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Y’all. I am exhausted. This show is exhausting me.
Around 4 p.m. Thursday, I started getting some texts from friends.
“omg this week’s episode. 😬😬😬”
“OMG you need to watch this stupid episode.”
Watch it, I did. Three times, as I do every episode. Not to pull back the curtain too much, but I typically watch each episode once all the way through with as few interruptions as possible, once to take screenshots, and once to take notes. And let me tell you. This episode about did me in.
I braced myself going in, due to the aforementioned text messages, and upon first watch, I didn’t find it as cringey as I had expected? Perhaps I’m becoming immune to MPK’s nonsense. Having this creative outlet has been lovely, but wow is this show a lot to take in. After watching three times, though, I have…some thoughts.
So…let’s get into it.
(Actually, before we get into it, I want to call out that this episode does include mention of miscarriage in case that is upsetting.)
We open in…Coney Island! Carrie and Aidan are walking down the boardwalk, and she shares that, despite having lived in New York for 35 years, she has never been to Coney Island. I’m shocked—SHOCKED! This is a woman who could barely handle Miranda moving to Brooklyn back in 2004.
Why are they in Coney Island? Steve is opening a new counter restaurant right on the beach! Good for him, genuinely!
Aidan tells Steve they took three subways to get there.
Let’s assume they are coming from the new Gramercy Park apartment (although we later find out that Carrie hasn’t moved in yet). It is exactly one subway line from there.
If we assume they are coming from Carrie’s old apartment (which obviously is not the case because Aidan still won’t set foot there), it is also not three subway lines. I don’t know where the hotel is, but again I ask—do any of these writers live in New York City?!?! (And if they do, how out of touch are they???) (The answer is, very.)
I realize this might seem a bit nit-picky—that this whole exercise might seem nit-picky. It’s not so much that the writers don’t seem to be familiar with New York City Transit. It’s the sheer volume of little mistakes, goofy storylines, inconsistent character development, and tonal dissonance on this show. Sure, there were plenty of lame puns in the OG show, but it had a soul. It had a point of view. And it had somewhat relatable characters.
OK. Now that we’ve established how to get to Coney Island…
Steve, ever the voice of reason, asks why they didn’t take a car since they are rich af, just like everyone else on this show.
Carrie is besotted by Steve’s new place, but their lovefest is interrupted by a Facetime from Aidan’s son Wyatt.
While Aidan deals with his child, Carrie and Steve catch up a bit and Steve shares how he found the new storefront. He said he used to come to Coney Island with his brother when they were kids, and it was a place of comfort for him during the nonsense with Miranda.
Steve asks how the new Gramercy Park place is coming along, and Carrie said it’s good, “knock wood.” If ever there was an obvious foreshadowing, that was it.
We cut back to Miranda at work, who is surprised to find that Raina is back at work after “five weeks’ maternity leave.” Again I must say, a progressive organization like HRW would use the phrase “parental leave.”
Miranda and Raina bond over the fact that they both wanted to rush back to work—perhaps in character for Miranda, but I find this such an outdated take. Most women I know who have kids were physically and emotionally not ready to return to work after just a few weeks, even if they mentally were.
Raina shares that she’s been working from home, and we get a goofy bit about hew “new boss.” Whatever.
Over at Victor Garber’s art gallery, Charlotte is showing Alex Israel pieces to Sam Smith (yes, the Sam Smith) and their IRL stylist Jeffrey. (I had to google who Jeffrey is, tbh, I am not a huge Sam Smith fan.) (Not anti, just very ambivalent.)
Lela interrupts them because Rock has called the landline due to an emergency, so Charlotte has to rush off.
Apparently, Lela is a huge Sam Smith fan because she literally curtsies to them while telling them how much she loves their music.
In the office, Charlotte has to explain to Rock that them forgetting their Earth Science folder does not constitute a landline emergency. Rock gives Charlotte all sorts of attitude, even while exclaiming how cool it is that Charlotte is selling a painting to Sam Smith.
