I think we can safely say that sexual inhibition is Samantha Jones's archenemy - and the one thing this show consciously does away with in order to stage groundbreaking conversations about sex from the female point of view. And what better way to make it interesting than to have a wildly shameless, borderline nympho at the round table?
Kim Cattrall's urbane and sophisticated version of a femme fatale is probably her most famous alter ego to boot: PR executive Samantha Jones. 'Sam', as she is sometimes affectionately called by the girls - a nickname fraught with double meaning as she is the one character who comes the closest to being able to "have sex like a man" - is also known as SATC's pride and joy: the always hilarious, over-the-top anti-wallflower who has yet to be, in Carrie's words following Samantha's characteristically calm announcement of her would-be temporary lesbian status, "outsexed". Samantha's vociferous frankness about everything from (trying to) sleep with a gay couple to quite rationally considering a relationship with a 'young seventy-three' year-old in a May-to-December romance that would last all of three dates is proof that her mantra when it comes to sex is anything but lip service: "I'm a tri-sexual: I'll try anything once."
Regardless of where you stand on the Samantha's-Crazy scale, if you're a true SATC fan, you have to come to terms with the fact that her character is more than just the perennial line-crosser when it comes to what can and can't be censored on national public television. All four women on the show embody the different impulses and desires ALL women have (in different permutations at different seasons in her life) and Samantha is simply the female libido incarnate. As much or as little as you may think you have in common with her, you most certainly cannot ignore the reality and undeniable existence of what she represents. It would be an understatement to say that the show would be missing something without Samantha. Indeed, an essential voice in the often cacophonous (ever watch The View? Damn guests can hardly get a word in edgewise) conversation that is the female experience. Behind closed doors, we all got a little Sam in us!
Underneath Samantha's outrageous hilarity, though, is a deep-seated fear of getting too close and ultimately losing control - and getting hurt. As many jaw-dropping lines of shocking vulgarity Kim Cattrall's character winds up delivering, it's her humanity that keeps her character relatable, and ultimately more than just a raucous headboard-banging scene stealer. Her cancer-surviving, chemo-enduring status gives her ample street cred with real women everywhere, and Michael Patrick King was equally generous in giving Samantha an unshakable commitment to her girls that comes from a real place - she fights tooth and nail to protect the ones she loves, and above all, reminds the audience how important it is to value oneself. Like Miranda, Samantha's character is a fellow female pioneer in the workplace - fighting and standing up for her self in a predominantly male-led industry, and unashamedly announcing her own value both to her colleagues and to the various men who come in and out of her life.
Samantha's style most definitely announces itself before Kim Cattrall even utters a (curse) word. Bright, vibrant shades in various fabrics from silk to sheer to polyester, and audacious jewelry that you might pass off as 'too much' but for some reason, just looks inexplicably fabulous every time - you can tell Pat Fields just goes to town dressing this truly timeless character. Cattrall's makeup ranges from sexy, nude-y understated looks to the ultra-glam and decidedly modern bright lip in fuchsia or bright cherry red. And Samantha's full-faced 80's makeup look was dead-on - especially the heavily contoured blush - my fave! Bravo to the SATC makeup artists!
The goregeousness just doesn't stop! The woman puts us to shame, really.
Stay tuned for my final thoughts on Carrie, the voice and master storyteller of SATC!
No comments:
Post a Comment