Fans of female-centric TV were shocked when a Twitter user recently revealed that the characters on the Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That, are the same age as those on ‘80s sitcom The Golden Girls.
This is Charlotte’s age on And Just Like That… We have reached the convergence. https://t.co/x8BASshBDh
— Louis Peitzman (@LouisPeitzman) December 10, 2021
Only one of the And Just Like That stars has gray hair (Cynthia Nixon’s Miranda), and none of them strike us as “old” (or even of retirement age), so the comparison came as a harsh reality check – or a celebration of how aging has changed, depending on your perspective.
Either way, the revelation got us thinking: which show featuring mature women is better? Actresses of a certain age may look better these days than they did in the ‘80s (thanks Botox, plastic surgery, and liposuction) but do they make better TV? That is debatable. So let’s debate! Without further ado, we pit the silver-maned ladies from the NBC series with the modern fashionistas of HBO Max. Only one group of gals will come out on top!
Cover Photos: NBC / HBO Max
golden girls vs and just like that
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Characters
The Golden Girls follows four women shacking up together in Miami: no-nonsense Dorothy (Beatrice Arthur), ditzy Rose (Betty White), saucy Blanche (Rue McClanahan), and straight-shooter Sophia (Estelle Getty). And Just Like That features Sex and the City alums writer (turned widow) Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), uptight attorney Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and superficial stay-at-home mom Charlotte (Kristin Davis). But it’s missing SATC’s spitfire, PR sex maven Samantha (Kim Cattrall), and for that, it will never be forgiven.
Winner: The Golden Girls
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Friendship
“Thank You For Being a Friend” is The Golden Girls’ theme song, and it’s a clue already who will win this round. Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia are ride or die. The ladies of And Just Like That don’t even seem to like each other much anymore – or respect each other’s choices. Miranda has sex in Carrie’s kitchen while Carrie is recovering from back surgery (and ends up peeing herself), Charlotte is as judgmental as ever regarding Miranda’s choices, and Carrie is so self-absorbed in her grief she barely pulls off a blowjob joke over lunch.
Winner: The Golden Girls
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Fashion
You can’t beat the humongous wardrobe budget that And Just Like That has been blessed with by HBO Max. Every episode is another excuse to drop a slew of designer names in the hopes that viewers will swoon: Versace, Prada, Chanel. You know the drill. The poor Golden Girls were subject to the ugliest ’80s getups TV has ever seen, and while they wear them with confidence, they can’t improve on these eyesores disguised as outfits.
Winner: And Just Like That
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Witty Banter
The Golden Girls have ping-pong style repartee. Every line lands. The burns are even better. And we haven't even touched on the hilarious facial expressions! Sex and the City was groundbreaking for its frank discussions about sex; And Just Like That, however, is a total snooze fest. Part cliché, part "How to Be a Woke White Liberal" manual, it boomerangs between cringey and preachy.
Winner: The Golden Girls
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Diversity
The Golden Girls was a victim of its time. Meaning: it’s whiter than the cheesecake the ladies are constantly noshing on. And Just Like That is the opposite extreme, bashing the viewer over the head with its so-called wokeness. (The only problem being that every person of color or LGBTQ+ character on the show seems to exist not as a person in their own right but as a personal guru for the ignorant, straight, white stars.) As “queer, non-binary, Mexican Irish diva” Che themself says, “Visibility is not justice.” Neither series is truly woke, but And Just Like That is at least making an effort, even if it’s a misguided one.
Winner: And Just Like That
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Sex
Sex and the City was known for its funny, outrageous, and sometimes breathtaking sex scenes, but the reboot is a sexual wasteland. The only people getting it on in this show are Miranda and Steve’s red-headed teenage son (who no one wants to witness in a compromising position) and Miranda (the least sexy of all the cast members) with Che. While there is plenty of suggestive dialogue, innuendo, and recounting of sexual activity, there aren’t any actual sex scenes on The Golden Girls…but at least they’re getting some!
Winner: Neither
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Critical Acclaim
The Golden Girls boasts a slew of awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series and three Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. What’s more, all four of its stars received an Emmy Award for Best Actress during the show’s run. And Just Like That has been universally panned as so awful, it’s almost unwatchable. The only award this disaster of a reboot could win is a Golden Raspberry Award – but it won’t, because those are only for film.
Winner: The Golden Girls
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Longevity
The Golden Girls endured for seven seasons from 1985 -1992 for a total of 180 episodes. Thirty years after its finale, people are still talking about – and watching – it. And Just Like That is only scheduled for 10 episodes, and even that feels like an interminable slog. The only thing anyone will remember about this revival is how bad it was.
Winner: The Golden Girls
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Overall Winner
It's The Golden Girls, obviously. You don't even need to be able to count to determine that. Sex and the City is endlessly rewatchable, but the reboot is insufferable. Stream The Golden Girls and have some laughs. These ladies won't let you down.
