The Carrie Diaries, the prequel to hit film franchise and TV series Sex and the City, has aired in the US to a mixed reaction from critics but a warm welcome from the young viewers at whom it is aimed. Granted, the show had huge shoes to fill as its predecessor was a revelation and inspiration to millions of woman and has even had city attractions, like the Sex and the City tour created in its honour.
The Carrie Diaries, the prequel to hit film franchise and TV series Sex and the City, has aired in the US to a mixed reaction from critics but a warm welcome from the young viewers at whom it is aimed. Granted, the show had huge shoes to fill as its predecessor was a revelation and inspiration to millions of woman and has even had city attractions, like the Sex and the City tour created in its honour. This now famous New York attraction draws millions of women (and some men) to the city every year and is a fantastic gift experience for any fan.
The show, which premiered on American station the CW in January, follows a teenage Carrie Bradshaw as she grows up in 1980s Connecticut, before meeting Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte who become her closest friends when she moves to New York.
The series shows a 16-year-old Miss Bradshaw dealing with a teenage crush, life in high school, and the law firm internship which serves as an introduction to her beloved Manhattan.
While viewers took to Twitter with comments like “I’m so excited for next week!” and “I really enjoyed the first episode of The Carrie Diaries”, critics were more reserved in their praise. Although some quite liked it, others described the show as “quaint”, ”bland” and “a couple of boroughs removed from the original.”
And some purists have highlighted discrepancies between The Carrie Diaries and the central character’s backstory as revealed in Sex and the City.
The show about the adult Carrie was broadcast over four series between 1998 and 2004, and spawned two full-length movies. It centres on the lives of the newspaper columnist and her three inseparable best buddies in adulthood and their countless relationship dramas.
Based on the book by Candace Bushnell of the same name, the show won seven Emmy awards, eight Golden Globes and three Screen Actors’ Guild gongs.
Kristin Davis, who plays Charlotte, will only say of a potential third Sex and the City film “Maybe it will happen”, and no UK TV network has yet picked up on The Carrie Diaries.
But fans of the show can still get their SATC fix on a Sex and the City tour of Manhattan. New York City has been described as the series’ fifth major character, after the fabulous foursome.
As you debate whether the show has a feminist message, which of the brunching quartet you most resemble, and what you would do to get a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes, enjoy (what else?) Cosmopolitan cocktails at Scout, the bar which belonged to Aidan and Steve, the boyfriends of Carrie and Miranda respectively.
It’s just one of the tour’s locations you’ll visit where our four elegant heroines’ stories were filmed. In the Magnolia Bakery, enjoy a crafty cupcake or two, and see the shops of the Meatpacking district and the church where Samantha (in)famously tried to seduce a friar.
You’ll also call in at Buddakan, where Carrie and her beloved, Big, had their wedding rehearsal dinner and the shop where Charlotte purchased her “Rabbit”. (Not to be confused with a pet store…).
This tour is ideal for hen parties or girlie shopping trips to New York. Equally, if you know a friend is a fan, why not treat them to it as a gift experience? Alternatively, you could consider upgrading to doing the SATC tour as VIPs in a private limo.
But however you do it, you’ll love the take on Manhattan that this tour offers, and recreating scenes from your favourite series.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
