By DELANEE BOGAN
Set in the 1980’s, the CW’s new television series, The Carrie Diaries, lacks originality.
The Carrie Diaries is a prequel to the well known Sex and the City series. While it has a different set of characters and a different plot, true fans of Sex and the City will find that The Carrie Diaries contains the same sense of humor and characters that resemble each other.
After the death of her mother, Carrie Bradshaw (Annasophia Robb, Soul Surfer) struggles in school and can only depend on a few friends to help her through her loss. She has a younger rebellious sister, Dorrit (Stefania Owen, Running Wilde) who she has to look after when her father (Matt Letscher, Eli Stone) isn’t around.
Seeing his daughter struggling in school, Carrie’s dad lands her an internship at a law firm in Manhattan, NY. She lives in suburban Connecticut and has no interest in her new internship but is in awe with the fashion opportunities in the city.
While shopping for new clothes in Manhattan she accidently bumps into editor Larissa (Freemas Agyeman, Doctor Who) from a famous magazine. Carrie is inspired by Larissa’s sense of fashion and lifestyle which give the television series a unique twist in comparison to other popular television shows.
Larissa notices Carries’ bag, which was her mother’s that her sister ruined by spilling nail polish on it and makes conversation about how Larissa wants to feature it in her next photo shoot.
After meeting Larissa she finds herself going to a party with her, and everyone there including Larissa thinks she is older and out of college. Not only is she falling in love with Manhattan but also the new boy at school.
The new mysterious bad boy, Sebastian (Austin Butler, Life Unexpected, and Switched at Birth) has girls falling at his feet, but is only interested in Carrie because they share the same experience in losing their mothers.
The show lacks an interesting plot and it often leaves viewers disappointed. Watching it, one can see how this show isn’t different from other popular shows.
Despite the interesting fashion in Manhattan, the show is too predictable. The show is not boring but it lacks substance and suspense, as well as plot twists. The Carrie Diaries may be a decent television series but it cannot compete with Sex and the City.
The 411
Show Title: The Carrie Diaries
Release date: 1/14/2013
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars