn't stop these gals from trying! First up, surprisingly enough, is Charlotte. After the man she's dating floats the idea of sex with a third, Charlotte has a steamy sex dream where she joins her man and another woman in bed. Unfortunately, the reality does not live up to her fantasy. At a party, Charlotte and her fling slip away to hook up in an upstairs bedroom, where a woman they'd made eyes at downstairs joins them. Unfortunately, Charlotte is swiftly nudged out of her own threesome and ends up leaving while her date—the one who wanted to have a threesome in the first place!—hooks up with this random woman alone. In the show's next attempt at a threeway, Samantha's gay friends decide they'd like to have a threesome with a woman and think Samantha is the perfect one for the job. She enthusiastically accepts, but shortly after they all climb into bed together and the foreplay commences, her queer almost-lovers decide they just can't go through with it. C'est la vie! The next time Samantha attempts a threesome, it's with her boss turned cheating boyfriend, Richard. For his birthday, he asks for a threesome with the hot, much younger waitress at one of their favorite restaurants, and Samantha agrees for one of the worst possible reasons you can agree to have a threesome: because she's afraid Richard will cheat on her otherwise. Hate this for her! Anyway, Samantha organizes the threesome, which naturally turns into a tense situation where she and the waitress are basically fighting for Richard's attention the entire time. Being a sleazeball, Richard naturally loves the ego boost of two naked women fighting over him in bed, but things take a turn when the guest star calls him 'Daddy,' which he apparently finds so offensive he tells Samantha to, 'get rid of her.' Samantha obliges by literally pushing this woman out of bed and onto the floor, all of which is actually so insane. Obviously, we're meant to be rooting for Samantha in this situation, but she invited this poor woman to have a threesome with her boyfriend and then they both treated her terribly. Not cool! The first night Samantha bones the man she later renames Smith Jerod, she waits out a horde of other horny women at the restaurant where he waits tables for the prize of bringing him home. (I am a little concerned that this man was being sexually pursued so aggressively in his place of work, but I guess he was fine with it?) She wins and they enjoy a marathon sex sesh, featuring sex in multiple positions and on multiple surfaces! Thanks to an infamous no-nudity clause in Sarah Jessica Parker's contract, Carrie's sex scenes tend to be pretty demure. While this one is no exception in terms of actual explicitness, I'd argue it's one of the most emotionally intense sex scenes of the entire series. Carrie gets a room at a nearby hotel to avoid Aidan (her boyfriend who, once again, she obviously doesn't like) and Big, desperate to get back together with her even though he's married, follows her there. She attempts to get rid of him, only for him to follow her into the elevator, push her against the wall and make out with her. After initially protesting, Carrie gives in and whispers, 'fuck me' in his ear. Cut to the two of them upstairs under the sheets, where they share a postcoital cigarette in a seductive manner. Listen, I'm not here to condone cheating or smoking, but I'm afraid this is the hottest sex scene in the show and it's literally my job to call it like I see it. Again, Carrie's sex scenes are pretty tame, but I still have to give a shoutout to this season one encounter that set the tone for the whole series. Carrie decides to 'have sex like a man,' by which she means casually, selfishly, and with no strings. She decides to try it out on an ex-boyfriend she meets up with for a midday hookup. He goes down on her and, rather than reciprocate, she just takes her orgasm and leaves—like a man! While I don't know that being an intentionally selfish lover is the flex the show makes it out to be, this was peak feminism for the time!
