5 Times Charlotte from Sex and the City Was the Most Open-Minded & 5 Times She Really Wasn't

Top 5 Times Charlotte from Sex and the City Was the Most Open-Minded and 5 Times She Really Wasn’t

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the times Charlotte embraced new experiences and times she could be unjustly narrow-minded and critical. While we love her sex-positive attitude in “And Just Like That…” We’ll only be focusing on the original “Sex and the City” television series today.

#5: Open Minded: Posing for Some Intimate Art
“The Power of Female Sex”

Charlotte is a beautiful woman, but she tends to be the least body-confident of the group. That probably has something to do with her conservative upbringing. However, then she meets artist Neville Morgan. His bold celebration of the human form really shakes up her beliefs and makes her see the power of feeling free in her own skin. So, despite her usual discomfort, Charlotte decides to take a leap and lets him paint her—a bold move for someone who doesn’t even feel comfortable disrobing at the spa or examining her own anatomy. Seeing her confidently let go of her preconceptions for the sake of art is nothing short of extraordinary.

#5: Really Wasn’t: Treating Harry Unfairly
“Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little”

Charlotte could be somewhat shallow when it came to romance, and Harry Goldenblatt was a far cry from the guys she was typically attracted to— and boy, does she let him know it. Their relationship starts off just physical, but once they’re officially dating, she tries to change him. Sure, she’s willing to make significant life changes to be with him. However, she still seems to have it in the back of her mind that she could do better, and during one heated Friday night dinner, she tells him as much. It’s heartbreaking to hear that she doesn’t appreciate what a great guy she has just because he doesn’t look like her dream fairytale prince.

#4: Open Minded: Delving into Gender Expression
“Boy, Girl, Boy, Girl…”

This episode is infamous for its closed-minded and inaccurate views on sexuality, with Charlotte and her friends all playing a part. So, it’s surprising to see Charlotte embrace the idea of gender fluidity. At the start of the episode, her friends gather at her gallery for a Drag King exhibition. The artist explains his inspiration for the photos, and we don’t hear her telling him anything about “labels” or “[picking] a side.” Later on, she even agrees to pose for him. Sure, it takes her a beat to feel comfortable in her new look. Still, we appreciate that, once again, she can set aside old presumptions and open her mind to something new.

#4: Really Wasn’t: Accepting Class Disparities
“The Caste System”

When Miranda feels uneasy about the income gap between her and Steve, she brings it up for discussion with her friends. While Carrie and Samantha think that class and income have little to no relevance in the success of a relationship, Charlotte begs to differ. She clings to old-fashioned notions that it's fine for men to outearn women and that class differences matter as much as compatibility in a relationship. Even for the late '90s, she sounds grossly out of touch. It's not that she's entirely wrong about the role of class in society. However, she seems happy to roll with it instead of pushing for equality.

#3: Open Minded: Putting the Work into Her Marriage
Various

When Charlotte and Trey separated, no one could fault her for not fighting for this relationship with everything she had. Sure, there were arguably more red flags than a beach on a stormy day before their nuptials, but they went ahead and tied the knot anyway. However, Trey’s issues with intimacy aren’t fixed by the exchange of wedding rings. Charlotte does everything she can to try and improve the situation, from indulging his fantasies to attending therapy. For someone who tends to be more reserved in the intimacy department, she really puts her all into trying to make things work. We’re glad Trey could appreciate how hard she fought for them (at least for now).

#3: Really Wasn’t: Dismissing Samantha’s Relationship
“What's Sex Got to Do with It?”

Remember when Samantha started dating Maria, an artist she met at Charlotte’s gallery? Remember how disparaging her friends were about it all? Yeah, no one comes off well here. Anyway, when Carrie tells Charlotte and Miranda that Samantha was hurt by their attitudes, Charlotte doubles down on her dismissiveness. Then, when Samantha tries to talk about it, Charlotte is the first one to shut her down. Repeatedly. We know both women have different views on intimacy, but we don’t think it was just Samantha’s colorful descriptions that were making her uncomfortable. After all, we didn’t see her get into a whole tizz when Carrie dished on her intense night with a guy, earlier.

#2: Open Minded: Exploring Intimate Boundaries
Various

Charlotte, often seen as the most traditional among her friends, has surprised us time and time again with her adventurous side. In fact, we'd say she's just as likely, if not more so, as some of her friends to embrace her sexuality. There's the time she goes out with a man known for his unique gifts in making women, erm, purr. How about when she pretended to be in her 20s for a fling? And who could forget the almost-threesome? She also delves into a spot of self-love. Throughout the series, Charlotte has shown an interest in exploring all sorts of bedroom activities. Yet, she's also very clear on her boundaries, which is just as important.

#2: Really Wasn’t: Playing by “The Rules”
Various

That being said, we can understand why people tend to think of her as the antithesis of Samantha. After all, let us remind you how she’s first introduced to viewers. Yeesh, right? Indeed, Charlotte was all about the rules; if marriage was the prize, Charlotte was playing to win! In 1995, authors Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider released “The Rules: Time-tested Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right.” In the early days, it often felt like Charlotte had studied the text devoutly. She didn’t just live by the rules; she was also on a mission to convert her friends to the gospel of dating decorum. Whatever happened to “I choose my choice?” eh, Charlotte?

#1: Open Minded: Finding Your Soulmates
“The Agony and the ‘Ex’-tacy”

In one of the most memorable “Sex and the City” moments, the ladies gather at a coffee shop to celebrate Carrie’s birthday. It had been a disastrous evening for the birthday girl after everyone got held up for various reasons, leaving her feeling very alone. As she shares this with her friends, it’s Charlotte who offers the sweetest consolation. Given how obsessed she can be with finding her forever partner, it’s surprising to hear her flip the script on the whole soulmate idea. She reminds her friends that while men may come and go, their bond is unbreakable. It’s a moment so heartwarming; it’s like a warm hug wrapped around your soul.

#1: Really Wasn’t: Judging Samantha
Various

As we mentioned before, Charlotte and Samantha are typically considered polar opposites in the love department. Charlotte's rulebook often clashes with Sam's “make your own rules” approach. While Sam may raise an eyebrow at Charlotte’s choices, she’s not one to rain on her parade. Charlotte, though? Well, let's just say her opinion of Samantha's love life isn't exactly a secret. We've already talked about Maria, but what about how mean she was after Samantha and her brother hooked up? What about all the times she basically reprimands Samantha for her more free-spirited love life? Even Charlotte can’t deny that sometimes rules are made to be broken. And who taught her that? You guessed it – Samantha.

Which Charlotte moment surprised you, and which made you cringe? Let us know in the comments.