Charlotte scolds Rock for not packing their bag the night before, and Rock continues to be a little jerk.
Naturally, Charlotte calls Harry, and we get a glimpse of Harry in his divorce attorney office. Harry is also unsettled by Charlotte’s use of the word “emergency” and thought his father had died.
Harry says he can’t run the notebook to the school, telling Charlotte he’s “in the middle of a brief,” and Charlotte reminds him that he agreed he’d help pick up the slack when she went back to work.
He starts sputtering, essentially implying that it makes sense for Charlotte to have run to the school “a million times,” and when Charlotte coldly asks him to clarify what he means, he gets the message and ends the call real quick to get over to the school.
I know it can be an adjustment when a parent goes back to work, but Harry’s character has been a real bummer these past few episodes. He’s always been portrayed as being so supportive of Charlotte, but perhaps that was because she was always around taking care of things for him and the kids. I’m not a fan! It doesn’t feel true to his character or their relationship, although I guess some strife was bound to happen because, what else are the writers going to write about?
At brunch (what day is it?), Charlotte wants to share LTW’s “exciting news” with Carrie and Miranda. At first I thought this would be the news of LTW’s pregnancy (which, of course, isn’t Charlotte’s news to share), but no. PBS is “Ken Burns-ing” LTW’s documentary, turning it into a 10-part series.
The excitement is interrupted by a call from Lily. Charlotte is once again annoyed at her offspring for interrupting them during her time with her friends.
She “doesn’t want to talk about it” and then proceeds to talk briefly about how her children are regressing.
But! There is more exciting news from LTW and Charlotte. And no, it is still not LTW’s pregnancy. Carrie has won a raffle from the school all of the children attend—a private dinner at her home for 16 people prepared by a Michelin-starred chef. Rather than use the dinner as a housewarming for the Gramercy Park apartment, Carrie decides to host a goodbye party at her old apartment.
LTW immediately coins it “the Last Supper,” and just like that, the promotional photos for this season make sense.
Carrie and Miranda split off from Charlotte and LTW and Carrie proceeds to update Miranda on Steve’s new Coney Island place.
Carrie also drops that she and Aidan are going to Brooklyn to see Che’s comedy concert. (Sadly, it is not referred to as a “comedy concert” in this episode, but I am contractually obligated to use that phrase in conjunction with this show.)
Miranda chastises Carrie for saying she’s going on a tour of the “outer boroughs” when really she is just going to Brooklyn twice in one week. MPK is really hanging onto his long-standing belief that Manhattan is superior, isn’t he? (As someone who used to hold that belief when I was young and dumb, I say…you are allowed to change your mind!) (I do live in Manhattan but do not consider it morally superior to Brooklyn! People who “don’t go to Brooklyn” or “don’t go above 14th street” are boring!)
Miranda also sort of chastises Carrie for going on a “tour of her exes” and Carrie says they’re her friends too and she wants to support them. I get where Carrie is coming from, but she is kind of being a jerk here. She has been friends with Miranda for literal decades; why is she so adamant about maintaining her friendship with Che Diaz, of all people??? As usual, this show makes me ask so many questions.
In some other section of whatever complex the ladies are in, Charlotte goes gaga over some Italian glassware while LTW asks her to cool it on broadcasting the PBS news. “It’s gonna be a lot of work…and I have the children,” LTW says. Charlotte is unfazed, telling Lisa she’s got the home routine down.
With this news, Charlotte starts to understand a bit more where LTW is coming from, but she continues to see things through her rose-colored Charlotte glasses, telling LTW, “I think you can do this.”
LTW points out that, “even with help,” it’s so much. I do appreciate this show acknowledging that these are women who would have a lot of help when they have children.
At the vet’s office, Judy and Che are discussing Che’s upcoming comedy concert. Judy wants to know the dress code, Che says she doesn’t have to come, and reminds Che that she saw them perform way back in the day in Atlantic City. Judy is there!
This is a Judy stan account.
