When Steve Brady first stepped behind the bar in season two of Sex and the City, he was just the "veal guy." He was the bartender who served Miranda a drink after she got stood up by Carrie, and honestly, most of us figured he’d be a one-episode wonder. A placeholder. Instead, steve on sex and the city became the show’s most enduring, polarizing, and surprisingly realistic depiction of a modern man.
He didn't have Big’s towncar or Aidan’s rustic charm. He had a Queens accent, a corduroy jacket, and a gold hoop earring that—let’s be real—hasn't aged great. But he was the only one who could actually crack Miranda Hobbes’ titanium shell.
The "Man-Child" vs. The Emotional Anchor
There is a huge divide in the fandom about whether Steve was a lovable underdog or a total anchor dragging Miranda down. In the early days, he definitely leaned into the "man-child" trope. Remember the puppy? He begged Miranda for a dog (Scout), then basically left her to do all the midnight walks while he slept.
Then there was the basketball. He was obsessed with hitting a half-court shot for a prize, acting like a teenager while Miranda was trying to make partner at a top-tier law firm. It’s easy to see why she felt like she was dating a kid.
But if you look closer, Steve was the only guy in the entire series who wasn't intimidated by Miranda's success.
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Sure, they had that awkward moment where he couldn't afford a $1,000 suit she wanted him to wear, but he didn't want her to dim her light. He just wanted to be enough as he was. While other guys were scared of her sharp tongue, Steve just laughed and told her to say "please." He gave her the emotional safety she didn't even know she was looking for.
The Evolution of Steve Brady
His character arc is actually one of the most successful in the show's history if you track it from 1999 to 2004. He goes from a guy living in a "dungeon" apartment with a roommate to a successful small business owner. Opening Scout (the bar he named after the dog!) was a huge turning point.
- Season 2: The "Meet-Cute" bartender.
- Season 3: The breakup over the suit and the puppy drama.
- Season 4: The "one-ball" cancer storyline that humanized him completely.
- Season 5: Becoming a father to Brady Hobbes.
- Season 6: The Brooklyn house and the iconic "You're the one" bridge reunion.
That Infamous Cheating Scandal
We have to talk about the first movie. It’s the moment that broke the internet before the internet was really the internet. Steve, the most loyal guy on the planet, cheats on Miranda.
Fans were livid. It felt out of character, right? But the showrunners were trying to depict what happens when a long-term marriage hits a dry spell. They hadn't had sex in six months. Steve felt invisible. While it doesn't excuse the infidelity, the way they handled the aftermath—the therapy, the "meet me on the bridge" moment—was some of the most "real" television of the era.
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It showed that marriage isn't a fairy tale. It’s a choice you make every single day, even when you're mad enough to spit.
The "And Just Like That" Controversy
If you’ve watched the revival, you know Steve got the short end of the stick. He’s portrayed as a bumbling, hard-of-hearing guy who just wants to eat Ben & Jerry’s on the couch.
David Eigenberg, the actor who plays him, actually has hearing loss in real life, so the writers worked that into the script. But fans felt like the show "nerfed" him to make Miranda’s affair with Che Diaz seem more justifiable. It was painful to watch a character who used to be so sharp and witty become a punching bag.
Honestly, seeing him stand his ground in the kitchen during that breakup scene in season one of And Just Like That was a relief. He reminded everyone that he’s been there through the cancer, the baby, and the move to Brooklyn. He wasn't going to just disappear.
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Why We’re Still Talking About Him in 2026
Steve Brady represents a specific kind of New York masculinity that has mostly disappeared from TV. He’s a blue-collar guy who loves a high-powered woman. He’s not a "fixer-upper," but he is a work in progress.
If you’re rewatching the series, pay attention to his face during the scene where Miranda’s mother dies. He doesn't say much. He just shows up. He walks behind her in the procession. That is the essence of Steve. He shows up.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Rewatch Season 4: It’s where Steve and Miranda’s chemistry is at its peak, especially during the "Ghost Town" episode.
- Ignore the Movie's Character Assassination: If you hate the cheating plot, remember that the original series ended with them happy in Brooklyn. That's a valid "head-canon" to keep.
- Look for the Subtext: David Eigenberg puts a lot of "Brooklyn tough guy" soul into a character that could have been very one-dimensional.
Steve wasn't perfect. He had skid marks in his laundry (gross, Steve) and he was occasionally a total slob. But in a show about finding "The One," he proved that sometimes the right person isn't the one who looks good on paper, but the one who makes you feel like you can finally take off your armor.
Check out the original filming locations for Scout in NYC if you're ever in the city; it’s actually a bar called Onieal’s near Little Italy. You can still grab a drink there and pretend you're waiting for a guy with a Queens accent to tell you that you're "the one."
To dive deeper into the show's history, you can explore the official HBO Sex and the City archives or check out David Eigenberg’s recent interviews about his return to the role.