The Top Five Takeaways From The 'And Just Like That...' Premiere

And Just Like That... is finally here—and there's a lot to catch up on.

The long-awaited Sex and the City revival finds our favorite group of friends (now a trio) in their 50s, living in a "post-pandemic" New York City and figuring it all out. The immediate takeaway from the new series is that no time was lost between Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte—the original cast's chemistry is still on point, which makes watching the revival feel as familiar as ever. Some classic details from the original series are gone, however: We don't see Carrie's apartment (though she apparently still has it), and her signature voice-overs are used more sparingly.

And, of course, there's no Samantha Jones. Kim Cattrall has famously stated multiple times that she has no plans to revisit her character following a rumored rift with the show's star, Sarah Jessica Parker. But there's still a story to be told—with or without our favorite high-powered NYC publicist.

The first two episodes are now streaming on HBO Max, and below, we've rounded up the top five takeaways. Read on to find out about new faces, old friendships, and one shocking twist that everyone will be talking about. Spoilers ahead.

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Samantha isn't there … but also, she is?

The premiere episode quickly addresses the absence of Samantha. Carrie explains that she had to let Samantha go as her publicist due to the changing nature of publishing and media—a choice that Samantha took so hard, she ultimately decided to pack her bags and move to London. Still, her essence is very much present. She's mentioned multiple times throughout the first two episodes, and we even see a glimpse of Carrie's phone with multiple text messages left unread. She also makes a mark at a moment when Carrie really needs her—but more on that in a bit.

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Carrie is still Carrie, but a bit different.

Our favorite columnist is still witty, stylish, and smart—but maybe less daring than she used to be. Carrie's character progression is most obvious during a scene in which she appears as a guest on a new podcast hosted by Che Diaz (played by Sara Ramirez). She shoos away candid questions about self-pleasure and anal sex, explaining that she would rather talk about "relationships" than physical intimacy. After the recording, Diaz checks her in the elevator, telling Carrie she needs to "step her p---y up" and open up more for the sake of the show.

Earlier in the same episode, Carrie quickly changes the subject when Miranda mentions that she stepped on a used condom in her son's bedroom. Has life in a high-rise with a walk-in closet changed our girl forever? We shall see.

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Miranda is a flailing feminist.

This time around, Miranda has left corporate law behind and is getting a masters in human rights in order to "be a part of the solution rather than the problem," referencing the racial and social reckoning that came to a head in 2020. In other words, she's trying her best—and failing, a little—to be woke. Later in the episode, she mistakes her Black professor, Dr. Nya Wallace (played by Karen Pittman), for a student, offering up an atrocious word-vomit explanation about how she didn't think Dr. Wallace was leading the class because her hair was different in her university profile photo. Miranda recognizes her faux pas, however, and works to correct them throughout the episode.

The kids are all right … and they're hilarious.

Brady Hobbes, Lily York Goldenblatt, and Rose Goldenblatt are all grown up. Miranda's and Charlotte's children make sweet appearances in the series, whether it be Lily's piano recital performance (Charlotte York's oldest is essentially a musical prodigy—no surprise there), Rose rollerblading with her father in the penthouse apartment, or Brady being, well, a very horny 17-year-old.

Major spoiler: Big is dead.

We were really hoping it wouldn't be true, but alas. A rumored script leak revealing Big's demise tipped us off, but you could tell something was amiss from the tone of the first episode, which begins with him very much alive. Every interaction between Carrie and her now longtime husband, John "Mr. Big" Preston—every wine pour, every slow dance in the kitchen, every loving look—offered an eerie sense that we wouldn't see more of this romance in episodes to come.

But spoiled or not, Big's death (of a post-Peloton heart attack) doesn't feel any less heartbreaking. The one gesture that gives Carrie a sense of hope while grieving the loss of her love? A surprise flower arrangement appearing at Big's funeral, sent by way of London—from Samantha.

This article originally appeared in Harper's BAZAAR US