“Sex And The City” premiered on June 6, 1998, and ran for six seasons. The HBO series, which followed the lives of four women exploring their sex lives while being committed to their inseparable friendship has remained a fan-favorite decades after it hit the movie screens.
Since its release in 1998, “Sex And The City” have gained recognition as one of the most outstanding films ever shot. The show, based on the actual book by Candace Bushnell with the same title, was both entertaining and educational. It gave an insight into such societally pressing issues as feminity, sexuality, safe sex, and promiscuity.
Over two decades later, the romantic comedy-drama has remained the basis of a liberated society, representing the female sexual revolution. That and its many inspiring features have cemented the show in people’s hearts.
Several sequels have sprung from the series over the years. Aside from its spin-offs, movies like “Gossip Girl” and “Girlfriends,” undeniably got their inspirations from the lives of Samantha, Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT “SEX AND THE CITY”
Featuring three American women in their thirties and one in her late forties, the HBO film aired from 1998 to 2004. Its spin-off, “Sex And The City,” premiered four years later, following prompts from insatiable fans.
As much as the series received acclaim from fans, it also got its bout of criticisms. Many believed its explicit display was a negative influence on adolescents. It has also arguably changed an everyday woman’s perception of herself, in a bad light. Most critics pointed out how much the movie aimed to objectify women, going against the whole concept of feminism.
However, “Sex And The City” casts, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristen Davis, Kim Cattrall, and Cynthia Nixon gave a flawless rendition of the life of the average American woman. Starring as Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte York, Samantha Jones, and Miranda Hobbes, respectively, these female leads gave an insight into sex and relationships from four unique perspectives.
WHY THE SERIES HAS REMAINED RELEVANT TO DATE
“Sex And The City,” today, still attracts an impressive audience despite some its now-seemingly outdated concepts. The questionable fashion style portrayed by the women has garnered widespread recognition and has been imbibed in some modern-day trends.
Aside from the obvious outfit trend, and expletive dialogues targeted at female sexual liberation, a handful of other factors have contributed to the shows’ legendary success.
For many movie icons known today, “Sex And The City” represented their breakthrough roles. Stars like Kat Denning, Bradley Cooper, and Michelle Hurst first gained public recognition from their roles on “SATC.”
Then there’s the groundbreaking dialogues by the heroines about friendship, social life, relationship, and valuing oneself. The invaluable tenets dished on the show helped many regain their confidence. No wonder it garnered an impressive fandom, which has remained unwavering over two decades later.
WHAT MADE “SATC” SUCH A HIT?
The HBO romantic-comedy undoubtedly had its good, bad, and ugly moments. Somehow, the good seemed to have outweighed the bad in terms of public reception. One of the remarkable messages the film passed across was helping women value their life as singles.
Contrary to the societal beliefs that no matter how successful a woman got in other aspects of her life, she was never truly fulfilled until she got married, “SATC” showed there were several other forms of fulfillment. It was, in fact, the first television film centered on female friendship.
The unique manner in which each of the female leads expressed themselves in high-low fashion is also note-worthy. People easily related to every aspect of the movie, and successfully adopted its major concepts with little effort.
Ultimately, it passed the famed Bechdel Wallace test, with its more-than-adequate female representation. The four named female characters in the comedy-drama also engaged in sustaining conversations about diverse issues other than a man. That’s a plus!
“SEX AND THE CITY” AT A GLANCE
The HBO series featured four socially diverse women of varying characters, each successful in their chosen career.
The main protagonist, Carrie Bradshaw, was the narrator of the film. She worked as a writer for the Sex and the City column of the New York Star. Her unique fashion style and shoe obsession made her character more captivating, coupled with her on-and-off relationship with Mr. Big.
Charlotte York was an overachiever, a hopeless romantic, and a fanatic for emotional love. The character soared through various relationships and heartbreaks while maintaining her job in an art gallery.
In contrast, “Sex And The City’s” Samantha Jones was the typical man-eater. As a businesswoman in her late forties, Samantha had no flair for emotional relationships. However, she was devoted to living her life “like a man” interested only in sexual gratification.
Miranda Hobbes, a career-minded lawyer and a graduate of the prestigious Harvard Law, was the confidante of the group. She had a distrust for men which threatened most of her relationships in the series, and prevented many others.
“SATC” showed as these heroines scaled through their respective lives, finding fulfillment in their careers, friendships, and relationship with self. Notwithstanding their ages, they enjoyed their singlehood to the fullest, settling only for the ideal man.