The following is how the revival of "Sex and the City" wrote about Kim Catrol, who has been publicly criticizing star Sarah Jessica Parker. Plus: A roundup of the best reviews for "just like that."

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So is Samantha just a handbag now?

In the early hours of Thursday morning, HBO Max aired the first two episodes of "That's it", heralding the click-through return of the "Sex and the City" universe, which is the first new film since the 2010 movie "Sex and the City"2. "Kim Catrol has left the franchise and refused to return to the planned third film. The trailer for this new series failed to explain the absence of her character Samantha. Fans noticed a ladies lunch scene. , The chair usually reserved for Samantha is occupied by a golden bucket wallet and an Oscar de la Renta clothing bag. It's cold.

The first part of the first episode is Kelly played by Sarah Jessica Parker, Miranda played by Cynthia Nixon, and Charlotte in her 50s played by Christine Davis, which is quickly explained. Samantha's disappearance. So, if you can tolerate a small spoiler, please keep reading. If you can tolerate a bigger and bigger one, read further.

While waiting for their seats, the ladies met Bitsy von Muffling (a beloved character played by the equally beloved Julie Halston). When Bitsy asked Samantha, they revealed that Samantha had moved to London to work. (Is this a sneaky nod to reality? Cartroll himself spent a lot of time on the London stage.)

"Sexy sirens in their 60s are still viable there," Bitsy said approvingly.

In the scene after lunch, Carrie and Miranda discuss the issue of estrangement. The state of the book business meant that Carrie no longer needed a private publicist. When she let Samantha go on a career, Samantha fired her as a friend. All the women called and texted, but Samantha never responded.

This conversation seems to inadvertently hint at the rumored real-life discord between Parker and Catroll. Elle has a detailed timetable. From the 2000s, some vague comments on the pay gap continued until the 2010s, when Cattrall refused to shoot a third film and reached a climax in 2018, as conceivable in 2018 The most way-some very intense Instagram exchanges.

"I always thought the four of us would be friends forever," Carrie said thoughtfully. Oh well. (A little bit less kind, she also said: "I think I am more important to her than ATMs.")

Without Samantha's debauchery, this new version has a more gloomy feel, which is emphasized by a big twist at the end of the first episode. In a preview of the new series of articles, show host Michael Patrick King told The Times, "No one is dead. No one." This only works for about half an hour.

Rumor has it that the third movie that was abandoned began with Carrie’s husband Bigg (Chris North) having a heart attack in the bath. North denied this at the time, but this is the ending of the first episode. Well, technically speaking, the heart attack is adjacent to the shower, but it is still the case. Samantha sends an elegant coffin spray to the funeral to express reconciliation. Or it might be to associate the character with the coffin to indicate something darker.

There are other changes, such as the addition of four new characters of color played by Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker, Karen Pittman and Sara Ramírez. The first three characters are introduced in the first episode; Choudhury's high-end real estate agent arrives later. (Although Willie Garson's Stanford Blatch was in the first few episodes, Garson died during filming, so the creator designed a brisk exit.) Carrie now co-hosts a podcast. Miranda exchanged corporate law for human rights work. Charlotte is almost still Charlotte. High heel? Quite high. Comment? Quite mixed.

Here are some of the most insightful and other reports on the legacy of "And Just Like That" and "Sex and the City".

'Comment: "It's like that," Everything is wrong' (New York Times)

James Poniewozik (James Poniewozik) in a silent comment that the revival is actually two shows, they do not seem to be well integrated. He wrote: “A way of trying to grow with women as they pass their 50s and die is frustrating,” he wrote, “but it requires risk, and it’s very good at certain moments. Another one. It is painful to try to update its sense of fashion at the turn of the century to adapt to the era of diversity."

