Oh dear, fellow viewers, if you've tuned in to this recap hoping for any fresh insights into Carrie's recent, very audible musings on whether opting for Big over Aidan was an epic blunder, I'm afraid the answer is a resounding no. Unless, of course, you consider her tenderly reminiscing about her marriage with Big, which, let's be honest, only deepens the enigma. Must she revise history to embrace her feelings for Aidan? Perhaps clarity will dawn in time. For the meantime, my response to Carrie's Big revelation remains a baffled chorus of "What?", "Why?", and an emphatic "WHAT?" It seems neither Carrie nor Miranda, to whom she confided these thoughts, requires further soul-searching on this wild plot twist. Instead, Carrie is steaming ahead on the S.S. Aidan Shaw with unwavering resolve.
Carrie's sojourn in Virginia with Aidan's sons apparently sailed smoothly. We're left to use our imaginations, akin to Miranda's mysterious Cleveland escapade in season one, as the details of this highly anticipated trip remain shrouded in secrecy. It appears that Aidan's 14-year-old son Wyatt isn't thrilled about his dad's new lady love, but otherwise, Carrie and Aidan's relationship is progressing swimmingly. That is, until Aidan's overly friendly demeanor towards strangers in Che's building leads to their eviction by the management. While this twist complicates Carrie and Aidan's plans, it reinforces my steadfast belief that friendliness is overrated and that avoiding neighborly conversations is the wisest course of action.
Now, you might dismiss the loss of Che's apartment for their liaisons as a minor inconvenience—Carrie has her own abode in New York. However, Aidan is steadfast in his refusal to set foot in the Apartment of Pain ever again. Consequently, Carrie decides it's time to bid farewell to her place and embark on a quest for a new home. "And Just Like That..." toyed with this idea last season, but Carrie couldn't part with her nest then. This time, it appears the change is imminent. Seema secures her a stunning, spacious apartment in Gramercy Park, ample for Carrie, Aidan, and his sons when they visit. It's a monumental shift for Carrie, yet she seems fully committed to this relationship.
She makes this abundantly clear when Cathy, Aidan's ex-wife, invites her to coffee during her next visit to New York. Cathy, portrayed admirably by Rosemarie DeWitt, strikes as pretty cool, albeit fiercely protective of her boys—all of them. She seeks a chat with Carrie about refraining from using the boys as material for her writing (mark my words, this will resurface eventually) and to remind her that she's aware of her past with Aidan. Cathy warns that if she hurts him again, the repercussions will extend beyond Aidan alone. Written down, it may sound confrontational, but in the moment, it doesn't come across as aggressive. Cathy genuinely cares for her ex; she's firm yet kind-hearted.
When Carrie ushers Aidan into the apartment and unveils her meticulously crafted plan, she can scarcely resist the urge to mention her chance encounter with Cathy. Aidan isn't exactly thrilled by his ex-wife's meddling, but this unforeseen twist presents them with an opportunity to engage in an unvarnished discussion about their endeavors. Aidan stands firm in his conviction that the past should remain precisely where it belongs—except for the peculiar fact that, as a grown man, he finds himself unable to step into an apartment without being haunted by memories. He is acutely aware that as their relationship progresses, they will inevitably cause each other pain at times. Yet, he is equally confident that they will always find a way to navigate through these rough patches. That's just the nature of relationships, he reassures her. They deserve to be happy, he insists. And thus, Carrie finally feels an unwavering certainty about shedding the burdensome remnants of her old place and embracing this new beginning. And let's be honest, even if things with Aidan were to implode spectacularly, the allure of the new apartment remains undeniably fabulous.
Meanwhile, one of the most delightful developments in Season 2 unfolds as Miranda and Charlotte stumble upon Brady and Lily's clandestine romance. It all begins innocuously enough: Miranda enlists Charlotte's help in convincing Brady, through the guise of Lily's companionship, to reconsider his decision against attending college. Like countless hormonally charged teenagers before and since, Brady and Lily ditch their parents' plans and find themselves entangled in a passionate embrace. However, it's not their coupling that has me giddy with excitement—it's the camaraderie between Miranda and Charlotte. Their individual storylines have been somewhat neglected, and it's a tragedy considering these two characters (and their exceptional actresses) are tailor-made for comic gold.
It's a joy to observe them piecing together the evidence and Charlotte's melodramatic spiral about all the potential pitfalls (her concern about Miranda being a disastrous mother-in-law is objectively hilarious). Their united front at the Goldenblatt's fundraising bash for Herbert, where they attempt to decipher their kids' body language for confirmation, is nothing short of amusing. They may not be Cagney and Lacey, but their efforts are endearing nonetheless. Ultimately, Charlotte decides it's best to let things unfold naturally. Perhaps ignorance is bliss when it comes to their kids' sexual escapades, especially considering Charlotte's own teenage escapades remained hidden from her mother, and everything turned out just fine. Oh, dear reader, I chuckled heartily at this notion. It's a hilarious thought for any teenager, but particularly for Brady and Lily, two chaos-mongers who seem destined to torment their parents with their absurd decisions. They are indeed idiots, and I eagerly await the hilarity that will ensue as their relationship evolves. What a delightful treat!
On the flip side of the fun spectrum lies Nya. Initially, things are pure, unadulterated joy. Nya has discovered the thrill of spontaneous Tinder hookups, much to her roommate's dismay, and she appears to be having the best sex of her life. She deserves this! Even better than the sex, Nya revels in the casual nature of these encounters—no strings attached. Afterwards, she can indulge in aimless scrolling on her phone without any inhibitions. It's a whole new world for Nya. Unfortunately, all that aimless scrolling leads to a heart-wrenching discovery: she stumbles upon Andre's post announcing his new girlfriend's pregnancy. He's having the baby he's always dreamed of—he's truly moved on. The air is instantaneously suctioned out of the room. Karen Pittman delivers a powerhouse performance in this scene—you can witness the shattering of her heart. While this news is undoubtedly going to cast a pall over Nya's carefree sexual escapades, let's hope it also heralds more screen time for her. She doesn't deserve the heartache, but she certainly deserves more moments in the spotlight.
