5. The names of Carrie’s lovers
The final hot take doesn’t come from the podcast, but from me, inspired by the dissertation-like depth and passion of O’Donoghue and Alderton’s conversations. It came to me, as all good ideas, in the middle of the night, and I sent several voice notes to fellow fans. My hot take is this: out of the four serious relationships Carrie has (Mr. Big, Aiden, Berger and ‘The Russian’), Aidan is the only boyfriend whose full name we know from the beginning and is used from the outset. We only discover Big’s name in the finale; Berger is his surname, but is used consistently; and Petrovsky is monikered ‘The Russian’ from their first meeting. Such a detail could not be random, surely? Going back to my university seminar analysis days, the naming of Carrie’s loves is about authenticity. Although not an Aidan stan at all, he is arguably the most genuine of her loves; their relationship—at least on his part—is the most authentic, there is no game playing or artifice. Carrie even wakes herself up for ‘fear’ that there is no drama. Real relationship equals real name. As for the others, they are notorious for their artifice and games. From pilot to finale, Carrie and Big’s relationship is plagued by games and manipulations, will-theys and won’t theys. Carrie and Berger’s compatibility is only skin deep; as soon as the curtain comes down on their public acting, they fight like embittered rival actors sharing a dressing room. ‘The Russian’ is all about big gestures of superficial ‘Old World’ romance – a game that neither he nor Carrie win. With his turquoise jewellery and log cabin somewhere in the woods, Aidan needs no nickname or epithet; he is not playing a part and he refuses to be a contestant in a game. And while his earnest authenticity is dimmed by his actions in their second try at a relationship, Aidan Shaw—as revealed through the use of his name—is the surest and most genuine of Carrie’s boyfriends.
This is only a demi-tasse of the hot takes that you can be treated to by listening to Sentimental in The City. I came for the witticisms the hosts are known for and stayed for the engaging analyses of a series that is still as relevant and quotable as it ever was. Not only does the podcast capture their intelligence, O’Donoghue and Alderton are unflinchingly honest about the storylines and characters that they love, hate, and have touched them. If you close your eyes and imagine hard enough, you too can forgo the holiday midnight swim to watch another episode of Sex and The City with the hosts. Just remember to B.Y.O.H.T – Bring Your Own Hot Takes.
Words by James Reynolds
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