And Just Like That, I Got Sucked Back In

I just had to see how Carrie & friends were solving their problems at midlife…and I didn’t like what I saw.

Two years ago, on Slate Culture, I wrote how — at 51 — I was ridiculously drawn to watching “Euphoria” instead of “And Just Like That.” That somehow seemed wrong, or at least unexpected. Shouldn’t a middle-aged Gen X woman like me be more interested in watching Carrie Bradshaw and the Sex in the Cities ladies tackle their midlife issues in “And Just Like That” instead of watching Gen Z cringe, cry and go over-the-top crazy? (Did WE party like that in the 80s???)

But after seeing just a bit of season one’s “And Just Like That,” I refused to watch more. I didn’t want to see the characters at midlife. I swore off the show, just as Euphoria was running — I mean streaming (now I really am showing my age). But, last week, I crawled back onto Max (formerly HBO Max — gosh this is complicated) to peek in on Carrie and friends. Snippets on social media had teased me into it. And just like that, I got sucked in. And I didn’t like what I saw.

How disappointing and disheartening to see they haven’t figured it all out yet. Are they just like us Gen X Girls — no better off, not worse off (well, apparently, they are better off financially)? I discovered they are struggling in some big ways and haven’t found solutions either. Navigating parenting, flirting with new technology, digging out old dresses with their fingers crossed, scrutinizing themselves in the mirror. Learning more about love (and lust), still figuring out friendship; positioning themselves in the four-generation work world, falling asleep on their laptops, second guessing life decisions. UGH. They are just like us.

Only, the way they are exploring some of these things is depressing. I am prouder of how my friends and real life people are doing. I can’t watch it. I can’t watch Carrie question if Big, the love of her life, was a mistake. I can’t watch Charlotte worry about what she’s wearing to work, when what I want to see is her celebrating her experience and reigniting her career. And I can’t watch Aidan’s wife sit so calmly (maybe she’s on something — not that there’s anything wrong with that) in that cafe, chatting about potential stepmothering as if a blended family scenario is not seething beneath the surface and awaiting a field of landmines. How can Carrie be so carefree about the fact that Aidan has kids, anyway? Kids who have lives many states away. Ugh. Lastly, while I am all for Miranda following her heart and changing, all her angst seems almost like punishment for a life “successfully” lived.

I know the aiming for my demographic, but it’s getting me down. I think I’m done. Again.