5 Harsh Realities of Rewatching Sex and the City as an Adult in 2023
Sex and the City premiered 25 years ago, but watching it today feels very different.
A lot has changed since the sexy, glamorous series premiered in 1998, and after watching it again from a different perspective, there are some things we can't help but notice.
Dating was always awkward
Sex and the City took place before the iPhone, dating apps and social media. While many of us blame these for our dating mishaps today, Sex and the City reminds us that dating was uncomfortable without all the technology and apps.
Awkward, cold moments like Berger breaking up with Carrie via Post-It note are the equivalent of a modern break-up text.
What was acceptable then is no longer so
Like many shows, Sex and the City has some plots that don't sit well with modern audiences, and others that set unrealistic expectations.
Charlotte's goal in life was to find 'the one', which is unambitious, Carrie's luxurious lifestyle is out of touch with reality, and Samantha's portrayal as hyper-sexual is damaging to women today. Not to mention that there were many racist stereotypes and insensitive queer plots along the way that don't sit right with us today.
We'll never be completely comfortable being single
Over 6 seasons and 6 years, Sex and the City has covered single life, married life and every situation in between, but even all these years later, the single debate still rages on:
Is it really fabulous to be single?
25 years on, women are still shamed by society for being single and desperate to find 'the one' in a society with an ever-growing hook-up culture.
Age will never be just a number
As much as we can be young at heart, Sex and the City provides a reality check that age does change things.
One of the things we love most about the show is its portrayal of women in their 30s, still figuring out their lives and having fun. But watching it now that we're older, the sombre moments become more relatable. Life gets busier, we worry more and spend less time with friends.
As much as we may feel young, we need to be aware that things around us will not always be the same as time goes on, and Sex and the City is a gentle reminder of that.
Carrie's New York life is reserved for the elite minority
Sex and the City is far from an accurate representation of life in New York City, especially from Carrie's point of view.
From her spacious, modern apartment to her lavish spending on high-end designer clothes, Carrie lives a life that many of us could only dream of, but which was unreachable even for Carrie. Her career as a columnist could never have afforded her this life, but the series makes it seem possible.