Sex and The City follows the life of Carrie Bradshaw, a columnist living in New York, and her three closest friends, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte, as they try to navigate through the over-30's dating scene.
The quirky show, which starred Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon, first aired in 1998 and quickly became a big hit with audiences. It ran for six seasons during which time it won seven Emmy Awards and eight Golden Globes. It was listed by Time Magazine as one of the best television series of all time in 2007, and it inspired two feature-length films; Sex and the City (2008) and Sex and the City 2 (2010).
It's been more than 20 years since the show first aired and it's clear watching today that a lot has changed since then. We have questions that we didn't seem to have back then and we're looking for answers...
14 Carrie Bradshaw Seemed To Have Endless Cash Flow Despite Writing Just One Column A Week
Did Carrie Bradshaw have a secret form of income that was never revealed on the show? Because there's no way that she would have been able to afford a $9.65 million New York apartment, endless designer shopping trips and restaurant meals writing just one column a week. Talk about unrealistic.
13 Why Would Carrie Leave Everything Behind To Move To Paris With A Man Who Wouldn't Commit?
This was one storyline that just didn't make sense at all. Why would Carrie, a successful NY columnist, give up her luxury apartment, a cushy job, and her friends, to move to Paris with a man who can't commit to her? We know she was desperate for love, but really?
12 Not One Of The Four Main Characters Ever Repeats A Full Outfit Throughout The Series
Patricia Field, the costumer for Sex and The City, did an amazing job by never having any of the main four characters repeat a full outfit throughout all six seasons of the show (all 94 episodes!). This was until the final episode where Carrie dons the fur coat she wore in the very first episode. This seems pretty wasteful though, doesn't it?
11 None Of The Characters Ever Complained About Foot Problems Despite Running Around In Heels All The Time
Carrie loved her designer heels and throughout the show, she and her friends were rarely seen without them. We know these ladies were serious about fashion, but what strikes us as odd is that none of them ever complained about blisters, sore backs, or aching toes - all the things that really happen if you wear heels every day.
10 How Did Four Busy Women All Find The Time To Meet Up So Often?
Adulting is hard work, but the girls of Sex and The City made it look so easy! Not only were they always perfectly turned out but they also all managed to meet up at least two or three times a week - even though they all had jobs, and sometimes kids, too.
9 The Characters Were Meant To Be Modern, Independent Women Yet They Were Miserable Without A Man
Sex and The City was meant to be a show about modern, independent women, but none of the characters ever seemed to be happy unless they were in a relationship (except Samantha, of course). Instead of embracing and enjoying their single status they spend all their time moaning about being alone and talking about men.
8 The Bus Which Splashes Carrie During The Opening Sequence Is Full Of Passengers One Moment, Then Empty The Next
Even if you've seen the opening sequence of Sex and The City hundreds of times, you might have missed this small continuity error. The bus that splashes Carrie as it goes past is full of passengers but when the camera zooms in on Carrie, it's suddenly empty. Check it out next time!
7 Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, And Samantha Were Terrible Feminist Role Models
As much as we love Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha, we have to admit that, looking back, they weren't very good feminist role models. None of them were happy unless they were in a relationship and they seemed to have few other interests besides shopping, grooming themselves, and discussing men.
6 The Way Male Characters Behaved In The Workplace Would Never Fly Today
The world has changed since Sex and The City first aired in 1998 and what's considered acceptable social behavior has also evolved. So the inappropriate way that male characters behaved in the workplace would never be tolerated by today's standards. And the way that women were pressurized by men also wouldn't fly.
5 Miranda Was Deemed The Least Cool Friend, But She Actually Had It All
Miranda Hobbes was positioned as the least popular friend but she was the only one who ever seemed to learn from her mistakes (unlike Carrie who ruined everything with her overthinking). Miranda was the only character who ended up having a high-powered job, a husband, a baby, a dog, and a beautiful house - so she actually had it all!
4 Women Were Judged On The Show For Not Being Married By 30
It might not have been apparent the first time around but there was major ageism going on in Sex and The City. Instead of enjoying their single lives, the women on the show are obsessed with finding love and getting married. And it's no wonder considering how they are shamed for not being married by their 30s.
3 Charlotte Quit Her Job Simply Because She Was Getting Married
Sex and The City was set in the 1990s, but the way the women sometimes behave, you'd swear it was the 1950's. For example, when Charlotte gets married she quits her job, leaving her husband to take care of her. Sure everyone has a choice but are those the actions of a good female role model? We think not.
2 Minority Characters On The Show Were Often Gross Stereotypes
Sex and The City did a terrible job when it came to minority characters. The gay male characters seem to be there to simply to gush over the girls - with no lives of their own, and one of the Jewish characters was portrayed as a hairy lawyer with sweat issues. Stereotyping much?
1 Kim Cattrall Literally Turned Down The Role Of Samantha Twice Before Accepting It
Kim Cattrall wasn't keen to accept the role of Samantha and she actually said no twice before the series creator convinced her to give the show a try. And she wasn't alone in her apprehension - Sarah Jessica Parker also had her doubts about the show after watching the pilot.