Are You A Charlotte? – S2 E15 “All in the Family with Mireille Enos”

Podcast: Are You A Charlotte?
Host: Kristin Davis
Guest: Mireille Enos
Episode: S2 E15 "Shortcomings"
Release: September 22, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of "Are You a Charlotte?" reunites Kristin Davis (Charlotte York from Sex and the City) with actress Mireille Enos, who appeared in the show's second season. They reflect on the episode "Shortcomings" (S2 E15), sharing behind-the-scenes memories, the impact of early roles, and the perennial themes of family—both biological and chosen—in Sex and the City and beyond. Their conversation weaves in the interconnectedness of the acting world, friendship, self-expectations, and the show’s legacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mireille Enos’ First TV Gig

• Mireille’s Start

  • Mireille recounts her humble start in New York City, waitressing and working as an art model before landing her very first paying job: a one-line role in Sex and the City (04:58).
  • Quote: "The first audition [my agent] sent me out on was this... Sex and the City one line. And I booked it and it was my first paying job in New York City!" — Mireille Enos (05:36)

• Getting a SAG Card

  • Mireille had to scramble to pay her union dues, borrowing money from her parents to join SAG and accept the role (05:44).

• Impactful Day on Set

  • She describes the set as welcoming and positive for a newcomer (06:37).

2. Rewatching “Shortcomings” — Episode Breakdown

• Valerie Harper’s Guest Star Role

  • Both discuss being starstruck by the presence of Valerie Harper, who was so important to previous generations as Rhoda (07:07).
  • Quote: "In some ways kind of almost a blueprint for Sex and the City in a certain way at a different time... It meant so much to us to get Valerie Harper." — Kristin Davis (07:25)

• Justin Theroux’s Double Appearance

  • Kristin marvels that Justin Theroux played different similar “writer” roles in both seasons one and two (08:11, 14:35).
  • Quote: "I had vaguely, vaguely remembered that, but I’m not working with him. But I know him. He’s such a lovely guy. And I had completely forgotten about their rather embarrassing storyline." — Kristin Davis (07:51)

• Indie Film Directors’ Influence

  • The episode was directed by Daniel Algrant, part of a period when indie and Sopranos directors mixed into the show’s creative team (08:33).

• Behind the Scenes: Remembering Cameos

  • Kristin did not recall Mireille’s appearance until her producer pointed it out—emphasizing how massive the show became and how little the actors saw of scenes they hadn’t filmed (09:35).

3. Six Degrees: Interconnected Lives

• Alan Ruck & Matthew Broderick Connection

  • Mireille’s husband, Alan Ruck (Cameron from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), has worked with Matthew Broderick (Sarah Jessica Parker’s husband), highlighting the tight-knit circles actors move in (11:19).
  • Quote: "So they were already friends when they shot that film. And I feel like you can really feel that in the chemistry..." — Mireille Enos (12:06)
  • Quote: "I love the interconnectedness of all of us over time. And... the HBO of it all is hysterical." — Kristin Davis (12:49)

• On Long-Term Friendship

  • They discuss how rare and cherished it is for actors to build relationships that last through decades of work together (13:15).

4. Themes of Chosen Family

• Sex and the City’s Innovations

  • Kristin highlights how early the show foregrounded “chosen family,” with friends standing in for biological family—something revealed in this episode’s focus (18:27).
  • Quote: "The theme of this episode... is family is difficult, and family is also your chosen family. Chosen to be your family, which I love so much." — Kristin Davis (27:13)

• Charlotte’s Storyline

  • Charlotte’s brother's divorce acts as a plot device to examine familial obligations, the awkwardness of mixing family and friends, and Charlotte’s commitment to marriage as an ideal (25:00).

• Friendship Tension

  • The uncomfortable moment when Samantha sleeps with Charlotte’s brother, and Charlotte’s uncharacteristically harsh rebuke, is discussed as an early example of the risks inherent in close female friendships (26:14–27:13).
  • Quote: "It's so incredibly risky to say something to your girlfriend... That can be the end of a friendship." — Mireille Enos (28:46)

5. Female Friendship — Past and Present

• Evolution of On-Screen Female Bonds

  • The hosts reflect on how Sex and the City helped normalize and celebrate female friendship, arguing that it’s more openly discussed and respected now (27:54).

• Vulnerability Among Women

  • They consider the difficulty, and necessity, of honesty in women’s friendships, especially at the risk of conflict or loss (28:45).

• Quote: "Female relationships can be really tricky... As you go through the different stages, it's not so easy." — Kristin Davis (29:23)

6. Miranda’s “Shortcomings” Plot: Divorce, Dating, and Parenting

• Miranda’s Gym Romance

  • The depiction of Miranda dating a single father, complete with the absurdity of bringing a child on a first date, is both funny and telling of the times (31:36–34:02).

