by Kari Nichols

Created on: August 18, 2009

Sex and the City is a fun romp, filled with the kind of eye candy that feeds hot fantasy, typical of the superficial standards the rest of the world expects from Americans. But is that all there is to it?

Sex and the City has ultimately revealed the answer to the one question Carrie never raised: is all the high living and lavish spending as satisfying as a real relationship with the right person? Flagrant acquisitiveness did not get any of the principal characters what they really wanted. Sure, the window dressing is the absolute definition of mindless decadence, but ultimately it doesn't keep you warm at night.

1) Carrie's work gave her celebrity status to flit around the high fashion industry, and she lived for shoe shopping. But all the style and shoes were retail therapy to get her through until Big finally got the wake up call and realized Carrie was 'the one'.

2) Carrie still nearly blew the whole relationship with the interference of - you guessed it - all the bling. The wedding dress, which came between them, just demonstrated how the obsession with 'stuff' was a good way to lose sight of what she really craved - her soul mate.

3) Miranda, no matter how she fought it, found that she was ultimately happy with Steve, her unglamorous bartender partner. All her class and money and power job gave her satisfaction, but Steve gave her the peace of mind to put it all together and deal with the rest of life.

4) Charlotte knew what she wanted but not how to find it. He arrived not as a smokin' stud, but an ordinary mensch who cared about her deeply, regardless of her flaws. A solid touchstone to balance her flightiness.

5) Samantha attained great job and financial success, also, but feared monogamy would be too restraining. With the right mate, she found it actually freed her to enjoy her own life more fully. She's still demanding, but the right partner for her is one that is happy to bend to her will.

Interestingly, the guys seem to have their heads on straighter than anyone. Stanford enjoys the perks, but doesn't try to be Elton John. Anthony the Wedding Planner is surrounded by stylish bridezillas, but he knows it's all meaningless and just for show. They both know what each really wants is a deep and meaningful relationship.

The plain truth is that stories of poor people finding love just isn't particularly pretty or interesting, cinematically. A spree at WalMart doesn't have the same adrenalin rush as Dolce and Gabbana. The girls could easily be workers in a factory or warehouse, who don't have the money to go to classy clubs and on spending sprees. The stores, the clothes, the clubs, the money - it's all a dazzling distraction!

Yes, a lot of their time and energy is wasted on shallow and superficial pursuits of fashion, glamour, and casual sex. But what made each woman happy was the trusting friendship they shared with one another, and the deep peaceful feeling of having a partner you can trust with your feelings. Moles, flatulence and all.

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