Sex And The City: Why Charlotte Is Actually The Show's Main Character
Although Sex and the City was about four friends looking for life and love — with Manhattan as the fifth friend — Sarah Jessica Parker's Carrie was the show's de facto star.
This was reinforced by having Carrie serve as the narrator, but to even the playing field, every episode was divided so that each character had her own storyline. However, Charlotte York MacDougal Goldenblatt stood out, so much so that Carrie devoted her debut story collection to her: “To hopeful single women everywhere and one in particular… my good friend Charlotte, the eternal optimist, who always believes in love.”
The classic beauty with traditional values, who never gave up on the dream of happily ever after, could have been seen as the real star because, despite all the women being worldly and accomplished, "Char," as she was referred to by BFF Anthony, actually had more life experiences than the others.
10 She Actually Had Hobbies And Interests
Aside from pursuing their respective successful careers, going out to hottest NYC clubs and events to meet men, of course, and attending the occasional yoga class or gym visit, Carrie, Samantha and Miranda didn't do much in the way of extracurriculars.
Charlotte on the other lived a fuller life. She was an avid jogger, rode horses, entered her dog into dog shows, and then after her divorce from Trey, she took up tap dancing, volunteered as a museum docent, and joined a self-help group replete with affirmations.
9 She Was Sought After By Artists
Carrie's photo may have been on the cover of New York Magazine, and Samantha commissioned a photographer to take tasteful nudes of her, but Charlotte was asked to posed.
She was first the subject of a famed painter who immortalized women's genitals in a swirl of color. Then by a photographer, she was also dating, who took empowering pictures of women dressed as men.
8 She Actually Found New Friends
Samantha dated Maria, and Miranda may have pretended to be gay to make partner at her firm, but Charlotte actually went and found a new group of friends who were lesbians.
Fed up with men, Charlotte accepted their invitation to go clubbing, looked forward to a ski trip, and attended a party at the home of their queen bee. But her new, refreshing relationships bit the dust when the gallery manager admitted she was looking to keep things platonic.
7 She Got Shoes For Free
Carrie may have had a vast designer shoe collection worth $40K, but Charlotte's beautiful feet got her free designer shoes from a salesman with a fetish.
Even though Carrie fawned over the gorgeous $500 white Italian leather sandals, Charlotte procured gratis for letting the guy rub her foot, the grossness of it all led to her returning them. The salesman won’t accept them because they've been worn, but offers her a trade: all she has to do is try on six new styles, but even that was too creepy.
6 She Has Youthfulness On Her Side
A Hamptons getaway becomes a 20-somethings versus 30-somethings face off — at least for Carrie, Samantha, and Miranda, who each end up acting like parents to someone else. Samantha has to save the day after her former assistant Nina screws up the PR for a beach party, and Carrie — in a cowboy hat with her fangirl assistant in two — runs into Big who's now with Natasha.
Charlotte, with her youthful beauty that can pass for twenty-seven, gets herself into trouble when she dates a younger guy who doesn't disclose the fact he has "crabs."
5 She Walked Away From Her Career
Jaws dropped around the brunch table when newly married Charlotte told career women Carrie the writer, Miranda the attorney, and Samantha the PR maven, that she was quitting her gallery manager gig.
“I think I’m done,” she announced, explaining to the gals that being a wife, and eventually a mother, is a career, too. Until the baby thing happened, Mrs. MacDougal was going to hand the gallery over to someone else, redecorate the apartment by getting rid of Bunny's mallard collection, and perhaps take up bowl glazing.
4 She Always Took Charge
Miranda may be a partner at a high powered law firm; Samantha may own her own successful PR company; Carrie may be a published author who gets $4 a word at Vogue, but when it comes to taking the reins of a project, it's Charlotte who calls the shots.
She was the one who planned Miranda’s baby shower, ordered the flowers for Miranda’s mother’s funeral, and bought the Bellini Baby Basket when the ladies headed to the 'burbs for Lanie's baby shower.
3 She Changed Faiths
After deciding to convert to Judaism, Charlotte began by harassing a rabbi into sponsoring her and giving her Judaism courses, even showing up at his home then inviting herself in, then participated in a mikveh — a very traditional ritual where Charlotte descended into a beautifully tiled pool. Carrie explained to viewers, "After 75 accelerated classes, Charlotte, the Episcopalian Princess, was reborn a Jew.”
2 She Was The Only One To Marry-Divorce-Remarry
Miranda and Carrie may both know what it's like walk down the aisle, but only Charlotte knows what it's like to have a Scottish-themed wedding with a pre-nup chaser, and Bunny as a mother-in-law, then get divorced and have to negotiate for her apartment, and finally remarry after changing her religion.
Proof that something good can come from adversity, Charlotte's second husband Harry was originally her divorce lawyer.
1 She Adopted A Baby
Charlotte, who jumped over hurdle after hurdle to finally become a mother, was not going to let anything stop her from achieving her dream. After a heartbreaking false start (first with Trey, then when she and Harry were duped by a young couple who just wanted a free trip to New York), she and Harry adopted Lily. Later, against slim odds, the Goldenblatts had Rose.
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