The final season marks dramatic changes in the ladies' lives. While Carrie's book career is on the rise, she dates Jack Berger, a struggling writer, and Alexandr Petrovsky, a renowned Russian artist. Samantha starts a long-term relationship with a struggling actor, who becomes her client, while battling breast cancer. Miranda dates a doctor living in her building before reuniting with Steve, who she later marries. Charlotte converts to Judaism, marries Harry Goldenblatt, and tries to get pregnant through fertility treatments.
While critical reception for season six was mixed to negative, Sex and the City won and was nominated for many awards during the season. All four actresses received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, with Parker and Nixon both winning Emmy awards. The series also reached viewership highs, with the finale reaching ten million viewers in the United States and nearly five million viewers in the United Kingdom.
Production
The sixth season of Sex and the City was produced by Darren Star Productions and Warner Bros. Television, in association with HBO Original Programming. The series is based on the book of the same name, written by Candice Bushnell, which contains stories from her column with the New York Observer. The show featured production from Antonia Ellis, Jane Raab and series star Sarah Jessica Parker, also an executive producer alongside Michael Patrick King, John Melfi, Cindy Chupack, and Jenny Bicks. Episodic writers return for the fourth season included Bicks, Chupack, Allan Heinberg, King, Julie Rottenberg, and Elisa Zuritsky. New writers enlisted for the season included Nicole Avril, Jessica Bendinger, and Amy B. Harris. The season was directed by returning directors Allen Coulter, King, Charles McDougall, Michael Spiller, and Alan Taylor. Directors new to the series included Martha Coolidge, Michael Engler, and David Frankel. Confirmed as the last season of the series, Sex and the City's sixth season aired twelve episodes during the summer of 2003 and eight episodes from January to February 2004.[1] The season was filmed from May 2003 to January 2004.
Cast and characters
Mikhail Baryshnikov portrayed Alexandr Petrovsky, a Russian artist and Carrie's last love interest in the series.
Like the previous seasons, season six features the same principal cast and characters. Sarah Jessica Parker portrays Carrie Bradshaw, a fashionable middle aged woman who writes about sex and life in New York City in her column, "Sex and the City", with the fictional New York Star.[2]Kim Cattrall played the promiscuous public relations agent Samantha Jones.[3]Kristin Davis portrayed Charlotte York Goldenblatt, an optimistic, straight laced former art curator who remains the most traditional amongst her friends in terms of relationships and public decorum.[4]Cynthia Nixon acted as the acerbic and sarcastic lawyer Miranda Hobbes, who holds a pessimistic view on relationships and men.[5]
The sixth season featured a number of recurring and guest actors whose characters contributed significantly to the series plotlines. Chris Noth reprised his role as Mr. Big, a sly businessman who at this point remains friends with Carrie despite their previous romantic relationships.[6]David Eigenberg portrayed Miranda's on-off boyfriend, bar owner and father of her child Steve Brady. Willie Garson appeared as entertainment manager and Carrie's gay friend Stanford Blatch.[7]Evan Handler plays Charlotte's Jewish boyfriend and subsequent husband Harry Goldenblatt.[8]Lynn Cohen reprises her role as Magda, Miranda's foreign housekeeper. Mario Cantone recurs in the season as Charlotte's gay friend and former wedding planner Anthony Marantino.[9]Jason Lewis joins the series, portraying Smith Jerrod, a burgeoning actor and Samantha's client and boyfriend.[10]Blair Underwood acts as Dr. Robert Leeds, Miranda's neighbor and subsequent boyfriend. Ron Livingston reprises his role as Jack Berger, a writer and Carrie's love interest.[11]Sean Palmer appears as Stanford's boyfriend and client Marcus. Mikhail Baryshnikov appeared in the last episodes as Alexandr Petrovsky, a famed Russian artist with whom Carrie becomes romantically involved.[12]
Serbian performance artistMarina Abramović was asked to play herself and perform her piece The House with the Ocean View in an episode, which she refused.[13] She was eventually portrayed by Beth Lapides.
