Grab Yourself a Cosmo – I Broke Down All the Sex and the City Easter Eggs in And Just Like That…

And Just Like That, we’re strolling down memory lane! The much-awaited HBO Max reboot of Sex and the City, And Just Like That . . ., debuted on the streamer on Dec. 9 and finally reunited us with the beloved gang! With just the first two episodes dropping on the streaming services, it’s apparent the revival has the original’s charm, only with a modern touch, but not without a few subtle (and some obvious) nods to the iconic original series that aired from 1998 to 2004. From chic nods to iconic outfits, to clever callbacks, to major storylines and characters – the revival is chock-full of fun Easter eggs that you might have missed. So grab a cosmo and get ready for a burst of nostalgia because we’ve rounded up all the references that made it into the first two episodes of the And Just Like That . . . revival.

Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max

Bitsy Von Muffing’s Appearance

The first couple minutes of the premiere sees the trio catching up with the socialite Bitsy Von Muffling (Julie Halston) after running into each other at a brunch. Bitsy first appeared in season five of Sex and the City when she ties the knot with Bobby (Nathan Lane), a flamboyant cabaret singer, whom the girls assume is gay. She also made a cameo later in season six and the first movie. While this isn’t an Easter egg per se, it’s nice the writers have brought back several characters for the revival that added to the original’s comforting essence.

Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max

Carrie’s Feather Add-On to Her Hat

In the opening moments of the premiere, we see Carrie sporting a feathered hat paired with a chic, off-white linen jumpsuit. This accessory seems to be a nod to Carrie’s similar head accessory at her almost-wedding to Big in the first spinoff movie.

Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max

Charlotte’s Dog's Name

In the sixth season of the Sex and the City series, Charlotte named her beloved dog – a Cavalier King Charles spaniel – after the iconic Hollywood star, Elizabeth Taylor. While it wouldn’t have made sense for the Goldenblatts to still hang out with their previous dog all these years later, the reboot introduced us to their new dog named Burton -– a likely nod to Taylor’s fifth (and also, sixth) husband, Richard Burton. We can’t help but swoon over this attention to detail!

Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max

Big’s Record Collection

The lockdown helped establish a tradition of sorts for Carrie and Big. They’ve begun going through Big’s extensive vinyl records alphabetically. Hints about Big’s wide-ranged musical taste were mentioned several times throughout the series, but it’s only in the reboot that we get to witness the actual record stack.

 

Everett Collection / New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection

The Smith's Bar

Smith Jerrod, Samantha’s love interest for season six of the original series and both movies, may not have been cast in the reboot, but he did get a clever shout-out in And Just Like That . . . As Miranda makes a pitstop at a bar to get a glass of Chablis before heading to her class at Columbia, we get a full-screen shot of the bar with its name showing in bold letters: “Smith’s Bar/Restaurant.” We see you!

Everett Collection / Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

Carrie’s Iconic Address to Her Shoe Collection

Carrie has sparked many a pop-culture trend by confidently donning bold sartorial outfits and statement pieces. Of course, her accessories and shoe collection completing the ensembles were trendsetters in their own right. In season four of the show, we see Carrie adoringly addressing a gorgeous pair of heels in a store window, saying, “Hello, lovers.” As we’re gifted another round of her awe-inspiring, luxurious closet in the revival, we witness her similarly call out to her enviable collection of designer shoes.

Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max

The Wedding Shoes

Carrie’s shoe collection in the revival may be astonishing, but one piece, in particular, made us do a double-take. Yes, we’re talking about the royal blue bejewelled Manolo Blahniks that Carrie wears to her wedding with Big in the first movie. These are the heels that Big fittingly proposes to her with instead of an engagement ring. In the first episode of And Just Like That . . ., Carrie picks the iconic pair of heels to wear to Lily’s piano recital. While Big adoringly acknowledges the shoes right before she heads out, it becomes one of the last moments the couple shares as, later that evening, Big suffers a heart attack leading to his untimely death. I mean, did they have to play on our heartstrings like that?!

Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max

Carrie’s Floral Lapel Pin

There were plenty of fashion references in the revival, and one of them was the floral brooch Carrie pins on the lapel of her blazer to complement the blue hue of the Manolos in the first episode. Variants of this accessory are staples of Carrie’s wardrobe during seasons three and four of Sex and the City.

Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max

Carrie's Book

Carrie’s collection of columns was published under the title – well, you guessed it! – Sex and the City in season five of the series. In the revival, we see her book proudly displayed on the bookshelf of Carrie and Big’s apartment.

Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max

The Mention of Cosmos

Anyone familiar with the iconic show and its central characters knows Carrie Bradshaw loves her a cosmopolitan! It has been long-established as Carrie’s preferred cocktail. In the pilot episode, when the gang gets together at Lily’s piano recital, Anthony and Stanford are shown to be in the middle of a minor tiff. “I hope you like your cosmos with a side of drama,” says Anthony as he tells Carrie that a sullen Stanford will be joining them for after drink.

Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max

Carrie’s “Stove Sweaters”

Thanks in part to the global pandemic that forced everyone to spend more time indoors, the 2021 Carrie and Big are majorly domesticated. Who would’ve thought Carrie would be negotiating the culinary intricacies between “low-rent salmon” and the “Copper River sockeye salmon!” Rightfully, Big quips that he still remembers when she would keep her sweaters on the stove. In the first movie, when Big and Carrie plan on buying an apartment, she jokingly notes that she would be using the kitchen to store her sweaters instead! We don’t know about you, but watching Big slip in that reference in the revival made our day!

Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max

The Premiere's End Credit Song

If you’re still in denial about Big’s heartbreaking exit from the show, we are there with you! As Big draws last gasps of breath in Carrie’s arms, the episode comes to an end as the credits roll and Florence and the Machine’s song “You’ve Got the Love” plays in the background. We have a nostalgic connection with this song, as this marks the very last song that featured in the season six finale of the show in 2004.

That also happens to be the exact episode where viewers get to know Big’s real name, as John flashes on Carrie’s cellphone. The revival episode shows Carrie woefully repeating Big’s real name as they bid unexpected goodbyes set to the same tune. Way to twist the knife in! BRB, sobbing!

Craig Blankenhorn / HBO Max

Susan Sharon’s Return

Another side character who appears in the revival is Susan Sharon (Molly Price). In the second episode, Susan attends Big’s funeral as she voices many of the viewers’ feelings by saying, “Am I the only one who remembers what a prick he was to her?” While the general audience adores Carrie and Big’s romance, it’s no surprise that many seem to object to their misbalanced dynamic, mainly based on their initial rocky couple of years. Sharon may very well have been the spokesperson that the writers of And Just Like That… employed to acknowledge fans’ long-known skepticism regarding Big.

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