SPOILER ALERT: This story incorporates spoilers for “Underneath the Desk,” Season 3, Episode 5 of “And Simply Like That,” now streaming on Max.

“And Simply Like That” is a present about girls in transition, and Charlotte is experiencing a very painful sort.

In the latest episode, Charlotte (Kristin Davis) discovered that her husband Harry (Evan Handler) has been identified with prostate most cancers. Whereas he’s optimistic about his probabilities, Charlotte, unaccustomed to giving up management, is consumed by nervousness, forcing herself by means of the motions on a “glamping” journey with the household of Lisa (Nicole Ari Parker) and unable to talk aloud information of Harry’s ailment. It’s the one factor on her thoughts, and the one factor she can’t carry herself to say. “And Simply Like That” is frank about grief — Carrie’s mourning her late husband Large was the first driver of Season 1 — and, whereas Harry remains to be with Charlotte and doing OK, now the present offers with the form of grief one feels for a life with out the concern over a member of the family’s well being.

Davis, who has been taking part in Charlotte for the reason that 1998 premiere of “Intercourse and the Metropolis,” has hardly ever been given materials so painful to play; even within the hardest of occasions, Charlotte is an optimist, however right here, she’s confronting her worst concern. The actress has been reliving the present’s early occurring her rewatch podcast “Are You a Charlotte?,” giving her an odd type of perspective on how the character of Charlotte, and her world, have advanced over 27 years. She spoke to Selection about Charlotte’s present plotline and what lies forward for her over the course of Season 3. 

What was your response if you discovered that the writers have been establishing a storyline the place Harry could be ailing and Charlotte could be caring for him?

I knew one thing would occur, proper? We couldn’t simply go on, if you already know what I imply. I used to be relieved that it wasn’t one thing horrible. It may have been worse — at the least I didn’t need to cheat on him or one thing like that, proper? That will be so out of character; it might make no sense. I knew Michael [Patrick King] wouldn’t try this, however I used to be like, Oh, God — most cancers. Which is how Charlotte feels, and, in fact, how everybody would really feel. 

However the factor that I really like, that you just’ll see within the second half, is that it has a extremely wonderful means that it goes — when it comes to Charlotte having to maintain the key that Harry needs her to maintain, and the toll that it takes on her. She’s attempting to maintain him, after which she’s attempting to satisfy his needs about who she tells or doesn’t inform. So she actually doesn’t have her associates, and she or he finally ends up not caring for herself. 

That is one thing that lots of people relate to — ladies and men — when you’ve got a associate who will get a illness, and also you overlook to maintain your self. It has a comedic factor to it, which was actually enjoyable and scary to do, nevertheless it’s simply actually true to life. It looks as if an ideal storyline for Charlotte that she would, in fact, overlook to maintain herself, after which have her personal well being challenge as a result of she forgot to maintain herself. 

There’s a scene you share with Nicole Ari Parker — Charlotte and Lisa’s households are “glamping” collectively and there’s a lot on Charlotte’s thoughts that she will be able to’t categorical. On a present that’s so verbal, it was spectacular that you just discovered a second of connection past phrases.

There you will have Michael Patrick; he’s such a terrific author. Charlotte, particularly, talks loads, so for her to be quiet — it’s nice.

I consider Charlotte as an optimistic, ebullient character. To hold that heaviness should have been difficult for you.

I hadn’t thought of that. I’m so in her — I’ve been taking part in her for thus lengthy, and generally I’ve issues occurring in life that she doesn’t have. In some methods, it was a terrific alternative for me to not need to separate out myself to be the sunshine, mild Charlotte. As a result of clearly life is sophisticated. Having to maintain the key from the ladies in these scenes was exhausting for me, in fact — nevertheless it was good exhausting. 

Discovering the humor in darkness is usually a very highly effective factor — nevertheless it’s a balancing act. Wringing jokes out of the scenario should have been a bit tough. 

It’s at all times exhausting — that’s the enjoyment within the writing, is that you just’ve bought conflicting issues occurring, which is plenty of how life is.

You’ve been taking part in this character for 27 years. Did this plotline solid into reduction for you ways a lot Charlotte and Harry have been by means of? 

It’s exhausting to keep in mind that generally. It’s good to be reminded — however if you’re within the second, [the history is] there, however you’re attempting to be sure you’re doing what you’re presupposed to do proper now. Nevertheless it informs all the things.

Once I’m wanting again on the previous present for my podcast, I’m at all times like, Wow. All this stuff occur that I forgot — it’s not possible to recollect all of it, similar to how in our common lives, it’s not possible to recollect all the things. 

It should be surreal speaking about previous episodes on the podcast whereas additionally making new episodes. How do you maintain all of it in your thoughts? 

I simply concentrate on what I’ve to concentrate on proper then, nevertheless it does inform it. I have a look at the evolution of the primary present, now, by means of totally different eyes, now that we’re doing the second present, and we’re getting the chance to evolve the second present in the identical approach we did the primary. It’s the identical characters, nevertheless it’s a unique present, and attending to undergo totally different phases of getting again collectively, going by means of what we needed to undergo within the first season, the modifications of the second season, and now we’re right here — third season. We’re extra settled.

“Intercourse and the Metropolis” took a few seasons to develop into the sequence that followers most vividly keep in mind, and “And Simply Like That” has advanced creatively as properly. What does it really feel like on the within of it? 

I really feel that approach after I have a look at it — and I’m capable of, as a result of we had a bit little bit of a break [before] filming [Season 3], whereas the primary two seasons, we have been going actually rapidly. This time we had a bit little bit of a breather. Now we have gotten to settle and gotten to do one thing extra cinematic this season. The places are stunning and type of massive — it’s massive New York. We have been capable of understand it, and I really like once we do.

This interview has been edited and condensed.