SATC reboot hits major ‘low point’

And Just Like That’s latest episode took the hatchet to Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Steve’s (David Eigenberg) marriage – and it was truly awful to watch.

After weeks of watching Miranda crush on Che Diaz (Sara Ramírez), flirt with Che Diaz, sleep with Che Diaz, obsess over Che Diaz, and declare her love for Che Diaz, she finally broached the topic with good old Steve.

Miranda asked her long-time love to put in his hearing aids so she could ask for a divorce. It was a brutal scene that made Miranda look selfish and Steve selfless. Miranda and Steve’s break-up scene also begged the question: Did it really have to come to this?

If And Just Like That wants to bring the Sex And The City characters into the 2020s, then why did Miranda approach her unhappiness with Steve with such a dated attitude? Why has And Just Like That turned Steve into a senile shadow of himself? Does Miranda really understand what she has traded in Steve for? And will she have a happy reunion with Che in Episode 9?

Judging by a teaser for this Thursday’s episode, which streams locally on Binge, it looks like that’s a big fat no.

Che can be seen saying to Miranda, who has surprised the comedian in Cleveland with fresh news of her divorce: “You’re not my girlfriend, and we’re not dating.”

Miranda, whose bearing a box of treats, desperately responds, “We’re not? What are we doing?”

Oh dear.

And Just Like That has made a lot of controversial storytelling choices, but the way Miranda and Steve’s break-up was handled is the HBO Max show’s lowest point to date.

While much of the show’s early storylines focused on Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) grieving the sudden death of her one true love Big (Chris Noth), the show has also delved into how Carrie’s two remaining best buds are handling their 50s.

Charlotte (Kristin Davis) honestly seems to be doing fine. She’s still happy with husband Harry (Evan Handler). But Miranda? Not so much.

From the very first episode, where we watch Miranda gulp wine in the morning before her first class at Columbia to the way she literally had sex with Carrie’s boss Che in Carrie’s kitchen while Carrie was in dire medical need of help, Miranda has been a mess.

We’ve since learned that Miranda is unhappy in her marriage to Steve and coming to the late realisation that she may be queer.

While it’s honestly great to see And Just Like That delve into the spectrum of its characters’ sexualities (especially when Nixon is queer in real life), something about Miranda’s storyline feels mishandled.

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Maybe it’s that the show conflated alcohol abuse with coming out of the closet or perhaps it’s how Miranda and Che’s chemistry feels a bit cringe.

Something has just been off. It doesn’t help that And Just Like That has transformed Steve into a half-deaf old man who is oblivious to the world around him.

Miranda doesn’t come across as a woman exploring a beautiful new side of her as much as a sociopath setting fire to the lives of her friends and family.

This is just underlined by how Miranda is giddy after her tragic conversation with Steve. She calls Carrie and says that Steve just wants her to be happy. Now she can be with Che. She’s in a rom-com! Woo!

Except if Miranda had been listening as closely as the audience, she would have heard the sound of a man’s heart breaking. Steve does say he wants Miranda to be happy, but also that he’s done fighting for their relationship. He points out that he’s never been enough for her and that, unlike her, he’s happy with the stability in their marriage.

Watching Miranda’s storyline makes you wonder if Miranda is listening to the people around her at all. Early in the episode, Che reveals they were under the impression that Miranda was in an open marriage. (And Che is right to be furious with Miranda for misleading.)

Between Che’s misconception about Miranda and Steve and Steve’s own commentary, folks – sigh – I couldn’t help but wonder if Miranda’s best option really was divorce.

Maybe she would be better served telling Steve first about her affair and sexuality, and then asking if he would be interested in an open marriage. You know, a lot of couples in 2022 do opt for open marriages when they want to enjoy the safety of stability and the thrill of sexual exploration.

It seems like an obvious solution that would stick to And Just Like That’s mission statement of bringing the Sex And The City ladies into 2022. One that would require a mature amount of compromise and self-awareness, to boot.

Instead it seems like Miranda has transformed into an unhinged, self-centred version of herself who only thinks of what brings her joy – with no consequences for her actions.

We’ve seen her professor befriend her after her self-righteous antics, Carrie not hold a grudge for that horrific kitchen display, and Steve surrender his happiness for hers.

At some point, karma is going to smack Miranda in the face.

After all, Che told her straight up they’re not interested in conventional. I expect there’s someone in Cleveland Che is cosying up to, open relationships and all that, and Miranda is going to discover exactly what she took for granted with Steve.

Miranda seems to have gotten everything she wants by the end of And Just Like That episode 8, so why does it feel so wrong?

This story originally appeared on Decider and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as And Just Like That’s heartbreaking divorce: How did it come to such a low point?