We then meet the older gentlemen veterinarian, who mis-genders Che, and we learn that Che worked at the vet’s office back before they started using they/them pronouns. Che is understandably frustrated.
Next we are treated to a shot of Anthony and Giuseppe having sex.
Anthony is on top, and afterward, Giuseppe wants to swap positions. Anthony declines, in his Anthony way.
They exchange a few words about the size of Giuseppe’s…bread basket…until Giuseppe pushes a bit more.
Anthony reveals that he’s never been fucked.
As a cis straight woman, I don’t necessarily feel it’s my place to comment on this scene and how accurate or inaccurate it is, but I do appreciate the openness this episode has about the two of these men having sex with one another—something this show and its predecessor haven’t really explored until now.
At Seema’s (presumably that same night), she and Ravi are having sex (as usual, it’s missionary…does MPK know that women like other positions?) and she tells him she loves him.
He reciprocates, and it is immediately clear that she regrets her actions.
The next morning, Carrie is packing up her apartment while Lisette wanders around asking Carrie what is up for grabs. Apparently, we are supposed to presume that Lisette is either subletting or has bought the apartment. (And obviously, the closet is off-limits to Lisette. As is the rotary phone.)
Seema arrives, resplendent in a cheetah-print pantsuit and matching coat, and calls Lisette “the luckiest girl in New York” because Carrie evidently sold the apartment to Lisette way below market value. This feels like yet another indication from the writers (and SJP) that they don’t want us to see Carrie as selfish anymore, but given the state of the real estate market in New York (and everywhere) right now, I say, good for Carrie!
I poked around a bit on Streeteasy and managed to find a few units that seem somewhat similar to Carrie’s—pre-war 1BRs in or near the Lenox Hill area of the Upper East Side. One was listed at $379,000, one at $479,000, and another at $699,000, so I’m very curious what Carrie let her place go for. (She obviously doesn’t need the money.)
“I wanted to give it to a single girl,” Carrie says. I understand the sentimentality she has toward her apartment, and I am kind of jealous of Lisette, even though that apartment is very small.
Lisette departs and Seema tells Carrie how upset she is that she told Ravi she loves him.
Carrie, clearly still in the honeymoon phase of her third go-round with Aidan, gives some very cheesy advice to Seema and then for some reason points at the kitten, who is still in the apartment after Che rescued it, and has now taken up residence in one of Carrie’s shoeboxes. I don’t understand what this show is trying to tell us.
At the UN (outside, for obvious security reasons), Raina and Miranda are leaving a meeting with Joy (who I guess works with the BBC?). Raina departs to go pump, and Miranda and Joy share a little bonding moment.
Joy tells Miranda how impressed she was with her, and Miranda pushes back, saying she’s just covering for Raina.
In non-legal news, Miranda’s styling is fantastic. I love the coat! And in legal news, I am happy to see Miranda thriving at work.
Miranda arrives “home” to Nya’s apartment (how long is she going to be crashing there???); Nya is excited about Carrie’s dinner party. From a television writing perspective, I understand why Nya is attending, but from an actual relationship perspective, it makes no sense. We’ve seen Carrie and Nya interact no more than three times this season. But OK, I’ll roll with it…
Miranda is, of course, nervous about the guest list because not one, but two of her exes will be in attendance. (Because Carrie is being a jerk to Miranda.) She asks Nya to serve as a buffer, but Nya is distracted because she has just received an e-vite to Andre and Heidi’s baby shower.
It has to be said that this is a very goofy-looking pose; Andre looks all hunched over.
Of course, Nya starts making fun of the registry (been there, done that) (to my friends with kids, no I haven’t), and tells Miranda that next time she has a breakup, she’s cutting off her ex immediately—just like Miranda does.
Miranda takes offense to this, despite having uttered these famous words many moons again.
Clearly, this version of Miranda is lacking some self-awareness.
In a fury, Nya gets out her credit card to purchase the $999 Peek-a-Boo Luxury All-Terrain Stroller. I’m not sure that will have the effect she intended on Heidi, who now has a great stroller to tote her baby around in.
