SPOILERS
I enjoyed the episode, in a cringe sort of way.
I agree, Miranda's "Wild Cunt" was the best bit, and I really do feel like the old Miranda is coming back. Joy/Dolly Wells is just lovely, so | don't even mind that they are persisting with the "always a lesbian" lie if Miranda can finally get together with someone who is good to her and is her equal. Miranda and Shoe made me remember Fatty. No doubt in SATC pet heaven with Scout and Pete.
(BTW, for those who don't know Dolly Wells, she's one of the smug marrieds from Brigid Jones; and for IT Crowd fans, the super model with the cool pad and face in bandages Roy tried to get off with. She also stars in a Netflix drama/horror with David Tenant and Stanley Tucci, can't remember what it's called, but she was excellent.)
Brady making chips. Not sure there was much point in that other than to show he's alive. And looking way younger than Tate (even though the Brady actor must be in his 30s).
Charlotte and Harry. Odd to introduce Harry's father out of nowhere. We know his mum died prior to his relationship with Charlotte (he had to marry a Jew because he promised his mum, right before she died). I did laugh at Harry's line about inheriting his dad's feet and not wanting to inherit his (limp) dick. I'm really hoping they don't give Harry a cancer storyline. I wonder if frisky Dad has been introduced to give Harry a new lease of life through a bit of competition from an oldie? Evan Handler is such a terrific actor, I was thinking about his couple of episodes in The West Wing the other day and how good/strong he was as a new character standing up to the old guard. He needs to be given more than limp bananas and a limp dick!
I don't understand why they are boring us with bananas and annoying, needy neighbours, other than to give Rose/Rock something woke to talk about - they seem to be shying away from her trans status completely this season. I do hope she de-transitions and the internet blows up as a result.
Lily and her sulky face can just bore off. I will laugh like a drain if she gets an STD from her (once again woke) romantic set up. Young girls are not secure enough to be involved polyamorous relationships. They don't know the basics of love, sex and relationships to be doing this sort of emotionally complicated and potentially physically damaging stuff. There's no way Harry and Charlotte of old would have just sat back and accepted that for their daughter.
Lisa: embrace the separate rooms, they can be a game changer and does not mean divorce. She is quite clearly being set up to get a bit too close to her new producer.
Seema: Not much from this episode other than an imminent new start. I did laugh at the Jerry Maguire/science fiction line.
Carrie: Is the fictional book narration the writers' way of bringing Carrie's voice back to the concept, which has been sadly lacking in AJLT? The questions Carrie asked in her column used to solidify a common theme that ran through everyone's storylines that episode, and kept the stories tight. Carrie's book sounds shite, but it is progress to hear her thoughts again, I think.
Carrie & Aiden: Continuing with the fairy tale theme, Aiden's sons are like the 3 bears. One too salty, one too sweet and one just right. And Carrie is their Golilocks!
I called it on the ADHD meds conflict. What a fool Aiden is! But why didn't Kathy warn Carrie? As I said in a previous post, Kathy is being set up as the "poison apple (ADHD meds) witch" in the scenario, coming between Aiden and Carrie. As has proven to be the case in this episode. Kathy seemed to be rather enjoying the drama. And I rather enjoyed the dramatic turn around the table during the card game. But once again, Carrie and Aiden have been forced apart.
I wonder if we will now see less Aiden and more hot gardener. Carrie of old would have been aghast that Aiden only invited her to stay because he felt "guilty", not because he couldn't not be with her. I don't know if that's a sign that she's grown up, or that she has just given in. Or that this is all part of her fantasy, and she gets to pretend they are still together and she's doing the right thing by him and him by her; while in reality it's pretty much over and she's relieved to be heading back to New York and "civilisation" and away from his family drama.
The Brit stuff was execrable, but then so was the implication that everyone in Virginia is a Little House On The Prairie hillbilly dressed in Laura Ingall's cast offs and rejects from the Dolly Parton collection. The SATC writers were never good at portraying anyone other than Manhattanites.
Overall, enjoyable bunkum!