<i>And Just Like That...</i> Season 3, Episode 8 Recap: Miranda Can’t Resist

Spoilers below.

It’s been a sweltering, hot, and humid week in New York City, which means it’s more important than ever that we, as a civilized society, do our duty and wear deodorant. During those crowded commutes, when you’re smushed up against your fellow passengers, is no time to slack on personal hygiene. And Just Like That... knows that—especially Seema. So imagine the very chic realtor’s surprise when her new lover—a gardener who spends hours doing physical labor outdoors—forgoes the Speed Stick and opts for crystals (???) instead. And speaking of bad habits, Miranda, who is a recovering alcoholic, toys with the idea of drinking again. Plus, Lisa can’t stop flirting with her work crush.

As Harry recovers in bed days after his surgery, Lisa opens up to Charlotte about her sex dream with Marion, her editor. Last night, she dreamt that he ripped her bodice off…at a farm! Charlotte theorizes that it’s just a sign that the two have a great professional connection. When she heads to work at the gallery, Charlotte helps assemble a new exhibit that includes a disorderly bed with various provocative accoutrements, including a used condom filled with “semen.” She then teaches her colleagues that this artwork is an homage to the ’80s, “a time pre-Lena Dunham before women were celebrated for being messy.” (Charlotte, may I suggest Dunham’s new series Too Much?)

Over at Carrie’s apartment, Aidan is back—and this time he’s packed for a longer stay than usual. Carrie sets aside a small closet for his belongings (which he’ll share with her cat). After a “nap” together, he reveals why he’s available for a lengthier visit: His son Wyatt now wants to live with his mother Kathy, a.k.a. Aidan’s ex wife, full-time. His other son, Homer, is living with a cousin, so Aidan’s been home alone, wondering how he became the bad guy.

Seema is having a lot more fun than her friends—in bed with Adam. After they finally went home together after Charlotte’s birthday party last week, she and the hot gardener are on cloud nine, laughing under the covers. He even stuffs his face into her armpit, which sends Seema laughing with abandon. But when they go out to dinner later, Seema starts to see Adam in a different light. They see a woman putting on deodorant at a neighboring table, which sends them both giggling at the outrageous sight—for different reasons. While Seema saw it as a breach in etiquette, Adam disapproves of the deodorant usage altogether. Wait, Seema asks, You don’t use deodorant? At first I thought this was a bit, but Adam keeps going with some bullshit about rubbing crystals under his armpits. He doesn’t use the aluminum-loaded formula that Seema (and most New Yorkers, for that matter) prefer. She’s in further disbelief when Adam signs the check and she learns his last name is Karma. His mother legally changed his and his siblings’ names as a reminder. Is Adam more woo-woo than we thought? Seema seems to be getting the ick—a mini nod to Sex and the City season 6.

When Lisa tries to get it on with her husband, things don’t go as smoothly. She climbs on top of him for some surprise morning sex, but he ruins the moment with a bathroom run—and a request for Lisa to buy more toilet paper. During lunch at the office, though, Lisa is back to having the hots for Marion (who is boldly eating a single papaya as a meal). He invites her to a screening of a new documentary that was produced by the Obamas’ Higher Ground company, meaning it could be the perfect way in for them to get Michelle Obama to participate in their docuseries. Although Lisa already committed to Charlotte’s gallery event, she knows this “work thing” is an opportunity she can’t pass up.

While LTW continues to keep her work flirtations a secret from her husband, Miranda also keeps a secret from her girlfriend Joy. When Joy makes an impromptu visit after a work trip, she gifts Miranda with a bottle of gin, forgetting that her partner doesn’t drink. Miranda insists it’s not weird though, and keeps the bottle at her place. What’s actually odd is that Miranda hasn’t yet told Joy outright that she is recovering from a drinking problem. Later on at the gallery, she tells Carrie and Charlotte that it’s very unsexy to break that kind of news to a partner, especially one she really cherishes and doesn’t want to lose. Still, her friends are concerned that Miranda might feel pressured to drink again. Miranda tries to reason that, maybe she was drinking heavily a few years ago because she was just confused—about her marriage, sexuality, and the overall state of her life. Now that she’s in a good place, maybe she won’t take things too far this time. Carrie and Charlotte don’t look convinced. In fact, when Charlotte sees Miranda holding Joy’s champagne glass for her later in the evening, she rushes to stop her from drinking it, but her vertigo kicks in and she falls onto the mattress on display—next to the nude performance artist lying face-down on the sheets. Even worse, the condom sticks to her arm.

Also at the gallery? Charlotte’s boss Mark Kasabian (Victor Garber!) and Giuseppe’s mother Gia (Patti LuPone, returning from last week), who still has not warmed up to Anthony. While she’s busy asking Mark about art, Anthony decides he’ll win her over with a home-cooked meal. But Giuseppe won’t be around to help.

Aidan is also acting a little suspicious and judgy. He’s made curious, snide comments whenever Carrie mentions that she and her neighbor, Duncan, a fellow writer, meet to discuss their drafts. Aidan can’t believe that she knows nothing about this man. So he snoops around and asks Seema and Adam what they know. Their consensus: Duncan is a “meanie.”

As Charlotte waddles home from the gallery, Lisa calls her in a tizzy. She had to leave the screening early because Marion’s knee touched hers and she couldn’t handle the sexual tension. The flirting has gotten out of hand! Luckily, Marion knows how to keep it together while networking at the event. He calls Lisa to connect her with a rep from Higher Ground to discuss the doc series. It really was a “work thing” after all.

Later at night, when Miranda is at home by herself working, she cannot resist the temptation of the gin bottle in her cabinet. After trying to distract herself with some cookies, she goes to grab it and pours herself a bit, which she briefly considers, but then ultimately dumps in the sink. In the end, she snatches the bottle and tosses it in the garbage disposal, eliminating all distractions. She’ll stay away from the drinks for now.