'And Just Like That...': Sara Ramírez talks 'emotional roller coaster' of Che and Miranda

Spoiler alert! The following post contains important details about the sixth episode of "And Just Like That..." Season 2 (now streaming on Max).

And just like that, Che Diaz (Sara Ramírez) and Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) have called it quits.

Che, the brazen nonbinary comic who’s “done a ton of weed,” gently called it kaput at the end of Thursday’s new episode of “And Just Like That…” (now streaming on Max). Back in New York, and feeling depressed that their “Roseanne”-style sitcom wasn’t picked up, Che tells Miranda that they’re a mess and need some space. As for their relationship, “this probably isn’t going to get better,” Che says.

It’s a rare moment of self-reflection for the uninhibited comedian, who became something of an internet punching bag in 2021 after Season 1 of the “Sex and the City” sequel. Fans mocked Che’s “comedy concerts” and lame attempts at commentary (“Woke moment!"), and criticized their role in breaking up Miranda and her husband, Steve (David Eigenberg).

In planning new episodes, “the first thing we thought about was the reaction to Che last season, which was explosive,” executive producer Michael Patrick King says. “Our belief was that Che started out as a really fun new character, and then all of a sudden, Che was moved into a ‘problematic homewrecker’ vibe. The audience, who had such an attachment to Steve, reacted very violently to the arrogance and the cockiness of Che, which I thought was the character. Standups who are peaking in their career have to be performative and vibrant.”

The goal for Che this season was to show the “vulnerability beneath the bravura,” King adds. Ramírez, who uses they/them pronouns, says they similarly wanted to “dive into more nuanced storytelling that is complicated and messy and human and difficult.”

Ramírez, 47, is a Tony winner best known for “Grey’s Anatomy,” “The Good Fight” and Broadway’s “Spamalot.” They spoke to USA TODAY before the Screen Actors Guild strike about Che’s breakup with Miranda and weathering internet backlash.

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Question: What resonated with you about Che's storyline this season, given your own experiences coming up in theater and TV?

Sara Ramírez: The Hollywood experience is not the same for everyone. (We’re exploring) the notion that capitalism essentially wants to flatten so many of us and doesn't really want to show multifaceted representation. We're poking fun at Hollywood a bit around that, and as an actor that made a lot of sense. I actually am familiar with some folks who were hired to do shows based on their real-life stories, who absolutely felt chewed up and spit out by networks. It really can be a harrowing, awful, nightmarish experience for folks who are duped into giving the keys to their kingdom away, and then find their own story become somebody else's story. The co-opting of that is an interesting thing to watch.

Why do you think Che decides to break up with Miranda?

Che is a very truthful character. They tell you the truth whether you like what you're hearing or not. I think that they had some self-awareness by that point, because they had experienced such an emotional roller coaster of ego death, where they're left with a grounded, almost unrecognizable version of themselves that steps forward and says “Listen, the wheels are falling off this car. This isn't working.” I think it takes a lot of integrity to admit that to someone, whether they agree with you or not. But Miranda also has the awareness to acknowledge that it's not working. So it's sad, but it's relatable. A lot of people go through that.

What can you tease about Che's journey for the rest of Season 2?

They start questioning their purpose: whether they should even do comedy ever again and rediscover their value as just a regular person who is not performing anything. That’s what I think is really beautiful about that second half of their journey. They go back to a previous job working with a friend where they still have to deal with real-life stuff, but they discover a new connection with someone. They’re just trying to find their way back to who they really are. Does that include comedy? Does that include love? That's the big question mark at the end.

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People had very strong opinions about Che last season. What do you hope surprises them most about the character this year?

As an actor, I have a really healthy boundary around outside opinions. You can't miss certain things, but I receive it with humor. It’s interesting how real people think these characters are. But my hope is that in Season 2 ? just like we embrace the humanity of the women on the show ? hopefully we continue to embrace Che Diaz's humanity. It’s important we remember that LGBTQIA+ people don't have to be perfect, just like the women don't have to be perfect. We get to be imperfect, we get to be unlikable, and you still get to root for our humanity.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sara Ramírez, 'AJLT' creator talk 'explosive' backlash to Che Diaz