Michael Patrick King, the showrunner of the Sex and the City update, And Just Like That, had an important request before the second season premiered: please don’t spoil the Che/Miranda storyline. While major plot points like the return of Samantha and Aidan had already been revealed, King wanted viewers to be able to experience the organic unraveling of the relationship between Sara Ramirez’s Che and Cynthia Nixon’s Miranda. He wanted to surprise people.
In the writers’ room, the goal was to have the audience actively figuring out Miranda and Che’s relationship. The writers wanted viewers to go through the ups and downs of the couple, questioning whether they would break up or get back together. However, by the end of episode six, it becomes clear that the relationship is over. Miranda and Che have a heartfelt conversation where they acknowledge that things won’t get better between them. The episode concludes with them holding each other in bed, recognizing that their relationship has run its course.
But just because the relationship is over doesn’t mean that the character of Che disappears. King emphasizes that Che was introduced in the Max series’ pilot through Carrie, who was working with them on a podcast. Che was initially Carrie’s connection that Miranda co-opted for her own journey. What makes Miranda and Che different from other characters who have influenced the women’s lives is that they are affecting each other. Miranda and Che are both going through self-discovery, with Miranda exploring her sexuality and Che realizing their own worth.
King wanted to give Ramirez more to work with in season two. In the first season, they were limited in terms of how much they could develop the Che character due to the introduction of many new characters and the focus on the core trio of women. The divisive response to Che in season one was frustrating but not surprising. Season two was an opportunity to change that perception and make Che more dimensional and human.
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There are many reasons to keep a character like Che in the show beyond a love interest fading out. Che’s vibrancy and Sara Ramirez’s acting abilities make them a valuable asset for the show. King is thrilled to have the chance to showcase Che’s depth and complexity.
In conclusion, Michael Patrick King’s request to not spoil the Che/Miranda storyline was to preserve the surprise and organic unraveling of their relationship in And Just Like That. While the relationship comes to an end, Che’s character will continue to play an important role in the show, allowing for further exploration of their depth and humanity.