Reception
Viewership and ratings
Season six of Sex and the City debuted on June 22, 2003 with the episode "To Market, to Market". Garnering a 4.9 Nielsen rating, the episode was seen in over 5.18 million households. "To Market, to Market" attracted 7.30 million viewers, and marked a slight decrease from the fifth-season premiere. Airing on a split summer-winter schedule, the first twelve episodes were broadcast in the summer.[14] The majority of the episodes maintained a viewership above six million viewers, with only two episodes falling below the threshold. The summer season finale, "One", was viewed by 7.65 million people and registered a 5.0 Nielsen rating, eclipsing the 4.9 rating of the season premiere and becoming the highest rated episode of the series.[15] The finale eight episodes were broadcast between January 4 and February 22, 2004. The winter premiere "Let There Be Light" attracted 6.36 million viewers, registering the lowest rated premiere since the season four premiere episode "The Agony and the 'Ex'-tacy".[16] The series finale "An American Girl In Paris" (Part Deux) was viewed by 10.62 million viewers, achieving the highest viewership of the series, as well as achieving the highest household rating with a 6.5.[17] In the United Kingdom, season six episodes consistently ranked among the top ten viewed programs on Channel 4. The series finale achieved a viewership of 4.71 million, the highest the series has received and ranked number two for the week it aired.
Critical reviews
Phil Gallo of Variety wrote a negative review for season six. Gallo noted that the characters have turned "one-dimensional and single-minded" and that the overall quality has declined, deeming the series a "dull rehash of a casual sex maniac searching for prey, an annoying frustrated single mother and a perky divorcee trying to understand Judaism."[18]
Tom Shales of Eugene Register-Guard gave the episode "Let There Be Light" a mixed review, calling it a "slapdashy, mishmoshy affair in which some of the humor feels forced, as well as being inconsistent with the witty-wacky tone of the show." Shales was more positive with the next episode "The Ick Factor", which he stated was "full of snap and fizz and one certifiable shock."[19]
While nervously anticipating her first date with Berger, Carrie runs into Aidan for the first time since their breakup, and is surprised by how far he's moved on. Miranda realizes she's in love with Steve—only to hear he has a new girlfriend. Charlotte struggles with Harry's assertion that he can only marry a Jew. Samantha sleeps with a stockbroker who gives insider tips while inside her.
Carrie and Berger's dates sizzle in the restaurants, but fizzle in the bedroom. Miranda becomes addicted to a British television show featuring an interracial romance. A tenacious Charlotte pursues converting to Judaism for Harry. Samantha and the girls go to a cold-food restaurant where Samantha meets hot waiter Jerry Jerrod (Smith).
After Berger flips out and flips off his ex-girlfriend's answer-phone message, Carrie tries to not think about her influence on his life. Miranda finds condoms in Brady's diaper bag and gets upset with Steve. Newly converted Charlotte mourns the loss of Christmas. An on-the-job quickie with Samantha gets Smith fired from a catering gig.
Carrie feels bad for criticizing a minor point in Berger's book. When Berger teaches Miranda how to tell that a man is "not that into her", she feels the need to spread the word to other women. Charlotte cooks her first Shabbat dinner for Harry. Samantha and Jerry act out all their sexual fantasies.
Carrie receives a big royalty check for her book sales, which upsets Berger, whose book deal has been dropped. A lovesick Miranda helps Steve bake cupcakes—for his new girlfriend. Charlotte is reluctant to date after Harry leaves her. Samantha takes charge of the PR for Jerry's struggling play where he gives a striking—and nude—performance.
Berger tells Carrie that he needs a break from their relationship. Workaholic Miranda has to cut her hours at work in order to spend more time with Brady. Women from the synagogue compete to set Charlotte up with their single sons, but she runs into Harry at a singles night, and they realize they are meant to be together. PR Manager Samantha changes Jerry's name to Smith and gets him great exposure on a revealing billboard in Times Square.
Berger returns, but then breaks up with Carrie with a Post-it Note. Miranda finally loses all her baby-weight and rediscovers her "skinny jeans". Charlotte decides she wants a small wedding. Samantha is reluctant to be labeled as Smith's "girlfriend".
