And Just Like That… season 1 was painful to watch. It stripped away the interesting conversations and themes that made Sex and the City so good to begin with. In its place, the updated series gave us characters who no longer had the same depth, touched on personal issues and journeys in the most shallow way possible, and struggled to make any of it interesting. And Just Like That… season 2 is a step up from season 1, but the bar is very, very low. I wasn’t expecting it to be a whole lot better, nor was I kidding myself in thinking it would have the quality of the original HBO series. But while there are moments that offer genuine warmth and humor, season 2 is plagued by more of the same surface-level nonsense. At this point, it’s simply unforgivable.

Season 2 picks up shortly after And Just Like That’s season 1 ending. Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) is now seeing her podcast producer Franklin (Ivan Hernandez), but doesn’t want anything serious; Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) has moved to Los Angeles with Che Diaz (Sara Ramirez), who’s filming a comedy pilot; and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is trying to balance her life amidst her children’s ever-changing needs and growth. Meanwhile, Nya (Karen Pittman), Miranda’s professor-turned-friend is struggling to date post-breakup; Seema (Sarita Choudhury), a real estate agent and Carrie’s friend (and sort-of replacement for Samantha), can’t seem to find the right guy; and Lisa (Nicole Ari Parker) is working on a documentary while still trying to manage her family.

Above all else, And Just Like That is aimless. Yes, things happen and the barely-there characters develop, if at a very slow pace, but there’s no energy to anything. Conversations and scenes are half-baked and they move on just as things are getting remotely interesting. One such conversation, a lively one involving Charlotte and her sex life with Harry (Evan Handler), felt like it could’ve been discussed on Sex and the City, is ultimately short-lived and underwhelming. It’s an example of the show offering a glimpse into what it could be, but it pulls back every time, too cowardly to actually dig any deeper or say anything noteworthy. Therein lies the problem: And Just Like That season 2 skates along on thin ice, unwilling to truly dive into any of the topics it brings up. There are a couple of breakthroughs, but the buildup is rather lifeless.

What’s more, none of the character dynamics are fleshed out. Most of the season is made up of phone calls, and even when Carrie et al. meet for brunch or dinner, it’s restrained and sanitized. There could have been a number of directions and storylines season 2 could have explored — the ramifications of Carrie dating her producer, Charlotte’s daughter Lily feeling neglected, etc. — but And Just Like That glosses over nearly every intriguing plot it introduces. It makes for a detached viewing experience. When even the characters of color feel one-dimensional in a world ripe with storyline potential about their experiences, you know this show has ultimately failed in giving us something compelling. What we get instead is something that is rather meaningless and hollow considering the history of these characters.

And Just Like That… season 2 still has cringe-worthy moments, but they’re less so than in season 1. The first seven episodes (which were provided for review) are easier to take in if you’ve resigned yourself to expecting less, and there are at least some genuinely funny moments scattered throughout. And yet, the series still feels devoid of heartfelt connection, thought-provoking conversations, and thematic throughlines. It merely exists for the sake of existing, and that isn’t enough, not when so much potential is lost while the characters meander through storylines that sound more interesting on paper than in execution.

The first two episodes of And Just Like That… season 2 are now streaming on Max. The remaining episodes will be released weekly on Thursdays.