Over in Hudson Yards, Che is smoking a joint and watching their old comedy concerts.
I’m no expert, but this material is deeply unfunny.
At one point, Che pulls up footage from the aforementioned show at the Tropicana, and a femme-presenting Cheryl Diaz appears on stage, telling “jokes” about how many men they’ve been dating and therefore are starving, because they eat just a small dinner salad around men. This is one of the first glimpses we’ve gotten into Che’s past (besides, you know, their husband), and, if we put aside the bad jokes, I almost feel a bit sad for them? Almost? It’s unfortunate that MPK and crew have written such a deeply unlikeable character that now any attempts to humanize them are met with eye rolls.
Over at the Todd-Wexley home, LTW is tossing and turning with something that looks like a body pillow.
(She is also wearing the most extra pajamas I’ve ever seen, naturally.)
Herbert, ever observant, can tell something is afoot and asks what’s wrong.
Herbert did not get a vasectomy because he thought that the request was merely a hormonal postpartum reaction on Lisa’s part. Why are the writers are so determined to make every straight man on this show terrible.
He tells LTW the same thing Charlotte basically did: if anyone can do this, she can.
But really, it’s not that simple. When Herbert tries to tell her he’s here to help, LTW, rightfully, pushes back.
LTW is tired of his bullshit. To his credit, Herbert asks Lisa if she wants to terminate the pregnancy.
(Of course, not in so many words. God forbid we use the words “terminate” or “abortion” on this show.) (I don’t enjoy Lindy West’s latest writing but the first episode of Hulu’s “Shrill” does a great job of portraying a realistic abortion scenario without making a big deal about it.)
Despite the fact that she is clearly having reservations about the pregnancy, LTW says she doesn’t want to terminate.
An undisclosed amount of time later, Anthony shows up at Carrie’s apartment.
Why has Carrie summoned Anthony to her apartment, with cosmos on hand?
Stanford has asked Carrie to speak to Anthony (his husband). Anthony is unamused, asking “where’s Baldo now?.”
Carrie reveals that Stanford is back in Japan, and that he has become a Shinto monk.
“For the first time in my life, I felt peace,” Stanford wrote to Carrie.
Anthony asks what a monk does.
When Anthony asks why Stanford didn’t tell him himself, Carrie has an answer!
(Which he just did.)
Carrie shares more of Stanford’s letter with Anthony, including the fact that the apartment and all of Stanford’s belongings are now Anthony’s.
Despite his initial reaction to make jokes, this part gives Anthony some pause and he shifts into self-reflection mode.
Carrie and Anthony toast to Stanford, and it’s hard to think of it as a toast to the late Willie Garson.
This was a poignant farewell scene to Garson, but unfortunately, it just felt so out of character for Stanford that I found it difficult to digest. This is a character who gave us one of the most iconic lines of the show (a line I have repeated often throughout the years).
Is it possible for people to change? Of course. But is it difficult to imagine Stanford Blatch, who famously proclaimed Carrie “fashion roadkill!” after she bit it on a runway, as a monk? Also yes. While it may not have been as poignant, it would have felt more in line with Stanford’s character to have him run away with a younger man.
Also, the fact Stanford’s entry into monkdom helped Anthony realize he doesn’t always have to top is…a choice on MPK’s part.
Anyway. Over at Victor Garber’s gallery, Charlotte’s coworkers are thrilled that she sold the Alex Israel piece to Sam Smith and are ready to celebrate!
Charlotte pushes back, saying she needs to go home to her family, but Lela and the crew are not having it.
Much like yours truly back in the day, Charlotte doesn’t need much convincing to go out for a drink with her coworkers. (The amount of workout classes I have cancelled at 4:30 p.m….)
In Brooklyn, Carrie and Aidan are waiting in a line outside a comedy club. Aidan makes sure to tell Carrie he doesn’t want to sit up front because he doesn’t want the comedians to pick on him.
Carrie tells him she is holding a spot for him at the Last Supper (which, yes, they continue to call it in earnest—it’s also the name of the episode). But Aidan remains steadfast in his refusal to cross the threshold of Carrie’s apartment.
