In a world saturated with different streaming services, HBO Max has managed to make its mark in a big way. The platform hosts wildly popular shows such as Gossip Girl, Insecure, Euphoria, Pretty Little Liars, Game of Thrones, and Friends. HBO has also shown it’s not afraid to modernize old favorites with both a Gossip Girl and Sex and the City reboot coming later this year. However, the Sex and the City reboot comes with a caveat.
No more Samantha. This is devastating news. Samantha was always an essential piece of the show. While the other women always seemed to be fighting themselves, Samantha was always confident and unapologetic of who she was. She commanded the room with her presence and managed to run a widely successful PR firm on her own. Her sex-positivity was direly needed in a show where the other women were constantly judging themselves and others for enjoying sex (and yes that was a dig at Charlotte’s short marriage to Trey). Samantha’s loss will be felt in a big way, but there is someone who wouldn’t be missed, and whose absence would make the show better.
Carrie. There is no need for Carrie to be the protagonist in 2021. I have three main reasons why I think she should go instead of Samantha:
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Carrie is self-centered and selfish
Carrie expected so much of her friends but never did anything for them. The best example is her relationship with Charlotte. Charlotte constantly struggled with fertility and adjusting to her new family (and later motherhood) during her second marriage. She got overwhelmed with her new life and suffered some symptoms of depression. Carrie did very little to comfort her but always managed to tell Charlotte her own problems while her friend was obviously depressed.
Things reached a peak when Carrie asked for some money for a down payment on an apartment. Carrie needed the money because her out-of-control shoe spending habit had depleted her savings. Charlotte initially refused because she had a family to take care of and the money was her husband’s, not hers. Carrie proceeded to get angry at her friend, judging her for not giving her the loan. After insane pressure, Charlotte eventually gave her the money. Carrie was incredibly selfish for compounding on her friend’s problems and pressuring her friend for money. Why ask Charlotte, the friend with so much on her plate, when her other friends were wealthy? She always went to Charlotte because Charlotte would listen to all her problems, not call her out, and not expect Carrie to help her with her own issues. This was perfect for Carrie because Carrie loved when everything was about her (and most importantly when she didn’t get called out).
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Carrie is a hypocrite
One of the standout moments of the whole series is when Carrie and Samantha get in a fight because Carrie walked in on Samantha having an encounter with a delivery driver. It is understandable for Carrie to be uncomfortable with what happened. It’s an awkward situation. But she also could have had some empathy. Samantha got in that situation because she was having a hard time and Carrie knew this. Carrie made no move to comfort a friend who was obviously suffering. What she did do is slut-shame her and claim that she is too moral to ever consider doing that. Slut-shaming is not okay under any circumstances, but what makes it worse is that she did it to her friend. Someone she is supposed to love unconditionally. Someone who she shouldn’t judge.
What makes Carrie a hypocrite is that she is not moral at all. She had an affair with Mr. Big while he was still married, and let it go on for weeks. She then cheated on her boyfriend Aiden with Mr. Big and then she cheated on Mr. Big (while she was married to him) with Aiden (yes a kiss is cheating!). The fact that Carrie had multiple affairs and still judged Samantha for having one consensual sexual encounter while she was single is ridiculous.
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Carrie is an unrealistic character in general
The most unrealistic thing about Carrie is her lifestyle, as I alluded to in the first point. She barely worked, and when she did she wrote a short newspaper column. At the same time, she spent thousands of dollars on shoes, had a huge apartment in New York City, and was always buying drinks and ordering out. She managed to get widely famous by the end of the show and movies, and even made Vogue magazine. However, she always showed up late (and drunk) to work functions, and made horrible first impressions.
The most unrealistic part is how she managed to keep friends. She constantly slut-shamed Samantha, she treated James like an accessory that she brought out when she was bored, she got mad at Miranda for telling her the truth (but never got mad at the man who treated her badly), and she coerced Charlotte into giving her money.
Sex and the City was a great show, and even though it had many faults, it was a fun guilty pleasure to watch. If the reboot will be as good is something left to see. However, it’s a safe bet that if there is more Carrie and less Samantha, the show will lose the charm it did have, and just be more toxic.
Important Disclaimer: This article is not a commentary on the actresses, this is directly about the characters they play. All of the actresses on the show are wonderful women.