Are You A Charlotte?

Episode: "Babies, Boats and Big..." (S3 E8 "The Big Time")

Date: December 15, 2025
Host: Kristin Davis
Guest: Easton (Producer)

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Kristin Davis (Charlotte York from Sex and the City) is joined by producer Easton to revisit and dissect the Season 3 classic, "The Big Time." The duo relives memorable moments on set, reflects on storylines involving boats, babies, and timing in relationships, and dives into how the show’s themes continue to resonate in 2025. The commentary blends behind-the-scenes tidbits, character analysis, and personal anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Charlotte’s Boat Scene & Trey's Introduction

[03:44 – 06:55]

• Kristin recalls the vivid experience filming on the Hudson River boat: "The boat I definitely remember because it was very beautiful, very cold. There's two scenes on the boat ... I couldn't stop shivering. Level cold." (Kristin, 03:44)
• She fondly recounts the technical challenges: matching backgrounds, turning the boat around, and hiding microphones in impractical places due to delicate costumes.
• Trey MacDougal (Kyle MacLachlan)'s second episode: Kristin and Easton discuss how the show initially intended for Trey to be "not interesting," but Kyle's performance made him instantly captivating.
  • "This is the episode where you really see clearly that the original idea for Trey was that he was not interesting." (Kristin, 05:13)
• Kristin expresses delight at the show keeping Kyle for more seasons because of his dreamy, nuanced portrayal.

2. Long-Arc Storytelling & Rewatching the Show

[06:55 – 08:21]

• Both participants appreciate the evolution TV storytelling has undergone since the late ‘90s, with premium cable providing space for character development and long arcs.
• Kristin shares a fan encounter—a woman in her 30s just starting the series—highlighting its enduring relevance.
• On binge-watching: “If you're on Netflix or on HBO Max, it just goes into the next episode. It's very hard to turn it off.” (Kristin, 08:18)

3. Carrie, Aiden, and Big: The Love Triangle’s Tension

[08:50 – 36:19]

• Carrie’s Dilemma:
  • Kristin admires Sarah Jessica Parker’s ability to convey subtle torment and emotion, particularly when Big calls Carrie as Aiden briefly steps out.
    • "Sarah Jessica is just so fucking good... the subtlety, the torn element..." (Kristin, 08:50)
  • They discuss John Corbett's (Aiden) baby-faced charm, his unique sense of style, and comedic details (e.g., Aiden's Ouija board as set dressing).
• Big’s Emotional Outburst:
  • Big's melodrama after seeing Carrie with Aiden is called out as immature:
    • “I remember acting like this when I was like, 17.” (Easton, 30:10)
    • “That's like, I don't like that. Like, I wouldn't want someone to call me and be like, I'm on your corner.” (Kristin, 34:32)
• Timing in Relationships:
  • The segment closes by underlining timing’s importance in love, as Carrie reflects, “This is exactly what I wanted to hear a year ago.”
  • Kristin’s real-life advice: “One of the biggest things that I didn't understand was the timing of, like, where people are in life and how that is going to relate to a relationship. I felt like if the feeling is strong enough, that is going to dictate what someone is ready for. But I do not think that's true now.” (Kristin, 42:54)

4. Steve and Miranda: Babies, Readiness, and Gender Roles

[09:51 – 13:36]

• Steve Wants a Baby:
  • Kristin and Easton debate Steve's yearning for a child, with Easton critiquing Steve’s “gee whiz” attitude and lack of forethought beyond the fun parts of parenting. Easton notes, "I see this from men a lot that want a baby and do not think anything beyond...they don't think about everything else that comes with it" (11:12).
  • Kristin empathizes: “If that other person is having that baby feeling ... you really have to honor it as the other person. Now, that might mean saying ... I'm just not there.”
• Miranda’s Focus:
  • Miranda is depicted as ambitious and realistic, being called a "mean mommy" (a term the cast still jokes about), echoing pressures women face regarding parenting expectations.
    • “I mean, the whole mean mommy thing... We all get it. We've all been there.” (Kristin, 13:05)

