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And Just Like That, the reboot version of "Sex And the City" is the perfect example of why iconic shows should be left on their own.
I’m a huge fan of “Sex And the City” (SATC). But even my love for the show couldn’t save this sequel.
“And Just Like That” features three of the main characters – Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte. What’s a show without the fun Samantha?
I watched it for old time’s sake – for my love for the show, the deep messages it conveyed, and above all the relatability of its characters. Being a writer and valuing friendships myself, I could always relate to Carrie Bradshaw (the main protagonist, played by Sarah Jessica Parker).
I felt I lived her life in many ways and even dreamt of ageing gracefully – just like her. But when I watched the latest series, all my hopes were shattered and my bubble burst.
One lesson that needs to be learnt from my all-time favourite sitcom “F.R.I.E.N.D.S” is that you can’t recreate the magic again, so it’s important to leave it at that and not revisit the show again or try to come up with sequels.
SATC makers ended the original series very well, giving us the closure we wanted and bringing together elements we had been rooting for all through the series.
It was an emotional journey for me and I felt the three – Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte were like my own friends, not just Carrie’s.
But they did not stop there. They kept going on with two subsequent movies. While the first one was just okay, the second was worse than the previous one. And now this new reboot series is wrong in so many ways.
They are attempting to be woke and picking up new age issues but totally missed the plot, how to convey these new age messages, and keep them in line with the characters they had built during the initial series!
Carrie – She has been my most favourite character all through, and while I tried hard not to judge her character in this new series, it got really hard after the first episode.
She didn’t seem to care much that her husband (love for many decades – John Big) died!
She cared more about getting back into her heels after a hip surgery, which was from a childhood defect and not due to ageing (a point they had to reiterate for some reason)!
The whole idea of telling the doctor I’m waiting to get back into my heels, was so superficial that I actually thought it was a joke, only to realize that it wasn’t.
Carrie seemed to have given more importance to her inheritance & who got what, rather than mourning over the one she lost.
And Big operating her table lamp from the afterlife – at that moment I was like there is no coming back from this illogical nonsense.
Miranda at 55+ years suddenly turned into a lesbian when I remember in the earlier series she tried to hang out with lesbians, and kissed one too exclaiming confidently – “Yeah I’m definitely not a lesbian”.
Also, I cringed at the scenes when Miranda does not know how to talk to a woman of colour, saying all the wrong things then trying to do damage control.
She’s a lawyer for God’s sakes with a strong character – did you forget that! The obsession over her greying hair only made things worse, as she didn’t herself seem convinced enough to confidently carry off the silver linings.
Samantha, as for her, I felt it would’ve been better to have killed her character rather than this sad exchange of messages that did not sound like her at all!
She wasn’t the sorts to hold a grudge, or not be there for her friends, especially Carrie.
I still remember when she turned up in public after a face peeling treatment, since it was Carrie’s first book launch, and she couldn’t miss it.
Then why would she not fly down for Big’s funeral or wake!
Stanford, suddenly vanished, claiming he cheated and wanted a divorce! Antonio, his husband was never Carrie’s friend, only Charlotte’s, still Carrie and he were shown hanging out more in this series for some random reason.
Charlotte, was my least favourite character all through, but this season actually substantiated why I felt so.
She wants to change the world, but is so clueless about what’s happening in her own house. She did not realize the signs that her own daughter does not identify with any gender and is exploring her identity.
And when she is even told, she reacts so immaturely and insensitively. Having had a gay friend for decades, Antonio, I expected her to be more understanding and supportive.
I even cringed when Charlotte brought in random feminism about not apologizing to her husband for hitting him at a tennis game, claiming “Tennis is one place where women don’t need to apologize.”
I really wish they understood better what feminism is, and conveyed it through the power of this show rather than misrepresenting it.
She even made a mockery of the whole tampon thing, teaching her daughter how to use one, and the list goes on. Samantha was so good when she handled menopause, cancer sweats etc. Thought they would take a lesson from that.
Then there were several characters forced in, like Natasha (Big’s ex-wife). She could’ve been skipped and Big given more screen space rather than killing him off in the very first episode.
The makers’ attempts to portray inclusivity by bringing in a person on a wheelchair, a transgender person, a person of Indian origin etc., felt very forced.
That reminds me, the Diwali episode was so silly. I wanted to tell the Indian lady – it is not a sari but a lehenga that you are holding in your hand!
All in all, I was disappointed and sincerely hope they do not create another one. Or perhaps just bring Samantha back on the show, so I can watch it just for her!
Image source: Still from Drew Barrymore Show On YouTube
Prerna Wahi worked in the corporate world for 7 years. In the past few years, she has been a stay-at-home mom. She has been enjoying the new role ever since and likes to read more...
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What I loved was how there is so much in the movie of the SRK we have known, and also a totally new star. The gestures, the smile, the wit and the charisma are all too familiar, but you also witness a rawness, an edginess.
When a movie that got the entire nation in a twist – for the right and wrong reasons – hits the theatres, there is bound to be noise. From ‘I am going to watch it – first day first show’ to ‘Boycott the movie and make it a flop’, social media has been a furore of posts.
Let me get one thing straight here – I did not watch Pathaan to make a statement or to simply rebel as people would put it. I went to watch it for the sheer pleasure of witnessing my favourite superstar in all his glory being what he is best at being – his magnificent self. Because when it comes to screen presence, he burns it, melts it and then resurrects it as well like no other. Because when it comes to style and passion, he owns it like a boss. Because SRK is, in a way, my last connecting point to the girl that I once was. Though I have evolved into so many more things over the years, I don’t think I am ready to let go of that girl fully yet.
There is no elephant in the room really here because it’s a fact that Bollywood has a lot of cleaning up to do. Calling out on all the problematic aspects of the industry is important and in doing that, maintaining objectivity is also equally imperative. I went for Pathaan for entertainment and got more than I had hoped for. It is a clever, slick, witty, brilliantly packaged action movie that delivers what it promises to. Logic definitely goes flying out of the window at times and some scenes will make you go ‘kuch bhi’ , but the screenplay clearly reminds you that you knew all along what you were in for. The action sequences are lavish and someone like me who is not exactly a fan of this genre was also mind blown.
Recent footage of her coming out of an airport had comments preaching karma and its cruel ways, that Samantha "deserved her illness" because she filed for divorce.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu fell from being the public’s sweetheart to a villain overnight because she filed for divorce. The actress was struck with myositis post divorce, much to the joy of certain groups (read sexist) in our society.
A troll responded to Samantha’s tweet, “Women Rising!!” by adding to it “just to fall”. She replied, “Getting back up makes it all the more sweeter, my friend.”
Here’s another insensitive tweet by BuzZ Basket showing fake concern for her autoimmune disease. “Feeling sad for Samantha, she lost all her charm and glow. When everyone thought she came out of divorce strongly and her professional life was seeing heights, myositis hit her badly, making her weak again.” Samantha responded, “I pray you never have to go through months of treatment and medication like I did. And here’s some love from me to add to your glow.”
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