Are You A Charlotte? – “Up and Coming with Mireille Enos”

Podcast: Are You A Charlotte? | Host: iHeartPodcasts
Episode: S2E15 “Shortcomings”
Date: September 25, 2025

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode of Are You A Charlotte? dives into Sex and the City Season 2, Episode 15, titled "Shortcomings." Host Kristin Davis is joined by special guest Mireille Enos. Together, they rewatch and reflect on the themes of love, family dynamics, sexual honesty, and the evolution of women’s roles in society and on television. The discussion focuses on behind-the-scenes stories, nuanced character portrayals, and the episode’s enduring relevance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Writers and Character Evolution (03:15–05:27)

• The Importance of Writers:
  Both hosts express gratitude for the talented writers behind Sex and the City, highlighting how character depth emerged over time.
  • “Writers are everything. If it’s not there on the page, there’s nothing you can do.” —Kristin Davis (03:50)
• Charlotte’s Development:
  Kristin reflects on Charlotte’s initial lack of material:
  • “In the beginning of the show, Charlotte wasn’t really on the page...I was just like, oh, what am I? What am I doing?.” —Sarah Jessica Parker (03:56)
  • Michael Patrick King’s influence helped Charlotte become more fully realized, especially due to writers with real experience of Upper East Side life.

2. The Changing Narrative for Women (05:27–06:46)

• Societal Expectations in the 90s:
  The hosts discuss how the show mirrored and challenged the assumption that marriage and family were every woman’s ultimate goal.
  • “The assumption before those conversations started was that is the goal... at some point you’re gonna lay down your career to do husband, children, all those other things.” —Kristin Davis (05:53)
• Single Women as a ‘Power Move’:
  They recall the Time magazine cover:
  • “At one point, they put the four of us on the cover of Time magazine and wrote, ‘Who needs a husband?’” —Sarah Jessica Parker (05:28)

3. Behind-the-Scenes Casting & Guest Stars (07:04–08:03)

• Jason Theroux’s Guest Appearance:
  The hosts reminisce about Justin Theroux’s guest-starring turn and the casting backstory, including the possibility of Matthew Broderick in the role.
  • “We were like, hey, Justin, come back and just cut your hair and put on some glasses.” —Sarah Jessica Parker (08:03)
  • They highlight the meta humor when Theroux returns as a different character with a changed look.

4. Episode Theme: Are You Dating the Person or the Family? (08:28–09:51)

• Carrie vs. the Family Dynamic:
  Carrie is charmed by her boyfriend’s family—intellect, warmth, quintessential New Yorkers.
  • “Are you dating the person or the family? Do you feel more strongly about the family than the person?” —Sarah Jessica Parker (08:29)
  • “The dad is a professor at Columbia. The mom is a writer. Documentarian.” —Sarah Jessica Parker (09:02)
• Valerie Harper’s Guest Role:
  Valerie Harper, as the mother, is called out for her iconic performance.

5. Charlotte’s Family Dynamics & Regression (14:37–17:50)

• Awkward Sibling Moments:
  Kristin describes Charlotte’s awkward interaction with her brother, regression into high school-like behavior, and the episode’s portrayal of “shortcomings,” both literal and figurative.
  • “It’s almost like a high school vibe...not Charlotte at her most mature at all.” —Sarah Jessica Parker (15:35)
  • “Sometimes we do kind of regress [with family].” —Kristin Davis (15:39)
• Memorable Scene: Samantha & Charlotte’s Brother:
  Samantha spends the night with Charlotte’s brother.
  • “Next thing you know, it’s the morning at my apartment, and I walk out and Samantha’s there without any pants on, trying to find coffee filters.” —Sarah Jessica Parker (16:14)
  • Charlotte’s sharp line: “She should be in the guidebook for New York because she’s open all the time.” —Charlotte (Sarah Jessica Parker recounting, 16:29)
• Resolution and Growth:
  Charlotte apologizes and brings muffins to Samantha.
  • “Luckily, then I make muffins for Samantha and go to her door, and she luckily forgives me.” —Sarah Jessica Parker (17:14)
  • Kim Cattrall’s ad-lib of smacking Charlotte on the butt is noted as a recurring, affectionate gesture from set.

