Friendship
Carrie Bradshaw’s Redemption: 7 Times She Was Actually a Good Friend on ‘Sex and the City’
I couldn’t help but wonder, were there times when Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) was actually a good friend? Has she gotten a bad rap?
As it turns out, yes, there have been moments in the series where she wasn’t the actual worst. As a matter of fact, I might be a Carrie apologist. Sure, she’s not the most responsible, brings Big (Chris Noth) up way too often, and is selfish to a fault, yet I like to believe those character flaws are out of inconsideration instead of evil tendencies.
With Manolos on her feet and the perfectly messy curls, Carrie was always ready to take Manhattan by storm. Whomever your favorite might be, Charlotte York (Kristin Davis), Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), or Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon), you have to realize that there were instances that clarified why these incredible women stayed tied to Carrie.
So, scroll down below and read about the seven times Carrie was actually a decent friend.
Do you think Carrie was ultimately a good or a bad friend? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
7. Carrie and Stanford's entire friendship.
Carrie and Stanford Blatch (Willie Garson) fell somewhere in the realm of forever besties and chosen family. Even though she wasn’t as tight with Stanford as she was to the girls, they were always there for each other. No petty fight, stupid squabble, or exchange of words could come between them. And, sure, Carrie also had moments of being less than perfect to Stanford, but he was okay with that. Hey, he even adored that about Carrie.
From dancing with him at “prom” to pretending to be his girlfriend to inherit money, Carrie was there for Stanford when he needed it most. She was even his best man at his wedding to Anthony Marantino (Mario Cantone).
6. Carrie helps Charlotte when she had a wedding breakdown.
Carrie had her fair share of bad friend moments with Charlotte. I mean, remember when she just assumed Charlotte would loan her the money to buy her apartment? Despite that awful moment, Carrie redeemed herself at times.
Notably, Carrie guided Charlotte through a severe wedding freakout. Thinking nothing was good enough while preparing for her wedding to Trey MacDougal (Kyle MacLachlan), Carrie came to the rescue. The journalist decided to be a sounding board for the art dealer, proving that when it really mattered, she was there for her best friends.
When Charlotte was upset about Trey not being able to “get it up,” Carrie was there to soothe Charlotte down so she could walk down the aisle. Sure, the marriage didn’t last, but the memory of Carrie helping her definitely became a core one.
5. Carrie races downtown for Miranda on New Year's Eve
I don’t care what anyone else thinks, Miranda is Carrie’s soulmate. They truly are each other’s best friends. If everyone else disappeared they’d be sad, but as long as this duo stayed intact, they’d be solid.
This was proven when Miranda called Carrie to complain about her lonely ventures on New Year’s Eve in the Sex and the City movie. Carrie couldn’t let this happen and tried to hop in a taxi (on New Year’s Eve!) to get to her buddy in downtown Manhattan. That didn’t work, so she had to settle for the subway, which was so un-Carrie like. It didn’t matter, however, because she would do anything just to help Miranda feel a little less lonely.
4. Carrie defends Miranda after she's fat-shamed.
Carrie is frequently considered to be the worst. Fans of Sex and the City point out that she’s selfish, inconsiderate, and just a downright bad friend. Yes, sometimes she is,
But sometimes, she’s a ride or die. Carrie’s not perfect, but she has been getting way too much hate.
She defended Charlotte, Samantha, and Miranda on multiple occasions. Never forget when she clapped back at random dude who fat-shamed new mom Miranda. Now, Carrie also fat-shamed the guy back, but no one should ever disrespect one of Carrie’s friends in public.
She helped them out in multiple settings, from dive bars in Staten Island to casinos in Atlantic City. This aspect of Carrie Bradshaw is conveniently always forgotten.
3. Carrie helps Miranda when she is grieving.
Another Carrie and Miranda moment on this list? Yes, you betcha — and it’s not even the last one. When Miranda’s mom died, Carrie stopped everything to be there for her friend.
The lawyer always had a tough facade, but even the strongest of us need a good cry. When her mother suddenly passed away, Miranda couldn’t contain her grief.
As Miranda walked in the funeral procession alone, Carrie jumped up in the middle of a pew in order to be closer to Miranda. She stood beside Miranda as her friend let out her sadness.
For once, Carrie didn’t make this moment about her. She was just a shoulder to cry on.
2. Carrie goes with Miranda to an abortion clinic.
Carrie is a pro-choice queen, which is not surprising. Our girl believes in the right to choose what to do with your own body, so, of course, she helped Miranda figure what she wanted to do. Carrie stood by Miranda and accepted whatever decision her friend made.
Sticking to her guns about that statement, Carrie actually pulled through when Brady was born. In a rare move, she dropped what she was doing with Big and raced to the hospital to be there for Miranda. She even defended the first person in her close friend group to have a baby when Samantha complained about it.
1. Carrie is there for Samantha in her time of need.
Some think she should’ve cried, others think it was the most selfless move Carrie ever made in the original series. I am part of the latter group.
In Season 6, Samantha told her best friend that she had cancer and begged Carrie to not make it a big deal. Visibly taken aback by the news, Carrie tried everything in her power to make sure Samantha’s wish was granted. She was a pillar of support for Samantha. Carrie didn’t even want to think about the possibility of Samantha dying, even when the powerful woman tried to make her realize that it could be an option. Luckily, Carrie was right, and Samantha went into remission.
In one her darkest moments, Samantha wanted to tell only one person, and it was Carrie. That’s the definition of a close friendship.
