'And Just Like That...' Is Back With More Sex And Drama — And We Can't Get Enough

Very funny to me that “the Met Ball” was so obviously the Met Gala, but they couldn’t call it that. — Marina

This bothered me the entire time! I did love Lisa’s dress and that moment where she and Herbert walk to the Met. So beautiful. I also loved the callback to the first “Sex and the City” movie with Carrie’s dress. I kinda got teary-eyed. — Erin

As soon as Carrie said she was having Smoke design her “Met Ball” dress, I had a feeling that was going to end in catastrophe. I’m sorry to Smoke, but that gown looked like a craft store project concocted of hot-glued ribbons. And I just couldn’t buy that Carrie, of all people, wouldn’t have her dress squared away until the last minute. It’s these little, unrealistic things that really get on my nerves with this reboot! There are so many more believable snafus that could have led to Carrie wearing her ill-fated wedding dress, but the writers give us this gag. But I’m with you, Erin: seeing our girl in the Vivienne Westwood gown again got me choked up. — Lydia

I have no clue what they’re doing with Charlotte’s character. I’m not even interested in her kids’ stories either. Sad. — Erin

Lily’s angsty piano performance felt like a fever dream in a bad way. I was with Anthony when he said they should have opened another bottle of wine for that. — Lydia

So this moment in Episode 2 when Herbert can’t get a cab with his daughter and her friend outside their apartment reminds me of the worst and most annoying parts of Season 1 of “And Just Like That…” I really don’t care to see this series shoehorn in issues of race — especially so haphazardly as it did with this scene. I immediately rolled my eyes when I realized what was happening. Yes, racism in New York City happens. But this just seems like a storyline that I’m going to continuously be annoyed by. To make matters worse, Herbert’s mom — who apparently hates when Lisa and Herbert’s daughter wears her hair in natural hairstyles — is really dialed into antiquated respectability politics about how her son should act. Yes, this is how some Black folks act, but I really don’t want to see it on this show. Find something better to do with this family! — Erin

This felt forced to me. And, of course racism and respectability politics are everyday parts of life, but I wasn’t buying into it with this story. And, I agree Erin — I don’t think I was looking to this show to address that, especially not with the rich Black folks. — Taiyler

Exactly, this is not the show for this! When this scene happened, I was worried this would be the vibe for this season and for all the characters of color. Thankfully, most of the subsequent episodes I’ve seen don’t do this, and just let them be extremely rich and fancy, which is the point of this show! — Marina

Seema’s boyfriend still living with his ex-wife is a red flag. Seema is right, and she should say it! I didn’t understand the point of her questioning her own instincts and that whole back-and-forth with her hairdresser, only to return to the fact that she is right! Also, I think there’s a lot of value in having a character who’s not interested in marriage or a long-term relationship — it’s still pretty rare to see that on-screen. I hope the writers don’t try to force her into a relationship. Let Seema be Seema! — Marina

The hairdresser’s antics had me like???? It was another example of taking a storyline a step too far. And I agree, Marina, I need the writers to let Seema be Seema. Sarita Choudhury is incredible and I really will be mad if the writers start making me dislike her character. I hope this takes a quick turn next week. — Erin

William Abadie is doing great playing Zed, but all I can see him as is Antoine Lambert from “Emily in Paris,” and I’m going to keep pretending Seema is banging our favorite messy French perfumier. Sorry William! — Lydia

Herbert is very horny for Lisa — rightfully so, Nicole Ari Parker is HOT. Lisa is very preoccupied with her work, so she tries to squeeze in time for Herb when she can. But it seems like there’s some kind of tension simmering here. Lisa seems fed up with Herbert being seemingly unable to handle small things on his own, but she also seems really bogged down with unfinished work and perhaps Herb isn’t taking her career seriously. I’m keeping my eye on this. — Erin

I really felt for Lisa when she was managing all her kids’ morning routines, and Herbert busts in asking if his tie “made it home from the cleaners.” Give this woman a break! — Lydia

I had kind of forgotten about Nya’s (Karen Pittman) marriage to her husband Andre, tbh. In the first season, they bickered a lot about having a baby, and in this season, Andre is abroad chasing his music dreams. And … well, I don’t miss him! I’ve liked this glimpse of what it’d be like if Nya were single, and I DEFINITELY am here for her to have some kind of rendezvous with actor Gary Dourdan, who appears in Episode 1. The rizz is there for the both of them. — Erin

I love Nya, period, and I also love the idea of Nya without that man. She was right, he is “playing with fire.” —Taiyler

I’m down for another single lady on this cast. I just hope the writers find a way to anchor her storyline with the other women in New York instead of just through her phone calls with Miranda. — Lydia

