Aren't we all sick of watching dull rich people by now?

In the week after the most lavish wedding of all time, die-hard Sex and the City fan Cathy Cullen on And Just Like That, where everybody is rich and deathly dull

(Left to right) Cynthia Nixon, Nicole Ari Parker, Christopher Jackson, Katerina Tannenbaum, Evan Handler, Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sara Ramírez, Bethlehem Million, Bobby Lee, Mario Cantone, Sebastiano Pigazzi, and Armin Amiri Max in 'And Just Like That...'. Photo: Warner Bros

We’re halfway through season three of And Just Like That… the Sex And The City spin-off series which launched in 2021. 

There are many things about it to over-analyse, from the dialogue to the baffling character decisions. But lately I couldn’t help but wonder - why do they have to be so filthy rich?

When SATC launched it was groundbreaking TV. It featured a historic ensemble of single women. It prioritised female friendship. It talked frankly about sex and dating from a female perspective. It was a cultural juggernaut that broke ratings records from HBO to TV3.

Carrie and friends felt like people you could meet - smart, flawed, funny, aspirational. The appeal for me was not just in the clothes (though I loved them), but in the conversations, the friendships, and weekly themes; often ridiculous, sometimes serious, always entertaining.

The storylines of the early seasons are the ones the fans still talk about - from Carrie’s toxic loop with Big/Aidan, to infidelity, infertility, and grief. Their conversations over brunch or cocktails were the heart of the show.

Sarah Jessica Parker in 'And Just Like That' where Carrie is a multi-millionaire living in an empty mansion. Photo: Warner Bros

While SATC was always fantastical (and has been criticised rightfully for its all-white depiction of New York) it felt somewhat grounded in economic reality in its earlier seasons. 

Carrie lived paycheque to paycheque, uttering the iconic line ‘“I've spent $40,000 on shoes and I have no place to live? I will literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes!"

Miranda and Samantha owned their apartments because they had successful careers. Yes, Charlotte married and divorced a very rich man, but her wealth was a big topic of conversation.

But when the show aired its sixth and final season, we were in a different world. There were still some grounded stories - Miranda leaving the city to buy a house she could afford, Samantha’s breast cancer. 

But overall, the fashion was way too expensive; their lifestyles too lavish; the Paris plot too outlandish, Big’s big moment in the finale completely unearned.

I can’t say I noticed this when I first watched the final series. It was my Star Wars, my Superbowl. I devoured every episode. But on re-watching the box set (which I’ve done many, many times) season six really stands out. 

John Corbett and Sarah Jessica Parker in 'And Just Like That'. Don’t get me started on Aidan's return. Photo: Warner Bros

It feels like the show forgot why we loved watching it - the fashion and the wealth became too prominent, and social commentary and humour faded to the background.

The decline of depth and reality in Sex and the City continued with the eagerly awaited 2008 film which had custom penthouse closets, couture weddings, and extravagant honeymoons as major plots. 

The impactful story centred around Miranda and Steve’s marriage, but we all know Steve would never cheat on Miranda! How dare they! The film was a box office hit regardless.

And then Sex and the City 2 came along. As somebody who watches a lot of films, I can confidently say this is one of the worst I’ve ever seen. It was two-and-a-half hours long. It was set almost exclusively in Abu Dhabi. It was lavish, gaudy, offensive, and worst of all; it was boring.

Cut to 2021 and the launch of AJLT… Samantha is long gone and the cast has expanded. There were early efforts to explore race and sexuality, now quietly dropped. 

The wealth and trappings of the disastrous second film are still here. Carrie is a multi-millionaire living in an empty mansion, Charlotte and new character Lisa live over Central Park, and Miranda is the least wealthy of the group, but she’s still rich. 

Samantha-substitute Seema’s most recent plot is the horror of temporarily losing her personal driver. Che and Nya - characters with more realistic wallets - are gone. Money is everywhere. (Oh and Aidan is back - don’t even get me started.) 

This is part of a notable wider trend- where everybody on TV is rich. But on AJLT, there’s no introspection about their wealth, no discussion, no parody. 

This makes a show that was built on the back of groundbreaking social commentary and cultural relevance lack … social commentary or cultural relevance. 

It’s stark when compared to other HBO hits The White Lotus or Succession. In an era where billionaires are influencing our culture and our climate in consequential and negative ways, I’m bored of watching obscene wealth.

The ratings have declined with every season. But the discourse from the fans - those of us who refuse to quit - has never been more fun. I’m howling at Carrie’s romantasy novel, loving her new neighbour, and hate-watching Aidan. Episode six was the best of the series yet.

So yes, despite everything I’ve just said, I will watch AJLT until the end of time. Because I just can’t help myself.

• Cathy Cullen is the co-host of The Cinemile podcast, recapping new episodes of AJLT every week with guests including Rosemary MacCabe, Fionnuala Jones, and Gráinne Maguire.