Fans React to Mr. Big in ‘And Just Like That’ Episode 1 – ELLE.com

Major spoilers for And Just Like That below.

If you thought the Sex and the City revival, And Just Like That, was going to be an easy ride, strap in and turn your resistance up to 100 because this is going to be one hell of an emotional workout.

The first two episodes, now streaming on HBO Max, take us along the ups and downs of Carrie, Miranda, and Charlottes lives in their 50sgoing gray, raising hormonal teens, fumbling through politically incorrect comments, adapting to a new culture of sexual freedom, and even getting ghosted by Samanthabut they also introduce a shocking tragedy. At the end of episode 1, Carries husband John James Preston, aka Mr. Big (Chris Noth), dies of a heart attack.

There are a lot of factors about this loss that are hard to swallow. Part of it is waiting through years of Carrie and Bigs cat-and-mouse chase and not getting the satisfaction of watching them grow old together, happily ever after. Another part of it is the frustration of watching Carrie come home to her dying spouse and not call 911. And a third part, perhaps the most obscene, is that Bigs heart failure was triggered by... a Peloton.

HBO

In the year 2021, the man who was once New Yorks most eligible bachelor is a proud owner of a stationary bike; he has a favorite instructor (her name is Allegra) and a shameless excitement to reach his 1,000th ride. When Carrie gets invited to attend Lilys (Charlottes daughter, played by Cathy Ang) piano recital, thus delaying her Hamptons plans with Big, Big stays at home for a Peloton class. But after his workout, he has a heart attack and collapses. (In episode 2, Miranda and Steve discuss that Big already had heart problems, but his cardiologist had cleared him for Peloton use.) Carrie comes home to find Big struggling on the ground, and he dies in her arms. And just like that, Big died, Carrie confirms in a voiceover at the end of the episode.

The whole sequence, intertwined with Lilys prodigious piano playing, is so jarring its almost comical (are we to accept that the demise of Carries soulmate is from a piece of viral exercise equipment?) but its heartbreaking impact weighs heavily on the following episode. Carrie is distraught, unsure what to do next; Miranda steps in to keep her company so shes not alone; Charlotte regrets making Carrie come to the recital; Stanford and Anthony, moved by the news, decide to put their petty arguments aside. Those of us watching online were just as emotional, if not more.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Some also noticed that Carrie was wearing her wedding shoesthose cobalt blue Manolosas she found Big in his final moments.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

And some are still trying to grasp that a Peloton was involved at all. The company even addressed the shocking scene in a statement to The Los Angeles Times. Im sure SATC fans, like me, are saddened by the news that Mr. Big dies of a heart attack, Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, a cardiologist on Pelotons health and wellness advisory board and self-proclaimed SATC fan, said in a statement. Mr. Big lived what many would call an extravagant lifestyleincluding cocktails, cigars, and big steaksand was at serious risk as he had a previous cardiac event in Season 6. These lifestyle choices and perhaps even his family history, which often is a significant factor, were the likely cause of his death. Riding his Peloton Bike may have even helped delay his cardiac event.

The statement continued, More than 80 percent of all cardiac-related deaths are preventable through lifestyle, diet, and exercise modifications. And while 25 percent of heart attacks each year are in patients who already had one (like Mr. Big), even then they are very, very treatable. The lesson here is, KNOW YOUR NUMBERS! Its always important to talk to your doctor, get tested, and have a healthy prevention strategy. The good news is Peloton helps you track heart rate while you ride, so you can do it safely.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Noth was hesitant to join And Just Like That, but he eventually gave in after speaking with showrunner and director Michael Patrick King. It was a long conversation, it continued through the pandemic and he took in a lot of my ideas and we came up with a way for me to work into it, the actor told The Guardian in a recent profile.

As Noth takes his bow as Mr. Big, hes well aware of how the character has stuck with SATC fans. If I can be a small part of what people think of as New York City, thats a really lovely thing, he said.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Read more from the original source:
Fans React to Mr. Big in 'And Just Like That' Episode 1 - ELLE.com