After 27 years, some of television’s most iconic characters have left screens for good with the conclusion of And Just Like That, the spin-off of Sex and the City. The series ended Carrie Bradshaw’s on-off relationship with Aidan, who was revived with a cruel streak, and saw her slowly furnishing her enormous mansion. Critics argue the entire spin-off was an inglorious swansong that failed to honour its predecessors.
The show began with the sudden death of Carrie’s husband, Mr Big, who suffered a heart attack on his exercise bike. While some viewers felt this casual demise was disrespectful to the show’s history, it initially suggested the series would not tiptoe around its legacy. However, the subsequent storytelling careered over that legacy, introducing poorly written new characters to fill the void left by Samantha, who was absent due to Kim Cattrall’s strained relationship with castmates.
And Just Like That became synonymous with hate-watching, particularly due to Miranda’s affair with Che Diaz, a non-binary comedian. Che was poorly conceived and indicative of the show’s shallow handling of ageing, often placing characters in bewildering situations with digital menus and podcasts. The wit and acidity of the original series were replaced by a vague admission that no one knew what was happening anymore.
The finale was particularly criticised for focusing on minor characters such as Charlotte’s friend Mark and Brady’s unborn child, rather than the core four. Carrie, now too rich to have ambitions, wandered aimlessly in couture. Her final exit as a single woman was deemed not poignant but “nothing-ey”, summed up by her line: “Shit happens.” Showrunner Michael Patrick King confirmed the end in August, noting that the characters had run their course.
