In this episode, Carrie becomes obsessed with the beginning stages of her relationship with Mr.Big. At the start of the show Carrie explains how, “it seemed like the city had magically been reduced to only us”. Her whole world becomes about Mr. Big to the point where she ditches her friends to be with him. After being missing in action for quite some time, Miranda calls Carrie and says “Hi… I’m looking for a Ms. Carrie Bradshaw she used to be a friend of mine…” Carrie apologizes for not being around and they make plans to get together that Saturday night. After hanging up the phone, Carrie says, “I realized I had committed the cardinal sin… I’d forsaken my girlfriends for my new boyfriend”. Because Carrie is such a strong and independent woman, I thought she would be smart enough not to abandon her friends for a man.
This episode portrays Carrie’s life as revolving around Big although his life does not revolve around her. When Carrie is out to dinner with her friends she sees Big on a date and realizes that he is seeing other women. This episode exemplifies all the stereotypical roles of a needy woman who will do anything for a man and a man who does not reciprocate those feelings. During the episode Carrie not only gives Big the upper hand but also obsesses about him to her friends. Throughout the course of this show, men are portrayed as dominant and controlling over women’s lives. Even when Miranda and Carrie go out to dinner to catch up, they discuss men and how they feel about them the entire time. This portion of the show is presented in an anti-feminist light and portrays Carrie as representing everything she says she is against.
In Charlotte’s part of the story, she plays “blow job tug of war” with her new boyfriend. When they would make out he would push her head down to try and get her to perform oral sex. Charlotte should not have to do anything she does not want to do but feels pressured from her new man. As their relationship progresses, the man says what charlotte wants to hear in order to get what he wants from her. In the end, Charlotte stands her ground and refuses to do what he wants. It is interesting how male control and dominance is shown and how Charlotte then rejects him because of it. It is important that Charlotte stood up for herself to provide a strong role model for women who may feel the same way.
At the end of the episode I though it was great how the producers managed to turn the damage done to female power and integrity around. Samantha says to charlotte about giving head “The sense of power is such a turn on…maybe you’re on your knees, but you’ve got him by the balls”. In addition, Big changes his mind and decides to become exclusive with Carrie. Women win in the end!
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