And Just Like That...We're Back | AJLT Season 3, EP 1 Recap
My favorite terrible show is back!
Spoilers ahead!! Post too long for email, so definitely download the Substack app or read on the web.
Season 2 Finale reminder
Last night, And Just Like That (AJLT) Season 3 premiered on HBO Max, and this first episode already raised the bar for how wild this show can be. For the recaps this season, I think I am going to separate each plot point by Characters so it’s easier to follow. I already can’t wait for next week. Thank you to this show for giving me something to look forward to every week now that White Lotus is done.
Carrie
For starters, Carrie opens the episode by writing a postcard to Aidan (who is still in North Carolina1 dealing with his problem child Wyatt) with just a heart on it “to remind him that she’s here and she loves him.”2 I was already rolling my eyes at her outfit to go drop the postcard in the mail. It’s incredible but ridiculous.
She then meets up with Seema for a walk in the park wearing arguably the most ridiculous hat of the entire series. More on Seema’s troubles below.
Later, she meets up with Anthony and Guisppee, and Charlotte’s kids to go to the ballet. Lily was taking me out to see that ballet dancer.3 Anthony oversteps and gives his unsolicited opinion about Carrie and Aidan’s long-distance situation.
This was one of the few times I agreed with Carrie. The ballet was neither the time nor the place to discuss that. Anthony also delivered it terribly. Carrie was hilarious with the way she avoided the questions. That was one of the only times we see her angry. Not a fan.
Now, we have to talk about this phone sex scene.
When I tell you, I could not believe my eyes. Why would they do that to my man Aidan! My skin was crawling when he asked her to touch herself. It was just too much. I never want to see that ever again. Then she calls him to say that she lied about fingering herself…..too much. Just too much. I can’t believe that SJP went for that. Obviously, the show is called sex and the City, but we don’t ever really see Carrie getting too raunchy on the screen. Now I see why. That was entirely out of pocket. Next time she needs to just fly and fuck him do not piss me off!
Seema
Seema did her big one this episode! She went from waiting for a man on FaceTime to choosing herself and breaking up with him at the end of the episode. It gave “ I love you, but I love me more.”
That man had her fucked up! Not talking to her for a week, driving her all around town looking at damn piers, and then not feeding her a proper lunch! Absolutely not.
Not to mention, she almost burnt down her entire apartment from smoking in her bed, stressed out about this man. She had to cut off inches of her hair, and he didn’t even remember why her hair was short in the first place.
Seema’s actions were a good reminder to stick up for yourself. A lot of women would have put up with it or made excuses for this man. But no one should have to deal with that. No matter how much you like the person. Everyone should be more like Seema!
Also, check out her profile in the New York Times, written by my friend Ilana Kaplan!
This piece gagged me because I didn’t realize she played opposite Denzel Washington in Mississippi Masala!!! Not to mention the director of that film is Mayor Candidate Zohran Mamdani - who we should all be voting for next month!!! The city deserves a hot mayor!
Speaking of hot people, I’m going to need to find out who this is.
Miranda
The girls (Charlotte, Miranda, and Carrie) then meet up at a lesbian bar (can anyone identify which bar this actually is?). I thought it was cute that they tagged along to help Miranda find women. The moment between Miranda and her old babysitter made me actually laugh out loud.
Enter Rosie O’Donnell. I thought the entire exchange in the bar was honestly adorable. They go back to Rosie’s hotel, and then Rosie drops the bomb that not only did Miranda just take her virginity, but she is also a nun. This made me pause to get out all my laughter. Of course, this would happen to Miranda. I feel like she handled it pretty well, all things considered.
Charlotte
Charlotte’s entire plot line was cracking me UP. Everyone was so over her and that damn dog. I also want to know what happened to Elizabeth Taylor, that cute Cavalier King puppy she gets in the later seasons of the original series. We never see that dog again. I’m assuming it passed away, and that’s why she’s so attached to Richard Burton.
I love that Charlotte stood on business and stood up to that woman for accusing her dog of attacking that chihuahua. Charlotte has no other option but to be classy, so she even ends up offering to pay for the dog’s MRI bill. Of course, the crazy woman eats her words and realizes that it wasn’t Charlotte’s dog who attacked her.
LTW
LTW’s plot point was honestly the most interesting in the entire episode. She’s making a 10-part series on unsung Black female heroes. A perfect concept, except they want her to include Michelle Obama. LTW had a good point because she has already sung! The girls are singing! Specifically, Fifth Harmony on Boss.
"Michelle Obama, purse so heavy getting Oprah Dollars”
If I were the music supervisor, “Boss” would have played after that scene. Anyway, I am curious to see how she is going to pull off landing Michelle Obama. If Michelle Obama makes an appearance in this show, I will be outdone. They already got Liza Minelli for the season movie and Gloria Steinem last season, so I don’t doubt that it can happen.
Harold calling her in the middle of her pitch to ask if he was cool was soooooo annoying. Then her throwing him an event to prove that he is cool was just…..ridiculous. I did laugh when Harry got up and started yelling Good job. Never change, Harry.
Forever inspired by how many times LTW changes wigs in one episode. A true bougie Black woman. I love that we have rich Black woman representation on his show now. She reminds me of some of my rich aunties growing up. Just Black and fabulous. I can’t wait to see how many bobs she has this season.
See you next week for another recap! How did you feel about the season premiere?
I think its NC or maybe virgina
eyeroll
Honestly, work, diva!
I cannot seem to identify what bar it is but it is not any of the actual NYC Lesbian bars!
One of my friends is MPK’s goddaughter and she worked on the show. They had a wrap party recently and I asked her how it went and she said “it was fun!” I said “do you like the show!” And the answer was an immediate no lol