Did Sex and the City hint at Berger's red flags sooner than we realised?

Jack Berger was introduced in Sex and the City Season 5 Episode 5, 'Plus One is the Loneliest Number as a struggling writer yet a charming guy. Carrie, the protagonist of the show, and a hopeless romantic, met him for the first time at a publisher's meeting and was easily smitten by him. Carrie, who was head over heels for Berger, might have overlooked the red flags in their relationship, but those tiny details did not escape the viewer's eyes.

Jack Berger's exit from Sex and the City may be remembered as one of the pettiest breakups in TV history- a scribbled Post-it note left on Carrie's nightstand- but if we rewind just a few episodes, we might see that there were always subtle hints about Berger feeling intimidated by Carrie's success.

The red flags were subtle, tucked behind the charm and witty one-liners, but they were present. Continue reading to know more!

Jack Berger was always a red flag in Sex and the City- Here's the proof

We run into the first hint when he casually mentions owning a house in the Hamptons. Now, for those who have an idea about real estate, know that the Hamptons is one of the most expensive regions in the country. However, it did not cause a stir, mostly because the series revolved around characters who had access to luxury.

But on re-watching the series, one question that bothers most of the viewers is how a struggling writer like Jack Berger could afford a house in the Hamptons. The answer is quite simple – Berger comes from an affluent family. Especially after his first and only book flopped, he continued to live in his apartment in Manhattan, zipped around on a brand new motorcycle, and spent weekends at a beach house.

Berger was also quite jealous of Carrie's success. When she brought him a Prada shirt after receiving her book advance of almost $25,000, his reaction wasn't pleasant. It was envy; his fragile ego couldn't handle her success. This toxic dynamic quietly ended their relationship. Berger's passive aggressiveness, his insecurity, and his inability to communicate with his girlfriend were all the red flags that Carrie missed noticing. These red flags were carefully planted early, so when the breakup occurred via the Post-it, it was not a shocking plot twist. Berger couldn't handle discomfort, and certainly couldn't handle being the second best. The signs of his toxicity were always there. Viewers just had to stop romanticizing his charm long enough to see the spoiled entitlement and ungrateful energy he had throughout his relationship with Carrie.

In a show like Sex and the City, which gave us love stories both messy and magical, Berger's stood out not for how it ended but for how clearly the warning signs were present from their first meeting.

For the unversed, here's the synopsis of Sex and the City via HBO,

"Sarah Jessica Parker stars as Carrie Bradshaw, a New York writer who finds inspiration for her column from the genuine, emotional, and often humorous exploits of her friends and lovers."

Sex and the City is available to rent/buy on Apple TV+ and for streaming on HBO Max.

Also read: 10 iconic songs from "Sex and the City" that defined the show

Trending

Tune in to SoapCentral for more such updates.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback