Sex and the City is coming back to the small screen, as the latest classic show to get a modern revival. The continuation, titled And Just Like That, will pick up some time after the events of both Sex and the City movies. The first film saw Big jilt Carrie, and Miranda leave Steve (for cheating on her), but all ended well, as Carrie and Big got married in the end, and Miranda and Steve found their way back together. Charlotte also got a happy ending in the film, as she was able to have another child, and Samantha got a very bittersweet ending, and she chose New York and herself over her relationship with Smith.
The second film, set in Abu Dhabi, was a disappointment to fans and didn't change much for any of the characters, so hopefully, it will be largely ignored by the revival. However, the first film fared quite well, and the show would do well to look at why, and apply that same formula to And Just Like That.
Stick With The Core Characters
While Sex and the City did add one new character in the form of Louise, Carrie's new assistant, the bulk of the film was about the original four and their big loves. The choice to keep things focused, instead of bringing in a lot of new characters, one-offs, or revisiting old favorites, was a good one - it allowed each character to get some real room to breathe and grow in the story. With a shorter run time for a movie and a short series, it's a good idea to stick to what the fans are coming back to see.
Create Some Big Drama
Sex and the City wouldn't be Sex and the City without some kind of drama - and the movie did it well, by making the drama big (but still believable). Now that these women are in their 40s, having them freak out about a lost pair of shoes or a mean comment would seem ridiculous, and more pitiable than aspirational. But having the issue of cheating in a marriage, or being left at the altar, those are issues that are big enough to knock even the strongest woman off her feet, and that's what made this movie compelling.
Allow The Women To Grow
Throughout the original series, each of the women grew into themselves - Charlotte learned to look beyond perfect appearances, Miranda learned to balance out her strict work side with a little love and relaxation, Samantha explored commitment and followed her passions to LA, and Carrie figured out what she actually wanted.
The movie continued with this, as Miranda found ways to soften and forgive, Charlotte found a way to trust herself and her right to be happy, and of course, Samantha learned a hard lesson about what really makes her happy. The series can't forget that the evolution of the characters is the heart of the show.
Include Some Big Emotional Moments
The second film failed on many levels, but one was that there didn't seem to be any real heartache to it. The first movie, however, definitely played with the audience's heartstrings. Whether it was Carrie realizing that Big wasn't coming, Steve coming to the rehearsal dinner and Miranda breaking down and yelling at him, or Charlotte near tears because she can't imagine she could be lucky enough to have a healthy pregnancy, this movie didn't shy away from the really hard stuff, and it worked.
Cover A Bigger Time Period
Presumably, the series would naturally do this, but it's definitely something that worked for the first film (and failed the second). The first movie takes place over the span of over a year, and fans see New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, summer vacations, fall leaves change - and it works. Because fans already know the characters, and it is realistic for big events (like breakups and reunions) to take place over months, not days, this adds depth and realism to the film. The series would do well to take a leaf out of Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life, and cover another full year.
Focus On Inspiration And Aspiration
One of the most appealing things about the original series and the first movie is that it is aspirational. Every fan wanted to live the lives of these women - with incredible clothing, parties, nights out, close friends, and gorgeous men (and unrealistically perfect brownstone apartments).
The movie continues with this, as Carrie almost moves into a stunning penthouse, they have a luxury vacation in Mexico, and they continue their incredibly luxurious lives at events like Fashion Week. But it's not just materialistic - it's also about happy endings. The series should remember that fans love to watch this to feel positive and uplifted, and the focus should still be on creating a world that anyone would wish to join.
Don't Forget The Gorgeous Fashion
Speaking of, the fashion has to be on point! From Carrie's iconic pink and tulle dress to some of the bigger and more dramatic choices, the movie managed to bring together the classic outfits (in a fun 'remember when' montage) and stunning new styles. Including fashion week, jewelry auctions, and a shopping spree also didn't hurt! Sex and the City is as much about the fashion as the men, and fans will be looking forward to some incredible looks in the revival.
Keep New York Front And Center
Manhattan is as big a part of the show as any other character, and the movie really played this up. Sex and the City isn't about tourist attractions, but it is about Miranda talking about the next up and coming area (and complaining about Brooklyn!), meeting on the Brooklyn Bridge, going to fashion week, eating lunch in the park, getting married at the New York Library... it's all about New York, and that's part of the aspirational appeal.
Don't Create Cookie Cutter Happy Endings
In many sitcoms and series, the 'happy ending' that everyone gets in the end is marriage and children, and thankfully, Sex and the City manages to steer clear of that - at least for some characters. Carrie may get married, but much of the film was about her being alone, and it is noteworthy that while she is broken-hearted over Big, she isn't miserable about not being married or not having the wedding (in fact, she regrets making it such a big deal).
There are also seemingly no plans for kids in the future. Samantha, meanwhile, gets her happy ending by leaving her relationship, and returning to her home and her friends - something that another show might have struggled to make 'happy'. The series will, hopefully, not see Samantha gone and Carrie joining the motherhood club.
Keep Things Realistic (But Luxurious)
Sex and the City isn't known for realism when it comes to things like the cost of an apartment, the salary of a columnist, or the sheer volume of stunningly attractive men available to date in their 30s and 40s, but luxury and beautiful people aside, the storylines are surprisingly realistic. The movie dealt with the end of an engagement, an affair (and struggling with child custody, a mother with dementia, and a busy workload), guilt, infertility, and more issues that can affect anyone (not just those who can afford Manolos). Keep the expensive shoes, but the actual stories should stay realistic.