I surprise myself by writing that I really enjoyed AJLT. I didn’t expect to like it after the first episode.
The series is well-conceived and the script is good, but not great. For fans of SATC, this is a logical and relevant continuation of of the three of the four main characters. Samantha not so much. (But we know why this is…) This would be challenging to appeal to a new audience, however. For an audience of similarly-aged women who didn’t watch SATC, in AJLT the trios’ relationship would seem odd and the characters’ themselves unlikeable. Unlike the 2021 pre-Sopranos movie, this is not a stand-alone series.
But back to what I like about it. The story depicts very relatable, real-life events of people of a certain age, in myriad situations, in a humorous and stylish manner. Say what you want, but the fashion in SATC and AJLT don’t disappoint. And I thought the script covered common “woke” subject-matter without preachy narrative: Miranda’s new relationship, Charlotte’s daughter, Carrie’s young widow life and even the adjacent storylines like Nya’s marriage and Seema’s family.
My only advice is if you think you might want to watch this, try at least the first two episodes. The season premier is a bit staid and paints a shallow picture of the main characters. Also, if the death of Big could had been delayed by one more episode, the audience could have more time to fall back in love with these lovers.