5. Production & Set Details

[19:01 – 23:30]

• Viewers learn about the realities of filming in NYC circa 2000. Green screens were too expensive and unreliable; background continuity was solved the hard way.
• Technical stories: body mics hidden in uncomfortable places, ADR (dubbing over lines in post-production) was routine, and there are fun debates about which apartments and hallways on the show were sets or real locations.
• Fashion is frequently discussed, including how John Corbett had a say in his wardrobe and sartorial Easter eggs in set design (Aiden’s Ouija board).

6. Visual Storytelling and Directing Choices

[24:32 – 26:55]

• Kristin admires director Allison Anders' use of "masters" (wide shots), capturing the city’s feel and the characters’ full outfits—a hallmark of Sex and the City's visual identity.
• Sarah Jessica Parker appreciated these shots for their fashion and atmospheric effect.

7. Changing Views on Marriage and Gender Expectations

[43:13 – 45:39]

• Kristin reflects on how the background noise of the show was based on "all women want to get married," which sounds quaint or outdated from a 2025 perspective.
  • “The background of the conversation in the year 2000 ... was that all women want to get married. That was the background, Right. That's where we're coming from. So then, like, that's why Samantha is like an outlier.” (Kristin, 44:28)
• She notes how in recent years, increasing numbers of women—especially over 40—choose fulfillment on their own terms, marking a shift from the societal assumptions embedded in early seasons.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“This is the episode where you really see clearly that the original idea for Trey was that he was not interesting.”
— Kristin Davis (05:13)

“Sarah Jessica is just so fucking good... the subtlety, the torn element, you know...”
— Kristin Davis (08:50)

“I see this from men a lot that want a baby and do not think anything beyond the, like, ‘ah, gee whiz, it's gonna be great to throw up, play catch with my kid, won't it?’ and, like, they don't think about everything else that comes with it.”
— Easton (11:12)

“One of the biggest things that I didn't understand was the timing of, like, where people are in life and how that is going to relate to a relationship. I felt like if the feeling is strong enough, that is going to dictate what someone is ready for. But I do not think that's true now.”
— Kristin Davis (42:54)

“The background of the conversation in the year 2000 and 1999 was that all women want to get married. That was the background, Right. That's where we're coming from.... Whereas now in 2025, the statistics of the unmarried women are different.”
— Kristin Davis (44:28)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:44] – Kristin recalls filming the boat scene
• [05:13] – Discussion about first impressions of Trey MacDougal
• [08:18] – On binge-watching and new fans discovering the show
• [09:32 – 13:36] – Steve, Miranda, baby fever, and gender roles
• [17:43 – 36:19] – Carrie, Aiden, and Big’s fraught love triangle, including voicemail reveal
• [24:32] – Discussion of camera work and the use of wide shots
• [34:32] – Real talk about Big’s boundary-pushing “I’m on your corner” gesture
• [42:54] – Kristin’s lesson about timing in love and relationships
• [44:28] – Shifting cultural narratives about marriage and independence

Episode Takeaways

• Behind-the-Scenes Details: Fans get a treat with colorful anecdotes about set logistics, costume quirks, and the realities of TV production in 2000.
• Relationships & Timing: The episode sharply analyzes how timing can be as crucial as feelings in romance—and how that realization grows with maturity.
• Changing Perspectives: Revisiting the show through modern eyes highlights evolving attitudes toward gender, marriage, and independence, showing why Sex and the City remains relevant.
• Cast Chemistry: The warmth and insight of Kristin and Easton showcase the close personal and professional bonds behind the show’s magic.

For more insights, join Kristin and Easton in the next episode as they continue dissecting what it means to be a Charlotte, Miranda, Carrie, or Samantha in the modern era.