And then who should appear but Miranda! She apparently did some soul-searching and decided she doesn’t want to be the type of person who throws their exes away.
A Skipper Johnston mention! What have we done to deserve this!
Meanwhile…
At some random bar, Charlotte and the Kasabian gallery girlies are taking shots and toasting to Charlotte slaying her job. They are, once again, interrupted by a text from Lily. These kids really need to get a grip.
Charlotte does what any drunk, annoyed mother would do (I presume) and throws her phone into a pitcher of margaritas. Cheers all around.
Back at the comedy club, the emcee picks on a couple sitting up front. It is about as uncomfortable as you would expect.
Che is prepping at the bar, and who should appear but Toby, the cute person who rescued those cats in the last episode. Why is Che getting another love interest and not exiting this TV show expeditiously???
Che heads onstage to wild applause, and not just from their biggest fan Judy.
Che’s set begins, and we all see where this is going.
The grin fades from Miranda’s face. I would say the grin faded from my face as well, but I am never smiling while watching Che’s comedy concerts.
This scene just kept getting worse and worse.
At one point, Che reveals that their ex had only been with men before them, which led to some very awkward sex.
Another mayo mention! MPK is very committed to this metaphor.
Mayo metaphor aside, making fun of Miranda for being confused about her sexuality feels like a super low blow considering that Che just watched old videos of their femme self—they clearly went on a self-discovery journey as well, and not when they were what we’d consider super young. Stand-ups obviously draw on their experiences to craft jokes, but do we think enough time has passed for these jokes to feel appropriate? (This is why you should never date a stand-up.) (Also, these aren’t even jokes. Jokes are funny.)
Miranda, naturally, leaves the club, but not before making eye contact with Che as she exits. To their credit, this throws Che off their game.
After getting heckled (Judy to the rescue!), Che runs off stage and finds Miranda outside waiting for a car. (If I was Miranda, I would have at least run around the corner to call a car.)
“Not funny!,” Miranda screams at Che (who really should be used to hearing this).
“What kind of a person gets up on stage and makes jokes like that about what happened between us?,” Miranda asks.
(I repeat: never date a stand-up.)
Miranda, to her credit, pushes back.
“I was getting to them,” Che says.
Miranda storms off and who should appear at Che’s side but Toby.
Yes Che, we know—you’re an asshole and you don’t want to apologize for it. This would ring truer if all of their comedy didn’t revolve around their identity and defending it.
AJLT is once again demonstrating how woke it is with an “enby” mention. WE GET IT.
The two head off into the night, sure to wreak havoc upon one another’s lives down the line.
Charlotte arrives home, giggling to herself and falling against a wall. Clearly, she has had more than a few shots.
Her family is unamused.
Kristin Davis is incredible as Drunk Charlotte.
I do understand why Harry was worried but he, along with Lily and Rock, need to get it together.
Lily is a straight-up asshole to her mom, and Charlotte makes her position clear.
Sure, she’s drunk, but in vino veritas.
She tells her family that they need to get it together and storms off into the bedroom, slamming the door.
At least she’s not mad at Richard Burton.
Over at the hotel that Carrie and Aidan are still staying in, Carrie tells him that the bedroom in their new apartment will be ready after the Last Supper.
Aidan gets quiet, and then tells Carrie that he also made some mistakes during their previous relationship(s).
He says he was so determined to lock it down, but now he knows that that doesn’t always mean it’s locked down forever.
He tells Carrie the real reason he doesn’t want to return to their apartment.
I’m glad they are finally having this discussion, but it feels like something they should have talked about earlier. Whatever. I’m glad we just have one episode left.
This emotional conversation is interrupted by Kathy calling Aidan’s phone. It’s a quick convo, and Aidan mentions he’ll look for a flight as they hang up. Wyatt is in the hospital with a broken collarbone after driving Aidan’s truck into a tree.
