Miranda’s Latest Cringe ‘And Just Like That’ Sex Scene? An Aborted Threesome with Che and Lyle

**SPOILERS FOR AND JUST LIKE THAT SEASON 2 EPISODE 4 “ALIVE!”, NOW STREAMING ON MAX**

In just the first four episodes of And Just Like That… Season 2 on Max, Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) has experimented with strap ons, improved her oral sex game, and gotten it on with Che Diaz (Sara Ramírez) in a hot tub during broad daylight. This week, she finds her limit. In And Just Like That... Season 2 Episode 4 “ALIVE!”, Miranda finds herself organically pulled into a threeway with Che and their ex-husband Lyle (Oliver Hudson). While the former spouses seem totally comfortable with the situation, Miranda struggles to conquer her nerves and eventually taps out. It’s a cringe-y, comic moment that evokes some of the sloppiest sex scenes in Sex and the City history. Which means it felt like a natural evolution for Miranda within the context of And Just Like That…even if it was awkward to watch!

In the first season of And Just Like That…, Miranda Hobbes realizes that she’s not only unfulfilled in her long-term marriage to Steve Brady (David Eigenberg), but that she’s also attracted to Carrie’s (Sarah Jessica Parker) non-binary co-worker Che Diaz. The two have an illicit hookup in Carrie’s kitchen before Miranda comes clean about her feelings. When And Just Like That… Season 2 begins, Miranda and Che are enjoying a proverbial honeymoon period in their romance in Los Angeles. Che is working on their pilot while Miranda works on herself. They have difficult, but constructive conversations about their feelings, but most of all, they have a lot of sex.

While on the west coast, Miranda also discovers that Che used to be married to Lyle. Well, technically, they’re still married to Lyle. And on good terms. Case in point: when Miranda and Carrie visit Che in their new luxe NYC apartment, Lyle is there. He drove Che’s possessions cross country and now is welcome to crash in the half-furnished abode. So when Lyle passes out on Che’s bed, Miranda and Che have no other obvious choice but to sleep beside him.

In the middle of the night, Miranda and Che begin hooking up with Lyle passed out cold next to them. But Lyle doesn’t stay asleep for long. When he realizes what’s happening, he begins to partake, which naturally freaks Miranda out. She explains she needs a minute to think about whether or not she wants to proceed with an impromptu threesome. She does. Well, until she doesn’t.

Miranda’s start-stop approach to the potential threesome feels extremely on brand for Miranda, old Miranda or new Miranda. Old Miranda was arguably the biggest prude of the original SATC quartet while new Miranda operates on a constant wave of anxiety. Sure, she’s open to new experiences with Che, but does that include the mess of including their ex in a threesome? Maybe Lyle and Che are comfortable with swinging, but is Miranda? No, is Miranda literally physically comfortable being a third? The answer to that last question is a resounding “no” as she gets a Charley Horse attempting to mount the other two people in the equation.

Miranda getting a Charley Horse mid-threesome feels almost quaint in how it tracks with the legacy of Sex and the City. The original series was chockfull of stories about sex gone wrong (in between the tales of sex gone extremely right). Miranda’s awkward escapade with Che and Lyle merged the Miranda of the past with the Miranda we know now.

It might have been truly painful to watch, but Miranda’s failed threesome in this week’s And Just Like That... was a success in terms of character development.