Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Sex and the City: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Neil Lumbard November 4, 2021

Sex and the City is one of the most important and culturally significant television series of the 20^th century: a series unafraid to talk about sex from the female perspective. The series explores the sex lives, relationships, and friendships of four intelligent and strong-willed women living in New York City: Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Charlotte York, and Miranda Hobbes. Executive produced by director Michael Patrick King, creator Darren Star, and actress Sarah Jessica Parker, Sex and the City is television at its finest.

The beloved HBO comedy-drama is based on the bestselling book by Candace Bushnell (published under the same name). Developed-for- television by Darren Star (Emily in Paris, Younger), Sex and the City spanned 94 episodes over six seasons and was continued with the sequel feature-films: Sex and the City: The Movie and Sex and the City 2. The Sex and the City series is continued via an HBO Max sequel entitled And Just Like That... (streaming December 2021).

Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) is a successful writer and columnist for The New York Star, where she publishes her beloved “Sex and the City” column. Carrie is the central protagonist of the program. Exploring her writing career and rocky love-life, Sex and the City is told from Carrie's perspective (as she narrates her story). Carrie struggles with an “off-on” romantic partner in businessman Mr. Big (Chris Noth).

Sex and the City also explores the lives of Carrie's closest friends: Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte York (Kristin Davis), and Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon). As the story unfolds, Sex and the City delves into the significant roles each woman plays in each-others personal lives. The tale is as much one of friendship (and its importance) as it is of finding love.

Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall) is the most outgoing sexually of the four women (and she's never afraid to explore her sexuality). Samantha is a strongly outspoken woman with a business career in Public Relations. Self declaring herself as “try-sexual” (meaning she'll try anything sexual at least once), Samantha finds herself in more unique sexual “proclivities” than her friends. She wishes to be independent and have sex “like a man” (without emotional attachment).

Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) is a sweet-as-pie perfectionist who works at an art gallery. Charlotte is arguably the most optimistic of the four lead women (and she often finds herself dreaming about the possibility of true love and meeting a “knight in shining armor” to marry). Sex and the City explores Charlotte's search for love in all of its complexities. Charlotte later meets Harry Goldenblatt (Evan Handler), her second husband, and her core romantic-partner. Despite some peculiar differences between the two, romance struck as unexpectedly as it blossomed.

Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) is a serious-minded independent woman who pushes herself to be career-oriented and goal-driven. Miranda often proclaims her critical and cynical views on men – despite longing to find a special someone. The series explores her struggles in the dating world, particularly given her own misgivings about men. Yet despite all misgivings, Miranda meets a decidedly quirky confidant in Steve (David Eigenberg).

Sex and the City has an eclectic cast of supporting players – including Carrie's best male-friend, Stanford Blatch (Willie Garson), a constant ray of sunshine in her world and a good friend when needed. As Carrie's relationship with Mr. Big finds pitfalls, Carrie becomes romantically involved with Aidan Shaw (John Corbett). Aleksandr Petrovsky (Mikhail Baryshnikov) is a Russian artist who Carrie also becomes involved with during the final season of the series – though the pair discover they have conflicting views about the nature of love.

And so it begins...

The ensemble manages to imbue each of the central characters with a unique personality, style, and sensibility. Sarah Jessica Parker is a confident and charming lead. The journey of Carrie Bradshaw becomes one that everyone in the audience roots for – and the magic of the series is all the more compelling because of her strong performance.

Kim Cattrall is a scene-stealer who imbues the role of Samantha with a sly charm that is undeniably fun-to-watch. Much of the “sex” in Sex and the City is because of her part. Kristin Davis is a delight as sweet-natured Charlotte. Cynthia Nixon is sometimes the M.V.P.: providing a warmth, intelligence, and charm as Miranda that adds a great deal to the series.

Sex and the City never shies away from discussing women's issues involving sex and sexuality. The series never wavered from discussing female sexuality – that aspect of the series made it one of the most culturally relevant programs on television. The series explores the characters close friendships, professional careers, and romantic-entanglements while remembering to make the characters real, nuanced, and layered. Sex and the City wisely knows women want sex as much as men do (and isn't afraid to discuss it).

The series has a beautiful aesthetic: the production design by Jeremy Conway (Sex and the City: The Movie, Sex and the City 2) showcases the majesty of New York City and its fun nightlife scene. The cinematography by John Thomas (The Carrie Diaries), Michael Spiller (Significant Others), and Florian Ballhaus (The Devil Wears Prada) is filmic and beautiful (with outstanding visual flair throughout the series).

The costumes by Patricia Field (Ugly Betty), Rebecca Weinberg (Spin City), and Molly Rogers (Murphy Brown) make a big splash: the costume designs were inventive throughout and managed to imbue each character with a distinctive style. Field notably gifted each actress with great costumes that helped make the series such a memorable fashion showcase. Audiences were thrilled to tune in every week to see the new costume changes.

