It's still a haute mess, but I can't resist 'And Just Like That...'
Editor's Note: Readers should know this particular essay uses slang offensive to some readers.
Person A: So, are you watching And Just Like That... ?
Person B: Oh my god, yes!
[A pause. A sheepish grin. And then, a lowering of their voice as if they're revealing a deep, dark secret]
But it's ... not great, right???
Person A: Dude, I know! I'm cringing through every episode, but I just can't stop watching it. It's pretty much the only thing that's appointment TV for me every week.
Person B: Same! It's kind of addicting. I need to know what's happening, even if I can't deal with how unserious it all is. Carrie and Aidan? Again???
Person A: Again! Ughhhh!!!
Denial
I've experienced a variation on this interaction no less than four different times this summer, as the Season 2..., the spin-off, has unfolded. My sample size is admittedly tiny, but an accumulation of and other critics' reviews has convinced me, rightly or wrongly, that this sentiment is hardly unusual among fans. We're all in this cringe-watch boat together, or at least it's nice to believe that we are.
