Candace Bushnell’s life was nothing like yours, probably. In the early nineties, she was writing a column for the New York Observer that eventually morphed into a book, then a cultural juggernaut, and finally a pair of movies that people still debate with alarming intensity over brunch. Sex and the City wasn't just about footwear. It was about a specific brand of female friendship that hadn't really been televised with that much grit—or that much expensive upholstery—before 1998.
When you look back at it now, the show feels like a time capsule of a New York that doesn't exist anymore. Rent was somehow affordable on a freelance writer's salary (it wasn't, even then), and people actually went to clubs with velvet ropes. But the core of it—the messy, sometimes toxic, often hilarious search for connection—remains weirdly relevant.
The Carrie Bradshaw Problem
Let’s be honest about Carrie. For years, she was framed as the ultimate protagonist, the relatable "everywoman" navigating the dating scene. But modern re-watches have been less than kind to her. If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve seen the essays. People are calling out Carrie for being a terrible friend. She was self-centered. She cheated on Aidan. She made everything about her shoes.
But that’s actually why the show worked.
If Carrie were perfect, it would be boring. The show’s creator, Darren Star, and executive producer Michael Patrick King didn't want a saint. They wanted a woman who made mistakes. Big ones. Huge ones. Think about the episode where she forces Aidan to forgive her for cheating. It’s painful. It’s cringey. But it’s human.
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The dynamics between Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte weren't just "lifestyle goals." They represented the different archetypes of the feminine experience at the turn of the millennium. You had the cynic, the romantic, the libertine, and the seeker.
Why Miranda was right all along
Everyone used to want to be a Carrie. Then, they wanted to be a Samantha. But now? In 2026, we’ve finally realized that Miranda Hobbes was the only sane person in the group. She was a corporate lawyer in a world that didn't know how to handle high-powered women. She was tired. She was cynical. She was basically all of us during a Tuesday afternoon meeting.
The Reality of the "Fifth Character"
New York City wasn't just a backdrop. It was the "fifth character," a cliché that became a cliché because it was true. Sex and the City showed a version of Manhattan that was aspirational yet dirty. They filmed at real locations—Magnolia Bakery, Tao, the Russian Samovar. These places became landmarks because of the show.
There’s a specific kind of nostalgia for that pre-smartphone era. Can you imagine the show today? Carrie wouldn't be looking out her window wondering "I couldn't help but wonder..." She'd be scrolling TikTok. The mystery would be gone. The show relied on the physical act of being "out." You had to go to the bar to find the guy. You had to call the landline.
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The Evolution into "And Just Like That..."
We have to talk about the revival. It’s divisive. Some fans hate it. Some find it a necessary evolution. When And Just Like That... premiered, it felt like a cold shower. Samantha was gone (due to the well-documented real-life friction between Sarah Jessica Parker and Kim Cattrall). Big died in the first episode. The tone shifted from sparkling romantic comedy to something more somber and, at times, awkward.
The revival struggles with its own legacy. It’s trying to fix the diversity issues of the original—which were glaring—while keeping the DNA of the characters intact. It's a hard needle to thread. Watching 50-something women navigate a world that has moved on is actually a pretty brave move for a franchise built on youth and glamour.
- The original run had 94 episodes.
- The fashion was curated by Patricia Field, who became a legend because of it.
- The show tackled topics like infertility, cancer, and career burnout before they were standard TV fare.
What the Show Got Wrong
It wasn't all Cosmopolitans and Manolo Blahniks. Sex and the City had some serious blind spots. The lack of diversity was the most obvious one. For a show set in one of the most diverse cities on Earth, it was shockingly white for a long time.
Then there’s the money.
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Let's do the math. Carrie lived in a brownstone on the Upper East Side. She bought $400 shoes every week. She took taxis everywhere. All on the salary of one weekly column? In 2026 dollars, that lifestyle is basically impossible unless you have a massive trust fund or a very high-limit credit card. It set a standard for "city life" that was completely disconnected from the economic reality of most New Yorkers.
The Samantha Jones Effect
Kim Cattrall’s Samantha was the heart of the show’s radical edge. She refused to be shamed for her desires. She was the one who pushed the boundaries of what women were "allowed" to say on television. Without Samantha, the show often feels a bit too judgmental. She was the corrective to Charlotte’s traditionalism and Carrie’s neuroticism.
Her absence in the new series is felt in every scene. It’s a reminder that sometimes the chemistry of a group is fragile. You can’t just swap out a piece and expect the machine to run the same way.
How to Watch it Today
If you’re diving back into the series or watching it for the first time, don't look at it as a guidebook. Look at it as a period piece. It’s a document of a specific time in history—post-feminism, pre-recession, pre-social media.
Actionable Insights for Fans and New Viewers
- Watch for the subtext, not just the fashion. Pay attention to how the women negotiate power in their relationships. It’s often more complex than the voiceover suggests.
- Separate the art from the artist. The behind-the-scenes drama is fascinating, but the work stands on its own. The friendship on screen was real to the audience, regardless of what was happening when the cameras stopped.
- Visit the real spots, but manage expectations. Magnolia Bakery is still there, but you'll be waiting in a line of tourists. The "Carrie Bradshaw Apartment" on Perry Street is a private residence—be respectful if you go for a photo.
- Embrace the "Miranda" in your life. The show teaches us that the friends who tell us the hard truths are the ones worth keeping.
Sex and the City changed how women were portrayed on screen. It gave us permission to be messy. It gave us permission to prioritize our friends over our partners. It might be dated in some ways, but the questions it asks about love and identity haven't gone anywhere.
To get the most out of the franchise now, start with the original HBO series. Skip the second movie—most fans agree it’s a fever dream we’d rather forget. Then, move into the revival with an open mind. It’s not the same show, because these aren't the same women. And honestly? That’s okay. People grow up. Even the ones who live in fabulous apartments and write about their dating lives for a living.