Unpopular Opinion Alert: “Sex and the City” is Overrated
I admit: I haven’t watched the full series (and certainly not those movies). Not even close. For a while there, I blocked it out of my personal zeitgeist because, you know, boys rule girls drool. But it got enough acclaim amongst critics and friends, so over the years, when I came across an episode on TBS whilst browsing the Guide, sometimes I’d have a watch.
Just to see what all the hype was about.
And I gotta tell ya: I have a hard time getting invested in this group of friends. I’ve probably seen about 10 full episodes. Enough to know the characters’ names and whatnot. Although not enough to know that it’s “Sex and the City” rather than “Sex in the City”. But I looked it up so it’s cool. Anyways…
It seems to me that Carrie is the only one worth hanging out with. She can be witty, has a cool job, and would fit right in if you brought her to a party. She’s interesting, charismatic, likes to have a good time — she’d be a hit.
I applaud Samantha’s positive attitudes towards sex, but other than that: she’s superficial, arrogant, entitled, and oftentimes downright mean.
Charlotte is nothing short of a cartoon character. The proper, sheltered Goodie Twoshoes who dreams of — nay, requires! — a fairytale love story. Sorry, lady. The only way you can pull that sort of thing off is by writing chart-topping country/rock/pop songs.
And Miranda is the absolute worst. Such a negative attitude towards life. Seemingly every moment met with cynicism at best, disgust at worst. Just depressing to be around.
Sex and the City is often described as the “Seinfeld for women.” A simplistic comparison because a) Seinfeld was not “for men,” and b) Sex and the City is far from a “show about nothing.” It is very much a show about something, and that something is men.
Here are these four strong, successful women who are supposed to be role models, and yet all they ever talk about is getting a man. Be it to have sex with, or have a marriage with, that’s all they ever think about!
Now, I’m sure there are arguments to be made about how the show is also about friendship, and maybe careers. But the overwhelming majority of it centers around the fact that they got the need. The need for peen.
Just now, I logged into my HBO GO and put on a random, mid-series episode (“Baby, Talk is Cheap”). It didn’t even pass the Bechdel Test (see footnote at right).
In this particular episode, I counted two brief conversations that maybe could have edged it over the pass line: one about wearing fake nipples (for the use of attracting men), and another about babies (that one has with a man). Primary research, y’all. Powerful stuff.
Point is: if this show is a beacon of female empowerment, the patriarchy is still pretty safe.
#Feminism, bitches.
Now go grab a glass of ice water. Surely you need to cool down after reading this blazing hot take.
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