Four or five years ago, when I first attempted to watch the HBO original series “Sex and The City”, I was bitterly disappointed with the program. I thought that the constant parade of bed jumping and label-whoring displayed by the characters on the show was a false representation of what life for single women in New York City is really about. Now, thanks to my friends (who more or less coerced me into giving the show a second chance), I can say that I am a regular viewer of the program. Unlike the show’s characters, I’m not a socialite, I don’t live in a fancy apartment or go to the Hamptons on the weekends, and I don’t have a zillion pairs of strappy shoes that I wear about town. I do however find striking parallels with some of the things that happen to the SATC gals and my own friends – contrary to my original impression, I think the show does a decent job portraying snippits of New York City living, the sex part and otherwise.

This season’s schedule was abbreviated, and as Sarah Jessica Parker’s womb grew they scrambled to tape episodes that wouldn’t show Carrie with child (what a doozie that would have been to work into the plot.) A shortened season warrants a shortened review, so here are my top-level thoughts on Carrie et al:

Carrie – Jen and I agree, Sarah Jessica is getting, for lack of a better word, a bit campy this season. Most of her lines seem to be delivered in anticipation of a ba-dum-dum-tsssssh. It’s as if she’s become a caricature of herself. Still, Carrie can be witty, charming, and in spite of her occasional neuroses (the Aiden episode? Yeeesh, that was painful), she’s an endearing character. Favorite moment – when she scared away Burger at the Gay-Straight wedding. When he meets her later on the dance floor, I found the moment, although a bit contrived, sweet. After having a recent brush with the butterflies myself, I can say that she portrays a hurt-before but head-over-heels-in-crush dreamer… perfectly.

Miranda – Miranda has become my favorite. Perhaps it’s the brilliance with which Cynthia Nixon portrays her – I find her to be the most believable character on the show. I’m also a big fan of dry wit, and Miranda’s about as dry as the desert (I know, I was just there.) She definitely scores laugh out loud points with me every episode. But there is also a sadness to Miranda, as she develops into a caring mother while her friends struggle with the adjustment to having a baby around to spoil their good time. She had some challenging moments this season, but we’ve seen her successfully return to work, and even get laid a few times. Way to go, Miranda. Favorite moment – during one of their breakfast chats, she encourages Samantha to think of the baby carriage as a big purse. She was also quick to interject, while on the topic of sex – “Use a condom!”

Samantha -- For some reason, whenever I used to take those silly online quizzes about which SATC character you are most like, I would be paired with Samantha. Maybe it’s my liberal attitude towards sex and relationships that align me with the queen of the one night stand. Either that, or it’s the vibrators. Favorite moment – returning the Sharper Image neck massager. Up until this episode, I was going to write about a similar experience I had with a Brookstone “massager”. Thanks to this episode, I don’t have to. (Why won’t they admit the true purpose behind this product? WHY?! Pick up a Brookstone catalog and look at where the models are rubbing these items… their elbow, their neck, their back. Anywhere but where the product was designed to be used. It’s like Victoria’s Secret denying their catalog is for men. Wake up!)

Charlotte -- Charlotte has never been my favorite character, probably because I find her prim demeanor boring and two-dimensional. She’s always dreaming about romance and all the fluff that people like me are skeptical of. But this season, she turned herself around, and got a poorly dressed, sloppy, bad mannered bed buddy. Obviously this guy was her exact opposite, but her fears about being in public with him remind me of some anxious moments I’ve experienced before introducing Jerry and Stevie to guys I’m interested in (or just having sex with.) Somehow having good looking gay friends puts a lot of pressure on a girl to bring the hotties home. The boys have kept me in line… so far… but I can see how a guy like Charlotte’s can sneak in under the radar. Favorite moment – when she plants a kiss on Harry in his bedroom just moments after turning her nose up at his love den.

So that’s it, the highlights and the lowlights of Sex and the City this summer. Too brief for anything important to develop, it was a fun little season, and ended too soon. I just hope I don’t start watching the Anna Nicole Show now that it’s over.