Sex and the City was all the more invigorating with writers Darren Star (Emily in Paris) and Michael Patrick King (The Comeback) ushering in the story – working alongside a group of exceptional staff writers, including Julie Rottenberg (Smash), Elisa Zuritsky (Odd Mom Out), Liz Tuccillo (Take Care), Amy Harris (The Carrie Diaries), and Jenny Bicks (The Big C). The characters were well-written and multi-faceted. The storyline had plenty of surprises. The series always full of creativity – brimming in originality and wit.

Michael Patrick King (2 Broke Girls, And Just Like That...) crafted a compelling vision as head-director of Sex and the City. The series explored the lives of Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Charlotte York, and Miranda Hobbes with sensitivity and elegance. Few television programs tap into what it means to be single as well as Sex and the City. Exploring these characters through their ups and downs (and their sometimes tumultuous relationships), Sex and the City is essential. An ode to love and to friendship.

Sex and the City: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Warner Bros., Sex and the City: The Complete Series is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in a 1.78:1 widescreen aspect ratio. Though the series was originally broadcast in 4:3 (full frame), the widescreen scope ratio (with open-matte framing) is impressive. The picture-quality looks spectacular at times and the transfer benefits from having a naturally filmic sensibility. The series never looks overly harsh or digital and instead retains a more cinematic style that makes the series feel more engaging to watch. The high-definition upgrade is a big one: having seen the series previously on DVD, the picture-quality improvements are outstanding and any die-hard fan would be remiss to overlook the upgrade.

Please Note: Season 5 of Sex and the City is curiously labeled as "Season 5 – Disc 1" and no other discs are provided for the season. This is a small technical error, the entire fifth season is provided (episodes #1-#8).

Sex and the City: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound. The lossless, high resolution audio is a considerable upgrade. Dialogue sounds crisp and clear throughout the series presentation. The music soundtrack (both songs and score tracks) makes a nice impression. The surrounds are mostly engaged for added ambiance and to expand the music soundstage. Series enthusiasts will be thrilled with the high-fidelity audio upgrade.

Optional French audio is provided. Optional English SDH subtitles (for the deaf and hard of hearing are provided). The release also includes optional French and Dutch subtitles.

Sex and the City: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Please Note:

Sex and the City: The Complete Series comes packaged alongside both Sex and the City: The Movie and Sex and the City 2. Both feature-films are presented on Blu-ray and are re-packaged from the earlier releases of the films.

Season 1, Disc 2:

Inside Sex and the City (SD, 3:52)

Season 2, Disc 3:

Meet the Cast of Sex and the City (SD, 8:25)

Season 3, Disc 2:

"Easy Come, Easy Go" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Michael Patrick King

"All or Nothing" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer Michael Patrick King

"Running with Scissors" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Michael Patrick King

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer Michael Patrick King

The Writers of Sex and the City (SD, 3:53)

The Fashion of Sex and the City (SD, 3:23)

Sex and the City: Real New Yorkers (SD, 2:28)

Season 4, Disc 3:

"The Good Fight" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Michael Patrick King

"Change of a Dress" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer Michael Patrick King

"I Heart NY" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Michael Patrick King

Season 5:

"Anchors Away" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Michael Patrick King

"Plus One is the Loneliest Number" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer/Director Michael Patrick King

"I Love a Charade" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer/Co-Writer Michael Patrick King

Behind the Scenes with Patricia Field (SD, 21:28)

Season 6, Part 1 – Disc 1:

"To Market, to Market" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer/Director Michael Patrick King

"Great Sexpectations" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer/Director Michael Patrick King

Season 6, Part 1 – Disc 2:

"Boy, Interrupted" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer Michael Patrick King

"One" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Michael Patrick King

Museum of TV & Radio Seminar Series – Sex and the City (SD, 32:34) features a discussion on the series (as held on October 1, 2003).

Season 6, Part 2 – Disc 1:

"Let There Be Light" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer/Director Michael Patrick King

Season 6, Part 2 – Disc 2:

"Splat!" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer Michael Patrick King

"An American Girl in Paris (Part Une)" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Michael Patrick King

"An American Girl in Paris (Part Deux)" Audio Commentary by Executive Producer/Writer Michael Patrick King

Farewell Tribute 1 (SD, 26:30)

Farewell Tribute 2 (SD, 25:55)

USCAF Writers' Panel Discussion (SD, 48: 32)

Alternate Series Finale Endings: Alt Ending 1 (SD, 00:48)

Alternate Series Finale Endings: Alt Ending 2 (SD, 1:10)

Alternate Series Finale Endings: Alt Ending 3 (SD, 1:22)

Deleted Scenes (SD, 11:32)

Sex and the City: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Sex and the City is one of the best television series of all time. Exploring the lives of Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Charlotte York, and Miranda Hobbes, Sex and the City is as much a series about the characters sex lives as it is a story about the importance of close friendship. The series had a great run with six seasons (comprising 94 episodes) and two feature-films. Warner Bros. has provided the complete series (alongside both films) and the release comes jam-packed with bonus features. A must-own for series fans. Highly recommended.