And Just Like That Review: Tragically Hip (Season 1 Episode 5)

And Just Like That Season 1 Episode 5, “Tragically Hip,” is aptly titled and, tragically, too true of the show itself.

This new chapter of Sex and the City is confounding. The level of cringe reaches the heights of a Manhattan skyscraper, but it has mutated into a more powerful force where the cringe is acutely painful yet, for some bizarre reason, I must watch.

It’s like the omicron variant of cringe.

And Just Like That simultaneously tries too hard and doesn’t try hard enough. It’s practically unwatchable yet kind of entertaining in its own way. The plots are weak and stale and go in tragically predictable directions.

There is nothing fresh about Miranda’s drinking or Charlotte being a clueless yet overbearing mother.

In Miranda’s case, it’s frustrating that her two best and closest friends can’t pick up on her unhappiness but do notice and judge one of her coping methods. It just doesn’t feel very supportive to me.

Not that hooking up with Carrie’s boss in Carrie’s kitchen while Carrie convalesces in the next room is all that supportive either, but I digress.

Which brings us to that scene. 

This is a prime opportunity to combine physical and situational comedy with high drama (pun intended) and some sexiness. The only thing And Just Like That gets right in all that is the sexiness.

I don’t think Miranda and Che have any sort of chemistry, but in that scene they are incredibly hot together. It might just be that it’s nice to see Miranda get this much needed release. 

The conversation between Carrie and Miranda that follows is beyond uncomfortable.

I know Carrie is grieving but she’s been completely oblivious to Miranda’s chaotic spiral. It’s not until she, in a very holier-than-thou manner, pushes Miranda to the point of breaking where she actually has to spell it out for her. 

Again, not very supportive. (And let her change the freakin’ sheets already, sheesh!)

You know, now that I think about it, Carrie has had an unpleasant air to her for this whole revival. There’s a sense of entitlement there with a bit of snobbery, and it is not a good look on the iconic Carrie Bradshaw. 

I do see glimpses of the charmingly glamorous sex columnist from SATC, but it’s much too infrequent. It’s usually in an offhanded quip or a smart line of dialogue, however, the Carrie of old is virtually absent for the heavy stuff.

Charlotte’s struggle to understand her child is a heavier plot that doesn’t need to be heavy. How refreshing would it have been if their child came out as nonbinary and Charlotte and Harry were just totally cool with it. 

Unfortunately, that would be out of character for Charlotte who has never been totally cool with anything in her life. 

It does seem to be out of character for Harry, though. He is as chill as Charlotte is neurotic, so I am surprised that he makes a thing of it at all.

This may be a phase for Rock and it might not be. All Charlotte and Harry need to do is love and support them through everything, even if there are phases they don’t understand. I’m pretty sure they’ll get there eventually but it is painfully slow-going and not very enjoyable to watch.

Another storyline that brings the episode down is the Samantha bit. I feel strung along by it. We know we’re not going to see Kim Cattrall in the role or any actual reunion, which is really the only way fans want to see it, so what good does it do to constantly remind us about it. 

This episode is a bummer and it’s made me take notice that, following each episode, I’m in a bit of a sour mood. Which is why I’m confused as to why it’s become a thing I look forward to every week.

It feels too simplistic to call And Just Like That a guilty pleasure. It’s more than that but it’s also less, and yet here I am, excited for the next chapter. 

What did you think of this episode of And Just Like That? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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New episodes of And Just Like That stream Thursdays on HBO Max.

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