• Reflections on Outdated Dialogue

  • The hosts cringe-laugh at the episode's now-dated references (e.g., single parents being “used”), acknowledging how perspectives have changed (35:44–36:41).
  • Quote: "Just because somebody has been married... anyone who has been in a long term relationship—is used? There’d be no one left!" — Kristin Davis (36:16)

• Miranda as Foreshadowing

  • Mireille points out that this “crumb” of a storyline foreshadows Miranda eventually becoming a single mom herself (45:09).

7. Expectations, Aging, and Growth

• The Pressure of Expectations

  • Both share personal reflections on how their expectations—in their 20s, 30s, and now—parallel the journeys of SATC characters, and how letting go of rigid definitions of happiness leads to growth (47:45–49:22).

• Character Arcs and Life Lessons

  • Charlotte’s evolution from clinging to ideals to finding happiness in unexpected ways illustrates the show’s depth and realism (49:36).
  • Quote: "Her ability to roll with it, you know, brings her depth and wisdom and changes her focus." — Kristin Davis (49:22)

• On Endings and Fan Reception

  • They discuss fan reactions to the endings of both series, and how cultural context shapes what viewers want or notice (49:45–51:00).

Notable Quotes

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:36 | Mireille Enos | "The first audition he sent me out on was this... Sex and the City one line. And I booked it and it was my first paying job in New York City!" | | 07:25 | Kristin Davis | "In some ways kind of almost a blueprint for Sex and the City in a certain way at a different time... It meant so much to us to get Valerie Harper." | | 12:06 | Mireille Enos | "So they were already friends when they shot that film. And I feel like you can really feel that in the chemistry..." | | 13:15 | Kristin Davis | "That is, I think, one of the joys of our job. When you're in a career long time, that just happens... you work with each other's spouses." | | 27:13 | Kristin Davis | "The theme of this episode... is family is difficult, and family is also your chosen family. Chosen to be your family, which I love so much." | | 28:46 | Mireille Enos | "It's so incredibly risky to say something to your girlfriend... That can be the end of a friendship." | | 29:23 | Kristin Davis | "Female relationships can be really tricky... As you go through the different stages, it's not so easy." | | 36:16 | Kristin Davis | "Just because somebody has been married... anyone who has been in a long term relationship—is used? There’d be no one left!" | | 49:22 | Kristin Davis | "Her ability to roll with it, you know, brings her depth and wisdom and changes her focus." |

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 04:21 – Mireille Enos joins and discusses her role as a “one-liner” in SATC
• 06:47–07:49 – The excitement of working with Valerie Harper and industry icons
• 09:54 – Kristin recalls first recognizing Mireille in “The Killing”
• 11:19–12:49 – Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, and the “six degrees” of Hollywood
• 13:29–14:18 – The ongoing joys and surprises of working long-term in TV
• 18:27–19:50 – “Family” as a central theme in “Shortcomings”
• 25:00–27:13 – Charlotte’s brother storyline and female friendship friction
• 31:29–37:08 – Miranda’s date with a single dad, parenting foibles, and dating in the city
• 47:45–51:00 – Reflections on expectations, aging, and the arc of personal growth

Memorable Moments

• Mireille’s SAG story: Her frantic scramble to join the union for her first job, making the role unexpectedly momentous.
• Charlotte’s harshness: Kristin’s self-aware analysis of Charlotte’s “harsh” moment with Samantha—breaking out of Charlotte’s typical genteel boundaries.
• Dating and parenting chaos: The hosts' delight at the chaotic date storyline, with Miranda enduring the comedic perils of dating a single, clueless dad.
• Cultural changes: Both hosts marvel at how much relationship norms, perceptions of single parenthood, and the value of female friendship have changed since the show originally aired.
• Generational shift: Touching reflections on living out expectations versus adapting to life’s realities and the blessing of aging without the anxiety of youth (47:45).

Tone & Style

• The entire episode is light, humorous, and deeply nostalgic—filled with honest, often self-deprecating industry anecdotes.
• The conversational style mirrors the warmth and wit for which Sex and the City is known, with Kristin Davis acting as both insightful host and affectionate storyteller.

Conclusion:
This episode brings together deep personal stories, TV history, and cultural analysis, offering a window into Sex and the City’s enduring impact. Through charismatic banter and thoughtful reflection, Kristin Davis and Mireille Enos celebrate the show’s legacy of female friendship, the realities of family, and the unpredictable joy of life’s interconnected paths.