It didn’t lecture us

Let’s get this out of the way – SATC was indisputably glossy, materialistic and, quite frankly, ridiculous in places. Of course Carrie couldn’t afford all of those Manolos, and yes she could be very, very self-involved. But that’s the point. Would the show really have inspired such affection if it was about four women with perfectly progressive opinions and impeccable behaviour? Which of your feminist friends isn’t flawed and a bit hypocritical at times? Who doesn’t fall for the wrong men? We needed to care about these women for them to make an impact – they needed to seem real.

The fashion did serve its purpose

Just because Miranda and Samantha were nailing it in the office, it didn’t mean they were giving up on sex. Anyone who has ever been labeled a ‘career woman’, with all that that entails, will appreciate seeing professional women on screen looking for love as well as a corner office, and wanting a successful career on their own terms, without sacrificing their femininity. SATC set the trend for presenting important subject matter in a glamorous way, and its influence can still be felt in shows like Big Little Lies.

Here, spectacular scenery and great fashion go hand in hand with horrendous scenes of domestic violence, and the show is all the richer for it. Intended to air for just a limited run, the phenomenally well-received Big Little Lies immediately found a huge audience in the US (7.1 million rising to 9 million for the finale) and gripped millions more worldwide, pushing HBO to commission a second series – starring none other than the phenomenal Meryl Streep.

Can you enjoy watching Sex and the City as a feminist?