6. The Carrie-Justin Relationship & Sexual Honesty (18:09–26:49)

• Premature Ejaculation Storyline:
  Carrie’s new romance crumbles when her boyfriend’s sexual problem (“premature ejaculation”) proves insurmountable.
  • “And then they start making out in Carrie’s kitchen. And then he, you know, ejaculates. I’m just gonna have to say it.” —Sarah Jessica Parker (18:41)
• Difficulty Communicating:
  Carrie tries to work through the problem, but Justin can’t talk about it and becomes angry.
  • “He seems mad, which is not good. That’s the main problem.” —Sarah Jessica Parker (20:19)
• Family Involvement Gone Too Far:
  Valerie Harper’s character tries to intervene in the couple’s sexual issue, underlining the theme of boundary-crossing familial closeness.
  • “It’s almost too close.” —Sarah Jessica Parker (22:33)
• Breaking Up With a Family:
  Carrie realizes she’s more attached to the family than the boyfriend.
  • “She realizes that she really has to break up with his mother. And that’s so sad.” —Sarah Jessica Parker (20:53)

7. Sexual Honesty & Women’s Conversation (27:00–29:07)

• Personal Reflections:
  The hosts briefly touch on their own experiences with sexual communication in relationships and the challenges of addressing delicate issues.
  • “As women, we want to facilitate people feeling good about themselves...maybe the fix comes in just making things nice, rather than going right to the problem.” —Kristin Davis (27:29)
  • “If you think about the show, it’s trying to take the lid off all of the different things and say, you can talk about it.” —Sarah Jessica Parker (28:56)
• Growth Through Talking:
  The show’s emphasis on communication as the only real solution:
  • “That’s the only way to try to solve anything.” —Sarah Jessica Parker (29:01)

8. Mireille Enos’s Current & Upcoming Work (34:13–36:49)

• For All Mankind:
  Mireille discusses joining the acclaimed Apple TV+ sci-fi show for Season 5, which spans decades and explores alternate space history.

  • “It's a great sci-fi show on Apple TV...I got to join in season five as one of the new main characters.” —Mireille Enos (35:24)

• American Hostage:
  Mireille stars in a limited series with Jon Hamm about a real-life hostage crisis involving a radio journalist.

  • “It's very interesting...the role of journalism and the role of us as citizens, like what our place is in just helping.” —Mireille Enos (36:36)

9. “Are You a Charlotte?” Identity Game (36:54–38:12)

• Which Character Are You?
  Mireille considers herself scrappier and more ambitious, relating most to Miranda but also pieces of Carrie.
  • “I think I'm just pieces...I'm a little bit, like, scattered, like Carrie. I'm a little...I think I like it.” —Mireille Enos (37:48)
• Women as Multifaceted:
  Kristin notes the value in seeing oneself in all four main characters, rejecting simple archetypes.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Writers are everything. If it’s not there on the page, there’s nothing you can do.”
  —Kristin Davis (03:50)

• “At one point, they put the four of us on the cover of Time magazine and wrote, ‘Who needs a husband?’”
  —Sarah Jessica Parker (05:28)

• “Are you dating the person or the family? Do you feel more strongly about the family than the person?”
  —Sarah Jessica Parker (08:29)

• “She should be in the guidebook for New York because she’s open all the time.”
  —Charlotte, recounted by Sarah Jessica Parker (16:29)

• “That’s the only way to try to solve anything. I try to tell my 7-year-old this...we gotta talk about the feelings.”
  —Sarah Jessica Parker (29:01)

• “All women can be everything. You can be also these other things.”
  —Sarah Jessica Parker (38:12)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:15–05:27| Writers and character development | | 05:27–06:46| Changing narratives for women | | 07:04–08:03| Behind-the-scenes guest star stories | | 08:28–09:51| The 'dating the family' episode theme | | 14:37–17:50| Charlotte's family dynamics; the Samantha scene | | 18:09–26:49| Carrie’s relationship arc and sexual honesty | | 27:00–29:07| Communication in relationships; personal reflections | | 34:13–36:49| Mireille Enos’s new roles: For All Mankind, American Hostage | | 36:54–38:12| “Are You a Charlotte?” self-identification game |

Closing Thoughts

This episode offers an insightful and humorous look at how Sex and the City pushed boundaries, both on- and off-screen, by exploring themes that remain relevant—female friendship, social expectations, sexual honesty, and family entanglements. The chemistry and candidness between Kristin Davis and Mireille Enos, complemented by personal anecdotes, make this a rich and relatable discussion for both fans of the show and new listeners alike.