Carrie has questions. How did he get to the truck? Isn’t this Kathy’s week? Like kids don’t do nonsense things. Carrie! Get a grip. These don’t feel like the right questions to ask. Perhaps “can I go with you for support?” or “if not, how else I can help?.” (She does offer to help him find a flight, fine.)
We cut briefly to the Todd-Wexley home, where Lisa wakes up Herbert with bad news.
I am frustrated by this entire storyline. Why would the writers even introduce an LTW pregnancy only to have her conveniently miscarry in the next episode? Let us (and LTW) sit with this pregnancy a bit more! This also doesn’t feel super realistic in terms of what medically happens during miscarriage, but again, I am not an expert here.
The next day (I assume) at the Gramercy Park apartment, Carrie is bringing in some dry cleaning (?) when her phone rings. It’s Miranda, who looks pretty worse for the wear. She doesn’t feel comfortable going to the Last Supper because of what happened last night at the comedy concert.
Carrie’s isn’t having it.
Remember your ex-husband, Miranda? The father of your child? The guy who renovated your Brooklyn home? Good lord. (Are they even officially divorced yet? Who’s to say!)
Carrie rightfully chastises Miranda for her nonsense.
I can’t help but feel that Carrie digging her heels in about this situation, and about not wanting to give Seema space in a previous episode, are related to one Samantha Jones. Despite season 2 featuring no Samantha texts (as of yet), we need to keep in mind that Carrie has experienced the loss of a great friendship—and she won’t let Miranda start pulling away either.
(Although, really, Carrie should not still be this tight with Che. Especially after the previous night’s comedy concert! You pick a side, and you pick Miranda’s in this situation.) (The Steve situation is a bit murkier to me since Carrie has also known him for decades.)
As soon as Carrie hangs up the phone, it rings again—and this time, it’s Aidan calling from what looks like a wood-paneled Bronco? Idk, I don’t know cars.
Evidently Wyatt’s injuries are more extensive than “just” a broken collarbone.
Here’s what Wyatt did: got in a fight with Kathy, snuck out, “hitched 30 miles back to the farm,” had a few beers, got in Aidan’s truck to drive back, and then hit a tree.
Carrie is missing the point entirely. I know she’s trying to comfort Aidan, but she is ill-equipped to support a partner with a teenager who is upset (I assume) about his dad’s new relationship. This kid is acting out and needs a lot of support from his dad right now. What he doesn’t need is his dad flying back and forth between Virginia and New York City all the time.
It’s not a surprise that Carrie and Aidan 3.0 is not as ironclad as we had all hoped. I’m very curious to see what will happen when all of our characters assemble for the Last Supper next week. In keeping with the Biblical metaphor, will we see a big betrayal???
As for the guest list, here’s what I’m thinking:
Carrie
Anthony
Giuseppe
Charlotte
Harry
LTW
Herbert
Nya
Che
Steve
Lily
Rock
Brady
Seema
Ravi
Aidan, making his triumphant return to the apartment
Am I forgetting anyone? (I’m sure that I am…) (Full disclosure I totally forgot Seema and Ravi and had to swap them in in place of my Toby and Lisette guesses.) (That’s how forgettable poor Seema is on this show.)
Thoughts? Dreams? Who else is ready for the finale??
Best part of Fridays are your recaps :)
I definitely think Carrie's insistence at inviting the exes and making Miranda be there is about Samantha and "not throwing" people away ...
For the dinner guest list, if we can't have Samantha Jones :( (wouldn't that be a total shocker if it's not the phone call but the surprise visit they kept under wraps?!?!), my guess instead of Ravi is that Aidan brings Wyatt to the dinner and he is seated by someone age appropriate (Rock?). It would show a nod of solidarity to 3.0. I can see Seema being a little hesitant to bring Ravi to an intimate gathering after saying something as intimate as 'I love you', plus his schedule as a director might mean he's out of town for that night.
BUT if Aidan doesn't come at all ... hmmmm. Bitsy would be hilarious but would not mesh very well with the rest of the cast. St Louise from St Louis?