The essential episodes of Sex and the City
Watch these 15 in order and you've got Sex and the City — each pick states its reason.
- 01
At a birthday party for thirty-something Miranda, Carrie and her friends vow to stop worrying about finding the "perfect" male and start having sex "like men". Carrie has several encounters with tycoon heartthrob Mr. Big. Miranda starts dating nice-guy Skipper Johnston. Charlotte goes on a date with Capote Duncan, but when she tells him she won't have sex with him, he goes to a club and winds up going home with Samantha.
- 02
Carrie bumps into international party-girl Amalita and her latest man Carlo in a shoe store, who in turn introduce her to a French Architect, Gilles. He leaves Carrie $1,000 on the nightstand after a one-night stand. Charlotte meets Neville Morgan, a renowned artist, who paints pictures of her vagina for his latest exhibition.
- 03
A frustrated Carrie tries to get Big to make time to meet the girls. Miranda meets Steve Brady, a cute bartender who wants to be more than a one-night stand. Samantha dates an incredibly wealthy man in his seventies with a sumptuous lifestyle and a pocket full of Viagra.
- 04
Carrie gets fed up with high society while at an Upper East Side party with Big. Miranda and Steve have an argument over money and social status. Charlotte meets Wiley Ford, the movie star and joins his entourage. Samantha dates a wealthy real-estate developer with a Southeast Asian live-in servant who has her master wrapped around her little finger.
- 05
Carrie is horrified when Big casually tells her he's moving to Paris for seven months. Miranda dates a man who only wants to have sex in places where they might get caught. Charlotte meets Buster, a high-end shoe salesman with a serious foot fetish. Samantha introduces the girls to a hot new S&M restaurant.
- 06
Carrie starts going to therapy after obsessing about Big for too long. Offended by the diagnosis of dating men who are wrong for her, she dates cute fellow-patient Seth (Jon Bon Jovi)...a guy who loses interest in women after sleeping with them. Miranda plays "peek-a-boo" with her cute across-the-airshaft neighbor. Samantha dates a sports fanatic whose mood depends on who won the game that night.
- 07
Twenty-Something Girls vs. Thirty-Something Women
Carrie unexpectedly runs into Mr. Big—and his new 27-year-old girlfriend, Natasha—at a Hamptons party. Miranda tries in vain to have some mature fun in the Hamptons. Charlotte pretends to be in her twenties so she can date a cute 26-year-old. Samantha's 25-year-old ex-assistant is hired to throw a big Hamptons party using her Rolodex for the guest list.
- 08
After learning of Big's engagement, a freaked-out Carrie tries to cope with the ramifications. Miranda sleeps with Steve for the first time after their breakup. Charlotte tries to overcome her fear of horseback riding. Samantha dates a guy who's "Mr. Too-Big", determined to overcome his over-endowment.
- 09
Carrie continues dating her politician beau, but finds his sexual fetish to be anything but 'golden'. Miranda doesn't know how to respond when Steve asks her to "go steady". Charlotte throws a "used date" party to find a new man. Samantha dates a short man who shops at the Boy's Department in Bloomingdale's.
- 10
Carrie dates a hunky comic-book store owner who still lives with his parents. Miranda gets braces. Charlotte is shocked when she catches the supposedly impotent Trey masturbating. Samantha's latest client is Jenny Brier (Kat Dennings), a 13-year-old Jewish-American princess, planning her million-dollar bat mitzvah.
- 11
Carrie thinks about men and the future when no one shows up for her birthday party. Miranda confronts her married friends about her single life. Charlotte tries to deal with her separation from Trey. Samantha tries to seduce a celibate monk. The girls make a pact that they are soulmates, and men are nice guys to have fun with.
- 12
Carrie is reluctant when asked to be a celebrity model in a high-profile fashion show. Miranda gets a lesson in confidence when a buff guy at the gym asks her out. Charlotte works up the courage to look at her "depressed" vagina in a hand-mirror. Samantha immortalizes herself by having nude photographs taken.
- 13
Carrie desperately tries to get everyone together for Charlotte's "thirty-faux" birthday. Charlotte doesn't want to turn 36 because she feels she's getting old. Miranda goes to Atlantic City with the girls, feeling self-conscious about her weight. Samantha is paranoid that Richard is cheating with the entire female hotel staff.
- 14
Carrie's shoes are stolen at a party; the hostess (Tatum O'Neal) not only refuses to apologize, but shames her for her extravagant footwear — and lifestyle choices. Miranda gets chicken pox, and she flirts with the handsome black doctor who just moved into her building. Charlotte must adjust to living with Harry (and his tea bags) in her pristine apartment. Children misbehaving in nice restaurants annoy Samantha.
- 15
An American Girl in Paris (Part Deux)
Carrie is desperately lonely in Paris as Petrovsky is spending so much time on his new exhibit. The chemo treatments are killing Samantha's sex drive. Miranda must take care of Steve's mother after she has a stroke. Charlotte and Harry try to adopt a baby. Big finds Carrie in Paris and says the words she's been waiting six years to hear.
Shows like Sex and the City
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Drama·Comedy·CrimeThe essential episodes of Fargo2014·FX
Fargo is a seasonal anthology crime drama with some dark comical elements, inspired by the film Fargo written by the Coen brothers. - 02Drama·Comedy·CrimeThe essential episodes of The Rookie2018–present·ABCThe Rookie is inspired by a true story. John Nolan is the oldest rookie in the LAPD.
- 03Drama·Comedy·SportsThe essential episodes of Ted Lasso2020–present
Ted Lasso centers on an idealistic — and clueless — all-American football coach hired to manage an English football club — despite having no soccer coaching experience at all. - 04Drama·Comedy·FoodThe essential episodes of The Bear2022–present·Hulu
Carmy, a young fine-dining chef, comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop. - 05Drama·Comedy·CrimeThe essential episodes of Tulsa King2022–present·Paramount+
Tulsa King follows New York mafia capo Dwight "The General" Manfredi, just after he is released from prison after 25 years and unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma. - 06Drama·Comedy·FamilyThe essential episodes of Shameless2011–2021·Paramount+ with Showtime
Shameless is a fiercely engaging and fearlessly twisted series.
