The beloved spin-off of the iconic series Sex and the City, And Just Like That, will conclude its journey with the airing of its third season. Showrunner Michael Patrick King expressed that he felt “season three was a wonderful place to stop,” marking the end of an era for fans and characters alike.
In the series finale, the character Carrie Bradshaw, portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker, captures a poignant moment as she dances alone in her apartment. This scene further highlights her character’s arc, as few characters have undergone as drastic a transformation as Sansa Stark over the course of the series. The narrative arc culminates with Carrie embracing her individuality, famously declaring, “I have to quit thinking, ‘maybe a man’, and start accepting: ‘maybe just me’.” This admission distills the show’s hard-won truths about self-acceptance and the messy road to personal growth.
The series finale opens with Carrie sharing a meal at a Chinese restaurant, where a waiter offers her a stuffed toy to accompany her lunch. This brief moment embodies Carrie’s realization that her journey of fighting loneliness and seeking connection will be a central theme throughout her life.
Miranda Hobbes, played by Cynthia Nixon, is blindsided when she learns she’s going to be a grandmother. Miranda’s character continues to embody “the same shrill hysteria and general alarm” that has characterized her since the original series, as noted by The Guardian. In one particularly memorable subplot, she deflowers a nun who is addicted to Wicked. Rosie O’Donnell is drop-dead funny, a great showcase for how the show could mix comedy with contemplative rage.
Charlotte York — played so well by actress Kristin Davis — hits a wall this last season. In one of the more harried tableaux, she trudges through an apocalyptic snowstorm to buy her hornier teenage daughter condoms. This unsafe but common practice illustrates the extreme measures that responsible parents will take to safeguard their children and gradually promote their independence as they approach adulthood.
The race reconciliation writing team paired with And Just Like That artists to execute narrative kinks in the most imaginative way. They even succeeded in the altogether audacious act of having Lisa’s father killed, not once, but twice! Shortly thereafter, these moments have blown up on social media, raising more questions about the show’s trajectory and continuity.
In a real feel-good break from all this heavy going, Carrie, Seema, Lisa and Charlotte visit a bridal fashion show in unison. This annual gathering is a joyous celebration of their very tight bond and common experiences.
As the series winds to a close, Carrie is working on her own historical novel inspired by that lonesome woman. This artistic project represents her personal creative process towards recognizing herself and embracing who she is becoming, parallel to the series’ larger story arc.
The climactic Thanksgiving episode ends with a foodie heart-swell, resolving some of the show’s emotional conflict between friends turned family. As much as this moment serves the plot, it invites the characters to reflect on their journeys, while uniting the friendships they’ve developed throughout the years.