"Just like that" is the "Sex and the City" of 2021: a bloated, laugh-free comedy about sadness" (Washington Post)

"Washington Post" made a fierce negative comment on the original "Sex and the City". (See below.) And Inkoo Kang also hates revival, even if her analysis avoids the misogyny of early criticism. "This year is terrible, and so is the sequel series," she wrote. "The iconic HBO series that used to be lively, intimate, and charming has been replaced by another bloated streaming service, grief-com. This is the latest zombie form of intellectual property to generate headlines, stir up nostalgia, and ultimately make us Disappointed."

"The girls in "Sex and the City" stylishly face difficult times in "Just Like That"" (Vanity Fair)

Richard Lawson is a big fan of the series, and he questioned the tone of the series and the way its high-gloss aesthetics conflict with the new seriousness. But he still found a reason for hope. "I believe the show's desire to prove its cultural savvy will eventually subside and become less flustered and comical," he wrote. "And the gloomy beginning of the show will give way to the playful mood of yesteryear."

'"Just like that" (pay or spend decades), "Sex and the City" is back' (AV Club)

Gwen Ihnat did not find much to be praised in the pilot episode of the series. But as a rare woman in her 50s reviewing the show, she argued about why it was necessary. "This is also an interesting and neglected age," she wrote when she was in her 50s. "There are women like me who spent our adult years with Carrie and others. . It is possible to look forward to using these familiar faces to deal with the fall of life (at the same time, some much-needed fashion inspiration can also be obtained)."

'"Just like that": shoes must continue' (New York Times)

This trailer visited the Brooklyn set of the revival of "Sex and the City" and talked with several creators and actors to explore what might remain the same and what might be different, and asked: "Can the show A character that adapts to change? Change the era while still providing fans with the original love?"

"That's it... Carrie is back! Sarah Jessica Parker returns publicly" (Vogue)

In the Vogue cover story, Naomi Fry interviewed Parker (well-dressed, of course) about returning to her most famous role. Parker is particularly good at expressing when discussing culture around women and age. "It almost feels as if people don’t want us to be completely satisfied with where we are, as if they almost like us suffering for who we are today, whether we choose to age naturally without looking perfect, or whether you’re willing if this makes you feel Better," she said. "I know what I look like. I have no choice. What should I do? Stop aging? Disappear?"

'Our exclusive observation of clothing is just that, and Carrie is wearing another tulle skirt' (very stylish)

"Precise products, just like makeup artists use to create attractive skin" (Harper's Bazaar)

Very stylish chatting with Molly Rogers and Danny San Diego, and they assisted Patricia Field in making the original version and designing restart costumes, about the high and low (well, mainly high) aesthetics of the show. Harper's Bazaar conducted an unexpected in-depth interview with Sherri Laurence, who leads the makeup team, and it is available for purchase. Speaking of blushing, are you Carrie, Charlotte or Miranda?

"The Difficult Woman: How "Sex and the City" lost its reputation" (The New Yorker)

Emily Nussbaum's still indispensable article places "Sex and the City" firmly in the prestigious television tradition and explores why critics have since belittled its innovation and achievements . (Hint: Because it’s about girls.) “Highly feminine rather than fetishly masculine, sparkling rather than gritty, and bold concept of roles, “Sex and the City” is a wonderful, in some Aspect, radical performance," she wrote.

'The Worst Way for Men to Cover "Sex and the City"' (edited version)

Even at the beginning, "Sex and the City" was not always loved, especially by those who commented on it. Amanda Arnold's article in The Cut brings together some of the worst and craziest sexist scenes. This is a gem from the Washington Post (didn't they edit it at the time?): "Sarah Jessica Parker has a face. In her new HBO comedy series "Sex and the City", she always seems to be pushing it. She fell in love with the camera. Unfortunately, it did not pay off."

"The True Story of "Sex and the City"" (New York Times)

'This is an It Girl! The Birth of "Sex and the City" (New York Times)

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show in 2018, The Times collected readers’ stories and discussed the impact of “Sex and the City” on their lives, for better or for worse. Steven Kurutz brings together the oral history of New York life in the 90s and what it means to writer Candace Bushnell, who wrote the adaptation as "Sex and the City" ( Sex and the City) column.