Miranda Deserves Better in ‘And Just Like That…’

The as soon as strong-willed icon has grow to be a proverbial punching bag on ‘And Simply Like That…’. Can her fashion evolution save her?

From the second And Just Like That… entered the zeitgeist, followers have been mourning Miranda Hobbes. She didn’t cross away — however one thing about her felt misplaced.

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Of all of the Sex and the City girls, Miranda — performed by Cynthia Nixon — was as soon as uniquely aspirational. All through the unique present’s six-season run, she rejected expectations of femininity and appeared nice doing it. Sporting power suits, maintaining her hair brief and spiky, and placing her profession above all else, she championed a cool minimalist androgyny. Certain, she had her faults. However one factor remained true about Miranda: She knew who she was. That’s, till And Simply Like That… got here round.

Due to her gender-bending chicness, there was at all times hypothesis as as to whether Miranda was queer (Nixon herself is married to a lady). So when AJLT determined to discover this plotline, it had the thrilling alternative to see her flourish later in life. However as a substitute, we’ve gotten some cringe clothes moments that simply don’t really feel honest.

Over the course of And Simply Like That…, Miranda has gone via head-spinning fashion adjustments. In season 1, after transitioning from legislation exec to nervous grad pupil, her hair is gray and he or she wears relaxed, comfortable garments (learn: a number of plaid). While exploring her sexuality, she enters a relationship with Che Diaz, a non-binary comic who treats her horribly and has emerged as the show’s de facto villain. She additionally callously cheats on her longtime husband Steve, which casts one other shadow of negativity on her radical self-discovery.

In season 1, she seems to be fairly informal — a serious swap up from her SATC company put on. This visible 180 comes with a persona transplant, and he or she spends episodes feeling insecure, uncertain of herself and everywhere emotionally. By this shift, the as soon as vivacious, strong-willed Miranda feels woefully watered down.

In a sequence the place clothes have always mattered, Miranda’s journey in reclaiming her sexuality began off far much less modern than it may have been. By abandoning her established subversive fashion, she wasn’t in a position to proceed the gender-fluid experimentation she was as soon as recognized for. At the start of season 2, after transferring to California with Che, a now-red-headed Miranda spends the higher a part of an episode actually coated in trash after a seashore cleanup goes mistaken. Whereas her NYC pals are dressed to the nines, Miranda is sartorially punished. One thing about that doesn’t really feel proper.

As season 2 progresses, issues look like getting higher for Miranda. She leaves her dysfunctional relationship with Che, and he or she leans into sexier silhouettes when casually courting. She’s rising via the ranks at her new job, and her revised work apparel is softened however fashionable — with pleated attire, chunky jewelry and brighter colours than in earlier years. She’s additionally retreated to her beloved bluntness. After a co-worker sarcastically calls her “good,” she responds: “Really, I’m a sexually-confused alcoholic who’s within the midst of a divorce.” That’s on self-awareness!

Her fashion enhancements proceed into episode 9, when she dons a sage inexperienced pantsuit to go house searching with Carrie. It’s a “She’s again!” second for positive. And it culminates in episode 10, the place she takes two well-paid-off trend dangers: a hanging gradient coat to go away a gathering together with her boss, and a brown tailor-made jumpsuit with neon buttons for brunch. These seems to be don’t emulate SATC Miranda, but they nonetheless really feel genuine to her. However even with glimmers of sartorial hope, Miranda stays the present’s punching bag.

In episode 10, she attends Che’s comedy present on the recommendation of (and alongside) Carrie. Right here, Che divulges intimate particulars about their love life and mocks her sexual curiosity to a crowd of laughing strangers. Miranda will get up and leaves, whereas Carrie stays put. Later within the episode, Carrie dismisses Miranda’s (legitimate) anger at Che, calling it “highschool.” Attempt as she might, it appears Miranda can’t keep away from mistreatment in And Simply Like That….

Don’t get us mistaken: Miranda’s aesthetic rollercoaster shouldn’t be objectively dangerous. It’s refreshing to see a middle-aged girl undergo uncooked self-discovery on-screen. What’s bothersome about that is the truth that Miranda’s journey persistently feels overshadowed by the dangerous issues in her life — irrespective of how effectively she’s dressed. With the ultimate episode airing on August 24, let’s hope the tip of the sequence offers Miranda what she so desperately wants: peace of thoughts.