Sex and the City: The Complete First Season

Sex and the City: The Complete First Season, the collection of the HBO hit's first 12 episodes, is perfect for those coming late to the funny fabulousness that is Sex. Based on Candace Bushnell's trenchant New York Observer columns about the mating habits of career women and their elusive prey, the series portrays the ins and outs (and on-top-ofs) of four thirty-something singletons — inquisitive Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), sex kitten Samantha (Kim Cattrall), romantic Charlotte (Kristin Davis), and cynic Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) — in their search for Mr. Right (Now). The first season, which in retrospect had a few too many talk-to-the-camera moments, introduced the concepts of toxic bachelors, modelizers, and the empowering pleasure of having sex like a man with a giddy (and gritty — this is cable, after all) girlishness that only got better in season 2. What better way to get in the mood for season 3 (which premieres June 4)? B+