This was one of the most egregious small details about the first season of “And Just Like That…” Cynthia Nixon has gorgeous short red hair, and that coif has been so iconic for her “Sex and the City” character Miranda. But in Season 1, she was in this horrible white-gray wig for most of the season and it was so distracting. I love a good gray ‘do, but it just did not work. In Season 2, the red hair is back and now Miranda doesn’t look like a caricature of herself. Brava to the hair team. — Erin

*Sigh of relief.* — Taiyler

Like I said, I like Che as a character most times, but their comedy makes me cringe. That feeling is not uncommon for me whenever I watch comedy, but I would prefer comedy from queer people and/or POC. This just feels like a disservice. — Taiyler

I think a major part of why Che became a meme and a punchline in the first season was because their character development came off as one-dimensional. Like many aspects of identity last season, it all felt shoehorned in, and as if the show didn't really understand Che as an actual person.

So far this season, I think the show is trying to do more with them and move beyond clichés. That said, its portrayal of their standup and new sitcom still feels sort of like a parody, or like what the writers think Che’s comedic style would sound like — rather than what it actually would be like. So that part still ends up feeling flat to me. — Marina

At first, I was more invested in Miranda and Nya’s friendship, to be honest. I love Che but haven’t grasped the intimacy in their relationship beyond sex so far. But by Episode 2, my mouth absolutely dropped when Che’s husband picked up stranded Miranda. I can’t wait to see more. — Taiyler

Miranda asking Che, “Is this a strap-on or a cat toy?” sent me. But in general, I can’t stand how much our dear Rambo has lost herself in this relationship. She feels like a supporting character in the Che Diaz show, even more than she did last season. And Che acting like it’s no big deal she didn’t tell Miranda she’s MARRIED is so gaslight-y. That’s a very reasonable thing for Miranda to be distraught over! I did feel the old Miranda come out when she’s struggling to get out of the sensory deprivation tank, and says, “Fuck the new me!” I mean … there’s our girl! — Lydia

In Episode 2, Carrie spends a lot of time trying not to talk about her vagina on her podcast for an ad for vaginal suppositories. Apparently, the podcast company she was working for was hurting for cash, and they ended up shutting down the studio and her podcast by the end of the episode. Media cash flow problems, eh? Watching this felt so close to home as media companies shutter and lay off staff. But now I’m curious what she’s going to do next. Also, I really want to know how much she was making as a podcast host. She famously got $4 a word at Vogue as a freelancer in the later seasons of “Sex and the City,” so ... maybe she just drained the podcast company to the ground. — Erin

And then it went up to $4.50 by the end of the episode! Every time I rewatch that episode, I chuckle loudly.

Lol, Erin, I was just about to comment about how this storyline was relatable only to a point. Yes, every scene of media layoffs on a show sends a shiver down my spine (see also: “Succession”). But this one felt so forced — like, it would not happen simply because Carrie didn’t want to read that ad! Also, Carrie will be fine! I feel bad for the rest of the staff at the podcast company, who, like in real life, are heading into a rough job market for journalists. :( — Marina

This storyline did not hit for me. Are we really supposed to believe an entire podcast studio was shut down because Carrie didn’t like the ad copy for a vaginal suppository ad? At first I thought Carrie was objecting to the ad because products for vaginal hygiene tend to prey on women’s insecurities and wreak havoc on vaginal flora! Then I remembered ... it’s Carrie. And of course Carrie just doesn’t want to talk about vaginas. — Lydia

I can’t tell how I feel about the two as a couple yet, but I love the theme of newness that I’m seeing with these women in the show. It’s so refreshing to me and I can’t wait to see where the story goes. — Taiyler

Carrie seems so comfortable with Franklyn! I’m rooting for her to make him a Friday-Wednesday man, too. He seems a little one-dimensional to me right now, but I’m looking forward to watching his character develop. — Lydia

Apparently, the writers of “And Just Like That…” heard at least some of our complaints about the first season. The first episode of Season 2 opens with all the couples getting their freak on, bringing the sex back to the storied franchise. It was the perfect cold open to let us know the status of all the couples. I hope the other episodes keep the sex and sexiness coming. — Erin

I liked the recentering of sex, especially hinging on the ending of the previous season with Carrie and the podcast. Also, I’m a fan of the song choice for said montage. — Taiyler

I co-sign all of the above! The lack of sex was a bummer last season, and this feels promising. Also, did anyone else notice that when Nya (the only one not getting laid in the opening montage) scrolls through the apps on her TV, there’s an icon for Max? Are the women of "AJLT" watching themselves on HBO’s many-named streaming service? — Lydia

Without giving away anything (since I’ve watched screeners for a large chunk of this season), I’m happy to report this new season feels like it’s leaning into the original series a bit more. There’s a chunk of episodes coming up where we’ll get the classic “SATC” setup of “characters having a dating debacle or a relationship quandary, and then cut to a few of them brainstorming about it over drinks.” — Marina