And Just Like That.. Season 2, Episode 1

Carrie's Met Gala dress looks entirely appropriate for the occasion

"Met Cute"
Original airdate: 6/22/2023

Episode summary: Miranda worries that her relationship with Che is based solely on sex. Seema breaks it off with Zed when she learns that he lives in close proximity of his ex-wife. Carrie repurposes her voluminous wedding gown as a Met Gala costume.

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Recap: Season 2 [of a reboot I foolishly assumed wouldn't need to exist past Season 1] begins with each of the gals emerging from their bathrooms, and then sexily sashaying towards the significant others in their lives - except for Nya, who glumly ambles into her living room and turns on the TV while the camera pans over to a framed photo of her and Andre during happier times.

The next morning, Franklyn is lounging in bed with Carrie, watching a cooking show on his Macbook, despite his general lack of interest in actually cooking anything himself. Carrie admits that she too barely cooks...and that, during her younger years, she once considered taking the time to poach an egg - but was always too busy writing her raunch column and/or skanking around town. Franklyn points out that it's never too late to learn how to boil water and eat something other than restaurant food, and she agrees...and decides that since she's mostly unburdened with any kind of job these days, she has more than enough time to make herself a home-cooked breakfast.

In the next scene, Carrie is in her kitchen poaching eggs when Seema calls to ask if she received the caviar she sent (as a thank you to Carrie for taking her as her plus one to the Met Gala). After that, Franklyn emerges from the bedroom and declines a poached egg 'cause he has to get to work - just as Charlotte drops by unexpectedly carrying her dog (?) to show Carrie the sketch of her weird looking Met Gala outfit. Carrie introduces her to Franklyn...and once he's safely out of earshot, Charlotte's all, "Whoooooooo was that?!" and is stunned to learn that not only has Carrie been hooking up with her podcast producer, she's also using her stove to prepare edible food items.

Lisa is in her closet/home office, busily juggling work and kids stuff when Herbert gives her an amorous canoodle. She tells him he's going to have to put a pin in that for the moment 'cause she's laser focused on getting a 25K grant to finance her latest documentary. A befuddled Herbert reminds her that he's rich enough to write her a check for such a piddly amount, so Lisa reminds him that she's an established documentarian who can surely secure the cash needed to get this project completed.

While ambling on the Upper East Side, Carrie tells Charlotte that her hookups with Franklyn are casual and strictly about having sex on Thursdays. Charlotte blurts out, "How big is his dick?" (in the spirit of Samantha), then warns, "Don't give up your power by sexing with a colleague" (in the spirit of Miranda) ... a weakly executed shoutout to the many brunches the foursome used to regularly enjoy on Sex and the City.

Over in Los Angeles, Miranda is about to slip into a deprivation tank (as part of her experimental new Californian self) when Nya calls to glumly report that she continues to be depressed about Andre being on tour...blah blah. Miranda chides her one-person pity party and urges her to get out of the house and have some fun.

Che, meanwhile, is not enjoying a clothing fitting in the costume department of their new comedy show. They nix the idea of a dramatic blue hair stripe (to match that of their openly queer writer), along with wearing anything that's not jeans and a sloppy t-shirt.

Miranda quickly tires of the deprivation tank and struggles to open the lid...and when she finally manages to climb out, she miserably mutters, "Fuck the new me."

Carrie is out for a drink with Jackie (her former podcasting friend) ... and the two chat about how Jackie's wife Smoke is designing her (Carrie's) Met Gala ensemble. Jackie makes it clear how much he'd loooooooove to attend the Met, but Carrie says she has no way of acquiring any more tickets than the two she somehow managed to score. 

While Lisa and Charlotte are being fitted for their Met Gala gowns, Lisa complains about Herbert offering to write a check to finance her latest documentary in order to free her up to spend more time taking care of him and kids. Charlotte clucks sympathetically and complains that Harry periodically urges her to get back into the working world, but at the same time worries that if she's not playing the role of mother/homemaker every second of every day, the household might fall apart. Anthony, who's been sitting on a nearby couch listening to this inanity, growls at them to shut up about their "rich people's problems". A few seconds later - case in point - Lisa gets a call informing her that her nanny is sick, which means she's going to have to cut the fitting short and pick up her daughter from school. After she rushes off, Anthony compliments the way Charlotte's boobs look in her tight-fitting corset thing, then declares that he, on the other hand, is ignoring the Met's 'veiled beauty' theme and plans to just show up in a regular tux. He gushes that he's sooooo excited to attend the ball (as Charlotte's plus one), punning, "God I loooove balls."

"I'm showing at the gala up in a run-of-the-mill tuxedo."

