The Devil Wears Prada: Andy’s “Friends” Were The True Villains. Fight Me.
The Devil Wears Prada: Andy’s “Friends” Were The True Villains. Fight Me.
Rewatching The Devil Wears Prada for the first time, I realized Miranda Priestly wasn't the villain. Andy's supposedly supportive friends, especially Nate, were the real antagonists. An unhinged take on a classic.
Re-Watching 'The Devil Wears Prada' For The First Time: A Hot Take 💅
Okay, besties, gather round, because I just watched The Devil Wears Prada for the very first time (yes, I know, I'm late to the party, don't come for me). And let me tell you, what I saw on screen was NOT the movie everyone talked about for years. Forget Miranda Priestly, the real villains of this story weren't in power suits, they were at Andy's dinner table, sipping wine and judging her hustle.
Miranda Priestly: Just a Boss, Not a Monster
Everyone hyped up Miranda as this absolute terror, right? The devil incarnate. But watching it now, with eyes unclouded by early-2000s 'girl boss' narratives, she's… just a very demanding, extremely successful editor-in-chief.
She had high expectations, sure, but she also provided unparalleled opportunities. She didn't micromanage your feelings, she managed a multi-billion dollar empire. Andy signed up for a job in a cutthroat industry, and Miranda was simply doing hers.
It's called being a leader, not a friend.
And frankly, her standards produced incredible results.
Nate: The OG “Nice Guy” Saboteur
Let's be real, Nate is the absolute worst. From the moment Andy starts dedicating herself to her incredibly challenging job, he's immediately critical, insecure, and manipulative. He can't handle her success, her long hours, or her growing ambition.
He weaponizes their relationship, making her feel guilty for pursuing a career opportunity that could literally open every door for her. His infamous birthday meltdown over cheese is peak toxic masculinity, a man baby unable to cope with his girlfriend having a life outside of catering to his needs.
"I mean, you have no idea how much I'm learning! It's not just a job, it's a universe." - Andy Sachs.
Nate wasn't supportive; he was a walking red flag, jealous of her growth and actively trying to shrink her back down to fit into his comfortable, mundane life. Imagine if that scene happened today? He'd be cancelled faster than you can say 'Cerulean'.
The Self-Righteous Squad: Andy's Other 'Friends'
And it wasn't just Nate! Her whole friend group, Lily and Doug, were just as bad. They constantly chastised her for making professional sacrifices, for changing her style, for daring to enjoy some aspects of her job.
They saw her evolving, becoming more worldly, more fashion-conscious, and instead of celebrating her journey, they judged her for 'selling out.' They weren't being friends; they were being gatekeepers of her identity, demanding she remain exactly as she was, even if it meant stunting her potential.
They couldn't understand that for some, a career isn't just a paycheck, it's a calling.
Then vs. Now: The Cultural Reckoning
Here's where the 'then vs. now' comes in. In the early 2000s, there was this lingering societal expectation for women to prioritize personal relationships above career ambition, especially if the career was 'frivolous' like fashion. Miranda was easy to label a villain because she represented the demanding, almost unfeminine pursuit of power.
But today? We celebrate the hustle. We encourage women to smash glass ceilings.
We understand that success often requires sacrifice, and a partner who can't handle that isn't a partner, they're dead weight. Andy's friends were holding her back, plain and simple, dressed up as concern. They were the crab bucket, pulling her down just as she was about to climb out.
So, Were Andy’s Friends the Real Devils in Prada?
Absolutely. Miranda was a challenge, a test, a tough boss that ultimately shaped Andy into a more confident, capable woman. Her friends, however, were the passive-aggressive, undermining forces that tried to derail her ambition and make her feel bad for choosing herself and her future.
They wanted her to stay small, stay predictable, and stay available for their mediocre lives. So next time you watch The Devil Wears Prada , pause and reflect: Who was really the antagonist here? It definitely wasn't the woman wearing the Chanel boots, telling people to 'gird your loins.'
