Just Like That...A Complicated Return to the City

 

Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what kept me hooked… but faithfully, I was.

As someone who adored Sex and the City, I came into Just Like That with high hopes and a heart full of nostalgia. SATC wasn’t just a show…it was a cultural awakening. It made me dream of becoming a journalist, living a life as bold and stylish as Carrie Bradshaw’s. It was groundbreaking: women choosing careers over marriage, owning their independence, and smashing gender stereotypes with wit, heartbreak, and unapologetic glamour.

But Just Like That is not SATC. And maybe that’s the only way to watch it…by separating the two entirely.

Carrie’s return to dating is… frustrating. Her storyline with Aidan feels like déjà vu in the worst way. His decision to disappear for five years to focus on his kids? Maddening. Watching Carrie repeat the same emotional missteps makes you wonder….has she learned anything?

Worse, Carrie herself seems changed, and not for the better. There’s a despondency in her eyes, a coldness in her interactions. She’s arrogant, selfish, and strangely disconnected from the vibrant, fun and light-hearted woman we once knew.

The best part of the show? Carrie’s cat. And the worst part? The absence of Samantha. Her energy, her humor, her fearlessness…none of the new characters quite fill that void. Seema and Lisa feel like placeholders, not people we’re invested in.

Sure, there are still the outfits, the romantic flings, the odd celebrity cameos, and the kind of New York real estate that borders on fantasy. But the scenes often feel awkward, the chemistry forced, and the sparkle dimmed.

It ended with Carrie twirling in a tutu-like red dress and pink heels, as the voiceover declared, “The woman realized she wasn’t alone, but on her own.” Isn’t it all about perspective?

Those final scenes...intimate glimpses into each character’s private world…felt strikingly real. Charlotte with her family, Miranda and Joy, Seema and Adam, Anthony and Giuseppe, Lisa and Herbert…each vignette captured the quiet, messy, beautiful moments of everyday life. Yes, shit happens (literally). But it’s in those unassuming moments that we see what truly matters.

All of those people are Carrie’s family. She may be on her own...but she’s certainly not alone.

So why did I keep watching? Maybe it’s loyalty. Maybe it’s hope. Or maybe it’s just the lingering magic of a show that once made me believe in the power of female friendship, self-discovery, and a really good pair of heels.