"Since I'm wearing a corset at a special fitting for my costume, that notion doesn't compute."

Later on Park Avenue, Lily and Rock inform Charlotte of a serious, First World problem: Harry assumes he's escorting her to the Met Gala (and seems to have no idea that Anthony is her date). As Charlotte digests this troubling development, Harry enters the room clutching a top hat while excitedly nattering that since he wasn't able to go to his own prom [like, decades ago], he's really really looking forward to being part of this iconic gala with famous celebrities...and I guess during this episode we'll have to suspend reality and assume that Anna Wintour has zero problem making all of their abrupt changes to the guest list.

While recording her weekly podcast, Carrie answers a question about how to know when casual sex steps into 'relationship territory'. Carrie advises the caller to carefully monitor the situation until such time as her bed partner steps out of the pattern they've established for themselves, which she can interpret as a signal that their coupling up is about more than just sex. From the control booth, Franklyn smiles approvingly...and after the podcast wraps up, he invites Carrie to be his date at a rooftop party on Tuesday night. She breezily chirps, "Sure!", but afterward stares concernedly into space.

Miranda is - visual alert - trying to navigate a strap-on when Che gets a call from Carrie, who needs advice on how to deal with Franklyn wanting to go beyond the 'sex on Thursdays' arrangement she'd prefer to stick to. Che points out that some relationships are only meant to be physical - which seems to visibly depress Miranda as she fumbles with the strap-on - and that she should prolly talk about this with Franklyn, 'cause only he knows what's going on inside his head. When Che ends the call, Miranda tosses the strap-on aside and suggests coming to their Comedy Store performance after a nice dinner, and Che's like, "Sure, why the hell not?"

Zed tells Seema that his son will be in town next Monday (the same day as the Met Gala) and that he'd like her to lunch with him, along with his ex-wife. Seema says she'd like that too, then leans in for a smooch. 

Over a fancy lunch out, Seema complains to the gals (+ Anthony) about the "sudden lurch" in her relationship with Zed, explaining that she agreed to lunch with him, his ex-wife, and son...and is assuming the lunch will run too late for her to adequately primp for the Met Gala. Anthony makes it clear he couldn't give a rat's ass about her plight and changes the subject to Carrie's sex life, so Carrie explains to the group that, yep, she's having 'exit out of grief' sex every Thursday - but that her hookup just invited her out on a Tuesday and she felt as though she had no choice but to say yes. Anthony brusquely tells her to simply not show up 'cause generally men don't react emotionally to personal rejection (citing a disappointing blow job he recently administered). Charlotte perks up at that window of opportunity and is like, "Speaking of rejection.." and informs Anthony that he's out as her plus one for the Met Gala 'cause Harry assumes he's attending...and as Anthony stews over that, Carrie tells him that since Seema is choosing Zed over the Met Gala, he can be her plus one. Anthony pissily says he'll consider it.

Nya is sitting at a bar reading when a smoothly handsome gentleman named Toussaint approaches her. He chats her up and suggests ordering a sumptuous piece of chocolate cake to top off the dinner she tells him she just had. She politely declines while pointing at her wedding ring, so he shrugs, says it was nice to meet her, and glides across the restaurant...leaving Nya staring after him longingly.

Che wraps up their Comedy Store performance...and a few seconds later, Miranda rushes over, hugs them, and wankingly gushes about how super awesome the set was. Che coldly says her hug just now was a surprise and a nuisance, then bitchily snaps that they don't like being hugged while at work. Miranda looks momentarily crestfallen at the callous reaction, then pitifully insists, "You were sooooooo good."

"Don't fucking touch me when I'm at work."

"Is it OK to stare at you longingly?"

Nya is wearing a sexy teddy while she FaceTimes with Andre, who hastily tells her to stop the sex talk asap 'cause he's not alone. When Nya demands to know who else is in the room, Andre pans his phone over to where one of the backup singers (Heidi) is strumming a guitar. Andre explains that he's just helping her with her music, and Nya angrily says that she had the opportunity to eat chocolate cake with a total hottie, but denied herself his company out of loyalty to their marriage. She barks, "Good bye!" before angrily hanging up. 

Jackie and Smoke arrive at Carrie's apartment with her Met Gala outfit...and Smoke sheepishly informs Carrie that two of her seamstresses are out with the flu. The good news is that the teal cape is finished, but not the actual dress...and despite being a clothing designer, she has no idea how to do alterations. In the next scene, Carrie is wearing Smoke's first draft of the dress, which really just looks like a very tall, shapeless roll of striped blue fabric.

