Spoilers below for the first episode of ‘And Just Like That…’
It’s a post-pandemic, mostly post-Samantha world for the characters of And Just Like That…, the Sex and the City spinoff that premiered Thursday on HBO Max.
Within the first 10 minutes of the show, Kim Cattrall’s absence is explained, complete with a joke about Samantha being dead. She’s not, she just lives in London now and refuses to talk to any of her former friends.
And now that that’s out of the way, the series moves on to another Big absence.
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The plot twist left many viewers reeling:
I’m just gonna act like #JustLikeThat and #SATC aren’t the same show.
Y’all really played with that first episode! pic.twitter.com/EXDn1A1CoD
— NatoyaEbony (@NatoyaEbony) December 9, 2021
Was anyone else yelling at the TV "CALL THE FUCKING AMBULANCE WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR. OMG!" I'M SO ANGRY #SATC
— Elle T. Kazantzis (@ele_kaz) December 9, 2021
Lots of people glaring angrily at their Pelotons today #AndJustLikeThat #SATC
— marshy (@sirmarshy) December 9, 2021
Good morning to everyone except the episode 1 writers. #SATC #AndJustLikeThat pic.twitter.com/u2MALwQ3d7
— Jennifer (@belles_boutique) December 9, 2021
Idk what possessed me to watch #AndJustLikeThat first thing this morning. I. Cannot. Go. On. #SATC
— CeeCee (@CurrentlyCeeCee) December 9, 2021
Well..that was not what I was expecting from the season premier and to be honest I wish I had lived in ignorant bliss. I need Miranda to rub my back while I cry myself to sleep. Forever. #SATC pic.twitter.com/kd4xfVIZH5
— Elle T. Kazantzis (@ele_kaz) December 9, 2021
I'm sorry but I didn't expect to get my heart destroyed in the first ep of #SATC ! ?? Come on people. ?#sexandthecity @hbomax pic.twitter.com/6GTF50rF51
— Courtney ??? (@OLFanvidz) December 9, 2021
Really wow I’m just crying #SATC pic.twitter.com/XxKmj3y6sA
— Sarah (@BerCarS) December 9, 2021
i just watched episode 1 and i literally can’t do anymore. day ruined, goodbye. @AndJustLikeThat #SATC #sexandthecity @hbomax @SJP
— Lindsay (@linnndsC) December 9, 2021
Related: Chris Noth on Kim Cattrall’s “sad and uncomfortable” falling out with SJP
Other fans were heartbroken over the premiere watching Willie Garson appear as Stanford, Carrie’s GBF.
Garson died of cancer in September but appears in the first three episodes of the new series. His costars were largely unaware of his diagnosis during filming.
There will never be another Willie Garson. We loved Stanny not only for his iconic one liners, but because he brought an earthiness & charisma to the screen. Beloved & missed. I’m so glad we get to see him on #AndJustLikeThat one last time.
— Rochelle Saenz-Lopez (@Rochell21664616) December 9, 2021
#AndJustLikeThat my heart my heart my heart #williegarson @SJP pic.twitter.com/7QWqthizTQ
— Karen ?? (@karenkaren82) December 1, 2021
The loss of Willie Garson is devastating, and I'm sobbing at being reminded that he's gone.
Also, periwinkle is the color of 2022, so Stannie made the right decision. #AndJustLikeThat
— Sarah Conley (@imsarahconley) December 9, 2021
God bless Willie Garson #AndJustLikeThat
— D.T.C. (@dareezyyy) December 9, 2021
New episodes of And Just Like That… arrive Thursdays on HBO Max.
Woteva
No Sam? No way. I’ll give it one season. Rehashing 75% of something is a dumb move – smacks of desperation. What did any of the do that was noteworthy since SITC finished, anyway?
Caine
Sam who?
CatholicXXX
and just like that… …i canceled my hbomax sub
inbama
Not me. With “The Other Two”, wonderful Jean Smart’s “Hacks”, “Succession”, hilarious daddy Murray Bartlett in “The White Lotus”, and “Euphoria” season 2 coming in January as well as “The Gilded Age”, by Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey starring Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, and Carrie Coon.
They’ve got lesbian and gay characters and gay sensibilities everywhere in terrific shows.
Fahd
This was just not good; replete with meh acting, goofy outfits and insensitive ostentation and pandering. Neither the plot twist nor Willie Garson could save it. Garson will be missed, but the show stinks.
Caine
I liked it. I think it is finding it’s footing. Clearly this was the plot for the movie and now they are setting up Carrie to be able to date again. I am more aghast that they are clearly setting up Miranda to have a lesbian story arc. Boo.