I haven’t been ever so in love with such a drama. A fabulous masterstroke!!! Four single ladies in Manhattan: Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte. Gorgeous!
I. Different characters, same thematic search for love
They have different characters, even contrary to each other in some aspects.
Carrie is a shoegal as she claims herself; she would be married to herself with just a closet of fabulous shoes. As the narrator and writer of this drama, she is witty, smart and thoughtful. She is the city dweller, having a crush for parties, single life, questioning. Miranda is a very cool-minded lawyer, she never allows the private life to interfere with her career. Even the intimacy with her somebody special should not be allowed to spoil her own independence and judgment. But her stubborn and persistent professionalism finally gives way to the love and family. That’s how the happy ending come, one should always pay something for it. Charlotte is a hopeless Romanist, an eternal adherent in marriage, the “happily-ever-after”, true love. She is always ready to sacrifice her precious something for love and marriage. She marries Tray without regret even though she finds he is almost impotent at the time of marriage, she persists in healing the family pain in the neck through her patience and tolerance, she even converts her religion for marrying her Jewish husband. Although other powerful characters do outshine Charlotte in their strong will power, aggressiveness and professionalism, Charlotte can never escape our attention and never fail to ignite our flickering flame of longing for romance and love.
II. Feminist Voice
No doubt, these women are independent enough to threaten the dignity of their male counterparts. And the whole drama lays so much stress on their penetrating remarks on the male-dominated world that the female audience could not help but wonder their own existence and their ignorance of so many problematic issues in the relationship. Samantha should sit on the top of the feminists’ list. Without checking in her sexual desires and her power to establish her won PR career, she is forever declaring the side effect of marriage, the psychological weakness of men when dealing with sexy women, the liberating effect of sex. This woman surely receives the cold stares of the spectators even the women because of her wide openness and her relentless search for sex and pleasure. At first, I do fail to appreciate this character as a very pleasant and positive figure, however, when the drama develops, I am really on her sides, even thought it takes courage to admit that most of her very radical or even cynical points on many relationship-relevant issues just hit the mark. One of her classical sayings is: I love you, but I love me better.
III. Friendship the tearjerker
What moves me most to the core is not their final happy ending or their tough voyage to the castle where there resides a faithful prince charming but their strong bond, their outspokenness, their constructive attitudes in encouraging their friends however distressful the circumstance is. They always hold different opinions, they even have verbal fights as their opinions are hurtful to others. But they don’t conceal all those inner thoughts; instead, they just say it and mean it. When Charlotte decides to quit the job and be a supportive wife, Miranda is a bit contemptuous of this decision. She thinks it a silly move as she is afraid that Charlotte might lose her true self. Although she doesn’t articulate her thoughts in an explicit way, Charlotte could feel her way and argue with her in the phone to defend her choices. It’s comforting to see them being honest with each other, insisting their own way, showing respect for each other’s decisions and having verbal fights whenever trouble or misunderstanding arises. They won’t never just keep the secret thoughts pent up and keep them from each other even these thoughts are embarrassing, personal, hurtful. Whatever, they always share whatever they think. Unlike the lovers they change so constantly, friends are always regarded as the forever soul mates. How awesome it is! When marriage is devastated, relationship failed, dating unsatisfied, boyfriends frustrating, loneliness set in, they could find the salvation in each other’s company. And they would be the first one to reach each other when in trouble. I do appreciate this kind of friendship. Who knows whether somewhere in this world, there is a one for you? But with a true and sincere friend, you will never feel left out and abandoned by this world, won’t you?
IV. Female Perspective
V. Between the lines (On Continue)