Smoke is anxiously working the sewing machine while Carrie and Jackie hang out in the bedroom area. Jackie remarks on how the apartment smells like Franklyn, and Carrie points at the jacket he accidentally left behind and explains that they hook up every Thursday - then emphasizes that they're not a couple. Jackie raises his brows at that last thing and asks, "Does Franklyn know that?" and points out that they now live in an era where men have feelings, and can be dumb about knowing whether or not a hookup is a relationship (or vice versa).

Back in Los Angeles, Che is sitting up in bed, studying lines and rebuffing Miranda when she attempts a snuggle. Miranda backs off and remarks on how something has shifted in their relationship. Che admits that, yep, something has definitely changed...then confesses that they're on a restrictive diet 'cause the costume department at the TV studio complained about too much belly fat. Che sadly explains that this sudden poor body image is the reason they've been pushing her (Miranda) away...and Miranda reacts by spooning them, confesses that she was frightened their relationship was based purely on sex, and gushes about how they're the most beautiful person in the history of people. Che agrees, then cackles, "Fuck TV! Let's get a pizza."

Carrie calls Franklyn to tell him she's changed her mind about Tuesday's rooftop party 'cause she'd prefer to stick to their regularly scheduled, Thursday-only romps. Franklyn's like, "Got it. You're not into having a relationship" and says he's A-OK with limiting their person-to-person contact with hitting the sheets on Thursdays.

While lunching with Mrs. Zed and the son, Seema is dismayed to learn that Zed lives in the lower floor of his ex-wife's house. Seema wastes no time getting up and racing out of the restaurant...and is about to climb into her car when Zed rushes out after her and explains that his place has its own entrance. An unimpressed Seema replies, "This feels like a mess...and I'm not missing the Met for a mess." Zed chides her for being "such an American", and she agrees that, yep, she's definitely an American who's off to the Met, then orders her driver to hit the gas. LOL.
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Carrie calls Anthony to break the news that Seema is back on as her plus one for the Met Gala...and Anthony reacts by cartoonishly glowering in disappointment.

At Casa Wexley, Herbert ogles a scantily clad Lisa while she frets about her never-ending documentary edits. He gives her a from behind canoodle and offers to - hmm mmm - "relax" her...and she says that since she's been primped for the Met Gala, he's welcome to do his magic - but only from the waist down.

Lily and Rock are enlisted to pull Charlotte's corset laces tighter so that she can squeeze herself into what I thought ended up being an unflattering Met Gala outfit, and that's all I'm going to write 'bout that.  

Lisa and Herbert exit their building, all gussied up for the gala. Herbert is in a regular tux, while Lisa has draped herself into a super flowy red dress with a strange wire and feathery headpiece that appears to obstruct her ability to see anything in front of her. While standing on the curb, she suddenly remembers that while in the throes of the orgasmic pleasure Herbert was indulging her in earlier, she forgot to book the van to transport them to the event. She tells them they're just going to have to walk the ten blocks...and Herbert trails behind her, clutching her flowy dress veil.

Harry complains about how uncomfortable his boots are...and when Charlotte chooses this moment to break the news that he's not going to be anywhere near the red carpet where all the celebrities pose for the cameras, he decides there isn't any real point in going.
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Anthony is eating popcorn in front of the TV when Charlotte calls, admits she made a huge mistake choosing her husband over her favorite gay, and begs him to accompany her to the Met Gala. Anthony perks up and says he can be dressed and ready in half a second.

Seema exits her building in her Met costume, a champagne-colored hooded ensemble...and for whatever reason she's surrounded by an entourage of friends/hangers-on (?), who gush over her and photograph her until she climbs into her car.

A stressed out Smoke erupts at Jackie for being annoyingly sunny during her darkest hour as a painfully inept clothing designer...and after he dejectedly takes "a Smoke break", Smoke pleads with Carrie to scour her closet for something fabulous to wear with the teal cape. Carrie's thoughts immediately go to the enormous wedding gown she got rejected in by Big at the altar, and sadly says that the monstrous frock doesn't bring back good memories...but that since the And Just Like That.. writers seem to be big on shout-outs from her fashion of yore, she's willing to be a good sport and put it on.

"Surely you must have something "fashionable" in your closet that's stupid enough to be appropriate for the Met Gala."

"This emergency situation calls for a wedding gown tainted by Big's rejection, accessorized by a dead bird ornament."

Carrie sifts through the tissue paper in the box that contains the dead bird headpiece she wore in the first SATC movie. She then puts on the voluminous Vivienne Westwood wedding gown, Smoke's teal cape and a pair of matching shoes, and descends the stairs of her brownstone while narrating, "And just like that...I repurposed my pain."

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