Carrie finds that a casual fling with Harry's best man is a pain in the neck. Miranda is scared of meeting Steve's new girlfriend. After Harry accidentally sees Charlotte in her wedding dress before the big day, she is convinced their wedding is cursed. Self-sufficient Samantha struggles without a man around.
Carrie's shoes are stolen at a party; the hostess (Tatum O'Neal) not only refuses to apologize, but shames her for her extravagant footwear—and lifestyle choices. Miranda contracts chicken pox, and she flirts with the handsome doctor (Blair Underwood) who just moved into her building. Charlotte must adjust to living with Harry (and his tea bags) in her pristine apartment. Children misbehaving in nice restaurants annoy Samantha.
Carrie's high-school sweetheart visits her in New York—on his way to a mental asylum in Connecticut. Miranda develops a crush on her attractive neighbor Robert, the team doctor for the Knicks. In order to get into an exclusive pool at the SoHo House, Samantha pretends to be a member—and British. Geri Halliwell and David Duchovny guest-star.
Carrie shows strange signs of distress when Big needs heart surgery. Miranda gets close to her new boyfriend Robert, but is reluctant to introduce him to Steve. Reproductively challenged Charlotte tries acupuncture in order to get pregnant. Samantha refuses to hold hands with Smith.
Carrie meets fifty-something Russian artist Aleksandr Petrovsky (Mikhail Baryshnikov) at a gallery. Miranda's boyfriend Robert says "I love you" but she struggles to say it back. Charlotte is delighted to discover she is pregnant—then devastated when she miscarries. After finding one gray hair down under, Samantha dyes her pubic hair with shocking results.
Carrie begins to feel attached to Aleksandr but cannot ignore his womanizing past. Together again, Steve moves into Miranda's apartment and finds it hard to avoid her angry ex-boyfriend Robert. Charlotte tries to forget her miscarriage by volunteering. Samantha accompanies Smith to an industry party hosted by Richard Wright.
Carrie finds Aleksandr's classy, old-world romantic gestures and attention a little overwhelming, and it turns her stomach. Miranda prepares for her non-traditional wedding to Steve. Charlotte and Harry's romantic French dinner leads to a night of the runs. Samantha considers a breast augmentation and receives some unexpected news.
Carrie discovers that Aleksandr has decided to not have any more children. Miranda and Steve go on their four-day honeymoon to a remote inn in upstate New York. Baby Brady sees Charlotte and Harry having sex. Samantha uses Smith's fame to get her an appointment with a well-known female oncologist.
Carrie gets upset at Aleksandr for being inconsiderate of her feelings about Samantha's cancer. When her new family outgrows her apartment, Miranda considers buying a house in Brooklyn. Charlotte receives a dog and names her Elizabeth Taylor. Samantha's hair falls out as a result of chemotherapy.
Aleksandr refuses to talk about his work or introduce Carrie to his friends. Miranda adjusts to life in Brooklyn. Charlotte decides to enter Elizabeth Taylor in a dog show. Samantha makes a sex tape with Smith after a tabloid reports that she is his "fag hag".
Petrovsky hosts a dinner party for Carrie's inner circle, and makes a shocking announcement. Later, the death of an old party friend (Kristen Johnston) helps Carrie reach a big decision.
Before joining the Russian in Paris, Carrie has one last dinner in New York with Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda. However, life in the City of Light does not live up to her expectations. After being told off by Carrie before the dinner, Big goes to girls for advice; they convince him to go to Paris and find their girl.
Carrie is desperately lonely in Paris as Petrovsky is spending so much time on his new exhibit. The chemo treatments are diminishing Samantha's sex drive. Miranda must take care of Steve's mother after she has a stroke. Charlotte and Harry try to adopt a baby. Big finds Carrie in Paris and says the words she has been waiting six years to hear. Big brings Carrie home to New York and the four women are reunited.
3 Never-Before-Seen Alternate Endings of the Final Episode
Two 30-minute Farewell Tributes
10 Deleted Scenes
4 Audio Commentaries with Michael Patrick King
Aspen Comedy Arts Festival Seminar recorded in March 2004 featuring Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael Patrick King, and other writers from the show (1:15:00)
^"Top 30 Programmes". United Kingdom: BARB. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2017. select channel and relevant week
