And Just Like That … Peloton Makes Its to HBO
Before we get into it, I want to let you know that this post contains spoilers for And Just Like That…, a reboot of Sex and the City that I found boring and full of forced dynamics among the cast members.
But, I do want to talk about the Peloton scene and how it fits into the broader world And Just Like That… is building.
This iteration of the SATC saga is primarily working to right the perceived wrongs of the original by thrusting as many people of color into the lives of Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte as possible. In the two debut episodes, the most egregious example of this is involves Miranda who, among other things, makes a stomach-turning gaffe about Dr. Nya Wallace’s braids, a Black woman and professor at Columbia Law, on their first meeting. And every interaction afterward is equally exhausting and crafted to soften Nya’s initial aversion to Miranda, who has gone full white savior and is forcing her “good white person”-ness onto a Black woman who happens to be her superior.
I want to be clear that this isn’t shocking behavior. (Remember how Miranda’s move to Brooklyn was treated in the original? Or Samantha’s club meltdown?) Still, it felt like the reboot was trying too hard to make up for the social contours they failed to address in SATC—while still trekking into stereotypes—to convince the viewers that the trio has evolved with the times. (Example: Jess King, a real life Peloton instructor, plays Allegra, a stereotypically “spicy” Spanish speaker.)
So why am I shouting at my Apple TV about this when the piece is supposed to be focus on the Peloton? I think the bike cameo and Big’s death felt contrived, too.
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy it when a show is bold enough to kill off a main character, and it’s probably nothing more than a macabre move that will open Carrie up to explore dating in a new way.
But Big’s heart attack happened immediately after he finished his 1,000th ride? A hallmark that leads me to believe the guy was in pretty good shape—especially if the Peloton was a pandemic purchase for the Prestons—despite his weekly cigar, the intensity of the workout, and his heart attack in the original series. It felt forced!
A statement from Peloton cardiologist Suzanne Steinbaum to the LA Times confirmed my assessment:
"I'm sure SATC fans, like me, are saddened by the news that Mr. Big dies of a heart attack. Mr. Big lived what many would call an extravagant lifestyle—including cocktails, cigars, and big steaks—and was at serious risk as he had a previous cardiac event in Season 6. These lifestyle choices and perhaps even his family history, which often is a significant factor, were the likely cause of his death. Riding his Peloton Bike may have even helped delay his cardiac event."
“More than 80% of all cardiac-related deaths are preventable through lifestyle, diet and exercise modifications. And while 25% of heart attacks each year are in patients who already had one (like Mr. Big), even then they are very, very treatable. The lesson here is, KNOW YOUR NUMBERS! It’s always important to talk to your doctor, get tested, and have a healthy prevention strategy. The good news is Peloton helps you track heart rate while you ride, so you can do it safely.”
All what I had to say being said, the sequence does say quite a bit about our skewed perceptions of health and fitness. We often tend to think of our physical health as a direct result of our personal choices. We do this or that and the outcome is a long life or a gruesome death, which isn’t even close to the reality of how our bodies work nor does it account for the toll of societal systems on us. (The tax is significantly less for a wealthy cisgender white man.) That line of thinking provides comfort by allowing us to believe we have control over the inevitable when we don’t.
And Just Like That…, by springing Big’s death on us, in a way subverts this idea and makes it clear that death is inevitable. It will happen whenever it does. It’s just a shame that it happened as soon as he hopped off his Peloton.