Samantha’s Absence Is Hurting ‘And Just Like That’ More Than the Show Wants To Admit

Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for And Just Like That Season 3.

Now that And Just Like That is somehow in its third season, it’s clear that it is nothing like its predecessor, Sex and the City. It may follow some of the same characters, and it may still have some memorable fashion moments, but it lacks all of the charm that the original series had. As soon as And Just Like That was announced, it faced the challenge of moving forward without one of the core four cast members in Kim Cattrall. While there was hope that it could make it work without her character Samantha, it’s becoming increasingly evident with every passing episode that her absence is hurting the show more than it cares to admit.

Cattrall made the decision not to return, and while fans have, for the most part, supported her in that, And Just Like That has tried to fill the void she left — whether it be with new characters (many, many new characters), or raunchy conversations in a similar vein to the kind Samantha would spark. Cattrall did make a brief cameo in the Season 2 finale, which was a delight, but it’s time for And Just Like That to admit that Samantha’s absence will never be filled.

‘And Just Like That’ Is Suffering Without Samantha

Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) may have been Sex and the City‘s main character, but it was Samantha who made everything a little brighter. Her sexcapades with love interests, her brashness when it comes to conversation, and her unwavering confidence all made her a character fans just couldn’t get enough of. A reboot was never going to be the same without her. When the new series felt off, initially those doubts could be calmed by pointing towards episodes that were too long, or desperate efforts to appeal to a newer audience. But let’s just be honest with ourselves: There is no Sex and the City without Samantha, and there’s certainly no sex in the city without her either. Three seasons of And Just Like That have proven that to be true.

If the new series is lacking in flavor and substance, it’s because Samantha provided that in its predecessor. All of those fun parties they went to? That was because the girls were on Samantha’s invite list. All of the funny love interests, like Mr. TOO Big and “Funky Tasting Spunk” guy? Samantha’s men. The TMI girl talk? Often incited by Samantha because she was never one to judge. And Just Like That doesn’t have these moments, and if they do, they’re very sparing. There was so much opportunity to show that life, especially your love life, doesn’t just pause because you’re not in your twenties anymore. Samantha was 40 in the first season of Sex and the City, and she made sure everyone knew how fabulous she was. And Just Like That doesn’t even come close to matching that.

‘And Just Like That…’ Season 2 Just Remembered One of the Best Parts of ‘Sex and the City’

Back to how it should be.

Samantha Jones Was One Of a Kind

One of the most unrealistic things about And Just Like That is how the show has handled Samantha’s absence. It’s first explained that she and Carrie had a falling out, but even once that gets mended, she’s never mentioned. All of a sudden, Carrie, Charlotte (Kristin Davis), and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) have forgotten all about Samantha despite decades of friendship. It especially makes no sense considering the things going on in their lives, because Samantha would absolutely have opinions and advice for them.

Charlotte being uptight and a little overbearing with her children? Samantha was always the one who helped her loosen up. She’d be the first to applaud Charlotte and Harry (Evan Handler) for having an active sex life, despite Carrie and Miranda making jokes at their expense back in Season 1. Carrie and Aidan’s (John Corbett) phone sex disaster in Season 3, and their whole long-distance arrangement in general? Samantha would be the first to give tips on how to spice things up and keep the romance alive. (On the flip side, she’d probably be the one to tell Carrie that Aidan making her wait five years to be together is just not feasible and help her move on.) As for Miranda and her sexuality journey, Samantha herself has been there, and likely would have been the first call Miranda made back in the original show. Instead, she’s met with judgment and animosity from Charlotte and Carrie, who told her that she was just having a midlife crisis. Samantha would have been first in line to cruise single women with Miranda.

Instead, And Just Like That acts as if she never even existed. No one besides Carrie even texts Samantha, and she’s never mentioned in conversation. And Just Like That can try and replace Samantha with all the new characters it likes, but the fact remains that it suffers without her. It’s hard to capture lightning in a bottle twice, and that’s what Samantha Jones is. She’s a one-of-a-kind character, a trailblazer, and a damn fabulous one at that — so why bother with any cheap imitation?