"Evolution" By: Jami McGuigan

Plot Summary: In this episode, Carrie tries to leave her things at Big’s apartment to symbolize a new step in their relationship. Shortly after, Big gives her stuff back; Carrie feels that her and Big’s relationship is at a “standstill”. Charlotte dates a man whose sexuality is undetermined; she spends the whole episode trying to figure him out. Samantha goes back to an ex boyfriend in hopes of trying to hurt him, but ends up hurting herself instead. Miranda finds out that she has a lazy ovary and therefore begins taking hormones to correct the situation.

Power and Control in Relationships

Unfortunately, men often seem to be shown on television as the ones who hold the power in a relationship. Throughout this episode, power dynamics are challenged by both the female and male characters. It is important that there is a balance between the roles of power in a relationship, which is exemplified in this episode. 

·      Carrie thinks she has control in her relationship when she leaves a bunch of her things at Big’s apartment. Big soon gains control when he gives Carrie’s stuff back to her. Carrie stays by Big’s side even though he will not let her leave her stuff at his apartment. Their whole relationship is essentially based on the amount of power that big possesses. 

·      Samantha sees her ex boyfriend, Domenic, and wants to get revenge by sleeping with him and then leaving him the next day. Samantha thinks “I’m the one with the power now, I’ve evolved past him”, until the next morning when her desire for revenge was not as strong as her desire for domenic. Domenic takes back the power by breaking up with her yet again

·      Miranda’s date exercises power and control over her choice to freeze her eggs and calls her desperate for abusing science. Miranda gains control when she stands up for herself and insults him for his fake hair

Gay Versus Straight

In television shows there appears to be an obsession with labels. It is apparent through this episode that there is a need to categorize people as either gay or straight, but why does it matter? In this episode, a heterosexual man is shown for embodying the stereotypical characteristics of a man who is gay. I think it is great that this show demonstrates the diversity of people who are either heterosexual or homosexual. On television men are often portrayed stereotypically depending on how they identify sexually (ex: straight = love sports and manly, gay = love clothes and fashion). Luckily, this show manages to create a wider viewpoint. 

·      What if he is gay and he doesn’t know it? (Charlotte questions about Stephan)

·      Carrie “It’s not that simple anymore, is 
he a gay straight man, or a straight gay man?"

o   The gay straight man is a new strain of heterosexual
 males spawned in Manhattan as a result to over exposure to fashion, exotic cuisine, musical theater, and antique furniture (a straight man with a lot of great gay qualities)

o   The straight gay man is a gay guy who plays
sports and won’t fuck you according to Samantha

Feminine Vs. Masculine

What is most interesting about this series is the way they “Gender Fuck”. Both the women and men in this episode take on both feminine and masculine qualities to deviate away from stereotypical roles. In life, people possess both feminine and masculine qualities, which is why it is important that this is shown on television. 

·      Samantha: “the ego of a man trapped in the body of a woman”

·      Stephan: acts stereotypically feminine however is a man

·      “Charlotte realized that her masculine side was not evolved enough to be with a man whose feminine side was as highly evolved as Stephans’”