In the fifth episode of And Just Like That, the narrative appears denser than usual. This is perhaps due to the expanded cast beyond the famous leading ladies. This week, it felt as if every character had a subplot. It was both overwhelming and rewarding-like witnessing Evan Handler (Harry) revel in his wig-wearing scenes.
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Firstly, Miranda is pushing herself to the limit to balance staying at Che's Hudson Yards apartment each night while ensuring she's home in Brooklyn every morning to serve Brady breakfast and fulfill other maternal duties. As it's Halloween in the AJLT universe, Miranda is keen on spreading some holiday spirit in her family home. Unfortunately, she cannot inhabit her house until the unseen Steve departs. Despite her efforts, her son dampens her enthusiasm by claiming their “house is scary enough.”
While heading to Charlotte's costume fundraiser, Miranda emotionally unburdens herself to Carrie in a signature walk-and-talk scene. With Miranda and Harry dressed as The Americans' Elizabeth and Philip Jennings and Lisa killing it on the dance floor as the Bride of Frankenstein, it's a spectacle. Lisa is disappointed when her husband Herbert doesn't wear the George Washington costume she'd rented for him. He does wear it later during an intimate encounter. However, he's upset that Lisa is dancing with Anthony the Devil, fearing this could affect his run for city comptroller.
Dressed as Helen Gurley Brown, the Cosmo founder, Carrie's quotes about dating stir up the other women. Soon, Carrie, Nya, and Seema plan a night out at an upscale hotel bar, hoping to meet wealthy men. Nya is keen on seeing another man in her life. Meanwhile, Seema remains secretive about her experiences but asserts she's beyond surprised.
At the bar, Nya meets the attractive Ian, while Seema is in shock when her new partner reveals a penis pump. This episode firmly establishes Seema as the new Samantha as she endures an awkward sexual encounter with comedic and ironic undertones. Her partner is upset about Seema using a vibrator, deeming it "not cool."
Although Carrie fails to score at the bar, she inadvertently causes a bicyclist to injure himself the next day. The cyclist, George Campbell (Peter Hermann), allows Carrie to accompany him to urgent care. After she completes his medical forms due to his broken wrist, Carrie takes him soup at his surprisingly lavish apartment, igniting a flirtatious atmosphere.
However, George's business partner interrupts before anything can develop further. Despite George's handsome looks and wealth, Carrie is deterred by his dependency on his colleague and leaves him to work on his app pitch. Peter Hermann's typical role as the attractive yet temporary character suggests this conclusion was inevitable, despite the evident chemistry.
On a less upbeat note, Che's sitcom pilot undergoes testing where executives observe a focus group's reactions. Listening in, Che hears their character's criticisms, mirroring the first season's feedback of And Just Like That…, and it's disheartening.
As season 2 progresses, it's increasingly hinted that Che's pilot will likely flop as it veers from their authentic life experience. The focus group members, representing various U.S. regions, criticize Che's pilot character as a “Boomer joke” about being non-binary. Shaken, Che returns to an apartment they may soon be unable to afford.
Miranda is present but fails to provide the comfort Che needs, leading to Che asking for space and sending Miranda to stay with her new roommate Nya.
In a more uplifting subplot, Charlotte's child, Rock, is scouted by a Ralph Lauren agent, much to Charlotte's delight. However, Harry is suspicious and fears a possible scam. Charlotte's faith prevails, leading to a professional photoshoot for Rock.
Harry covertly attends the shoot as a trendy millennial, using his disguise to question the legitimacy of the operation, making a photo tech uncomfortable. Charlotte, afraid of losing Rock's trust, warns him against overstepping. The episode optimally utilizes Harry's wig disguise, suggesting it may return in the third season.
Season 2 of ‘And Just Like That’ is now streaming on Max.
