When fans of Sex & the City heard that Steve Brady (David Eigenberg) would also be joining the sequel, there was a collective sense of joy. Long one of the fan favorites, Steve’s presence on And Just Like That… meant that viewers would get to see more of his relationship with Miranda and how they had continued to grow as a couple since Sex & the City 2 (2010). Instead, audiences got something completely different.
And Just Like That… never promised to be the perfect Sex & the City sequel, but there was a sense that the writers would honor the relationships that Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda had built through six seasons and two films. Harry and Charlotte’s marriage remains the strongest of the three, and the show did a beautiful job handling Big’s unexpected death and how Carrie both grieved and moved forward. Steve and Miranda’s relationship took a different turn, and many viewers felt that putting them through a separation also seemed to throw Steve out with the proverbial bath water. Given what he and Miranda have gone through, there could have been deeper storylines with Steve. After all, if Chicago Fire fans know anything, it’s that David Eigenberg is capable of playing with a lot.
Who Is Steve Brady Anyway?
In Sex & the City‘s Season 2, Episode 8, “The Man, The Myth, The Viagra,” Carrie stands Miranda up because Big wants to cook her dinner. Miranda finds herself striking up a conversation with the bartender, Steve, a man she thinks can’t possibly be as nice as he is. By the end of the night, Miranda has taken the bartender home for a one-night stand, but it becomes so much more than that. Miranda and Steve’s relationship is on-again-off-again for the next several seasons, but they end up tied together for life — regardless of their relationship status — in Season 4. Steve and Aidan open a bar together, and Miranda not only shows up to support, she stands by Steve as he deals with testicular cancer and surgery, after which they fall into bed together. Though Miranda assumes that his one remaining testicle and her “lazy ovary” make it impossible for her to get pregnant, by the end of Season 4 Miranda has given birth to their son, Brady Hobbes.
Though some fans might tell you that Miranda has never treated Steve well, it is his indiscretion that nearly ends their marriage in Sex & the City (2008). Having problems and then working them out had become a natural pattern for Steve and Miranda, but when they get back together at the end of the film, it finally seems like they’re happy. While they obviously love and care for one another, Steve has always seemed to love Miranda more than she loves him. He has always been more sentimental and more vocal about his feelings than Miranda. His desire to show her how much he loves her challenged Miranda to do the same for him, but he never explicitly asked that of her. Steve only ever wanted Miranda exactly as she was. That’s part of what makes their split in And Just Like That… so surprising.
Even separated, Steve wants Miranda to be happy. In Season 1, Episode 9, “No Strings Attached,” Steve tells Carrie that he’s never going to take his wedding ring off and implies that he’ll happily wait until Miranda is done dating Che. It’s a moment that showcases who Steve has always been — from Sex & the City to And Just Like That…, Steve has always supported Miranda and her independence, something she throws away for a relationship with Che, who dominates more of her time. Steve has essentially disappeared into the background of the show, and it’s not only dismissive of the character, but it also underutilizes the talent of David Eigenberg, who could take Steve in new and exciting directions.
David Eigenberg Shines on Chicago Fire
Outside of Sex & the City, David Eigenberg spent most of the ’90s and early 2000s playing one-off characters in both comedy and drama shows, and it wasn’t until 2012 that he began the other role that he’s most known for — Chicago Fire‘s Christopher Herrmann. From the very beginning, Herrmann has been an outspoken, lovable, and valuable member of Firehouse 51. He’s known for his forays into different business pursuits, like his short-lived limousine company and when he dipped his toes into pyramid schemes by investing in energy water. Herrmann mentors new firefighters, like Daniel Kyri’s Darren Ritter, as they come through Firehouse 51, including by helping several of them start their own businesses. Herrmann’s heart is the biggest one at 51, and it’s how he loves every other character that endears him to audiences.
Herrmann’s bar, Molly’s, has made him a staple character, and not just on Chicago Fire. Characters from Chicago P.D. and some from Chicago Med will find themselves ordering a beer from Herrmann and staying for advice. His life experience makes him easy to approach. Plus, Herrmann’s probably already made any mistake someone might be dealing with. It’s a role that Eigenberg has embodied well, and some of Chicago Fire‘s most poignant moments happen with Christopher Herrmann. Whether he’s teaching one of his children a lesson, bonding with another firefighter, or helping his beloved wife through cancer, Herrmann is a character that viewers love to love, and Chicago Fire has Eigenberg to thank for that.
And Just Like That… Should Do More With Steve
The second season of And Just Like That… is wrapping up — you can stream ten of the eleven episodes on MAX — and should it return for a third season, there is a lot of room for growth for both Miranda and Steve. In Thursday’s penultimate episode, audiences saw Steve opening a new extension of his bar at Coney Island, a move that shows the writers are trying to provide Steve with some justice. Beyond that, viewers know that Steve deserves great love just as much as any of the women on the show do, and they want him to have that. Both he and Miranda deserve to move forward and figure out how to have new relationships. They also need to determine how to manage their relationship with one another for the sake of their son.
When the writers are able to begin tackling the next season, they should take some guidance from Chicago Fire for what to throw at Eigenberg. His performance on the Wolf Entertainment show gives viewers a chance to see his range as an actor, and And Just Like That… could use deeper, more nuanced stories in their future seasons — all of which Eigenberg would be capable of tackling. In Season 3, audiences should get to know more about Steve outside his relationship with Miranda and see him get his happily ever after.