The long-running Sex and the City television universe is drawing to a close, with confirmation that And Just Like That…, the modern continuation of the original HBO series, will not continue past its current third season.
The show’s creator and showrunner Michael Patrick King confirmed the news in a joint decision with Sarah Jessica Parker, HBO’s Casey Bloys, and Sarah Aubrey. The current season has been extended from 10 to 12 episodes, with the final two instalments serving as the series finale.
Why now?
“And just like that… the ongoing storytelling of the Sex and the City universe is coming to an end,” King said in a statement released on Friday morning in the US.
“While I was writing the last episode of And Just Like That… season 3, it became clear to me that this might be a wonderful place to stop. Along with Sarah Jessica Parker (SJP), Casey Bloys and Sarah Aubrey, we decided to end the popular series this year with a two-part finale and extended the original series order from 10 episodes to 12.
“SJP and I held off announcing the news until now because we didn’t want the word ‘final’ to overshadow the fun of watching the season. It’s with great gratitude we thank all the viewers who have let these characters into their homes and their hearts over these many years.”
The statement was also shared by King on Instagram, with Parker reposting it alongside her own reflection on what the role of Carrie Bradshaw has meant to her.
Parker reflects on the legacy
In a separate Instagram post, Parker wrote a tribute to her character, describing the long relationship between actor and role.
“Carrie Bradshaw has dominated my professional heartbeat for 27 years. I think I have loved her most of all,” she wrote.
“I know others have loved her just as I have. Been frustrated, condemned and rooted for her. The symphony of all those emotions has been the greatest soundtrack and most consequential companion. Therefore the most sentimental and profound gratitude and lifetime of debt. To you all.”
Her post was accompanied by a montage of clips from the series and a personal poem.
Not without its controversies
While And Just Like That… has drawn steady viewership since its 2021 premiere, it hasn’t been without missteps, narrative or otherwise.
The most recent episode took a darker turn, pushing several main characters into emotionally complex territory. Carrie (Parker) is reeling from the revelation that Aidan (John Corbett) slept with his ex-wife. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) is hit with the news of Harry’s cancer diagnosis.
Lisa Todd Wexley (Nicole Ari Parker) learns that her father, Lawrence (Billy Dee Williams), has died suddenly from a stroke.
It’s a heavy moment, at least, until longtime viewers realise he’d already died once before.
In Season 1, Lisa casually mentioned his death in a conversation with Charlotte, shortly after Big’s fatal Peloton workout. Whether this was a continuity oversight or a creative pivot, it’s one of several head-scratching moments that have occasionally tested the patience (and memory) of loyal fans.
From cable phenomenon to cultural mainstay
And Just Like That… first premiered in December 2021, reuniting Parker, Cynthia Nixon (Miranda Hobbes), and Kristin Davis (Charlotte York) for a new chapter in the lives of the characters introduced in Darren Star’s original series.
The reboot focused on middle-aged experiences of friendship, grief, romance, and change, all still rooted in New York City. It was both a nostalgia project and a narrative continuation, drawing strong audience interest and critical debate.
With the series now set to conclude, the announcement marks the end of one of television’s most recognisable franchises, a franchise that has shifted with its audience over the decades, and helped shape the portrayal of women’s lives on screen in the process.
The final two episodes of And Just Like That… will air later this season on HBO Max in the US, and Binge and Foxtel in Australia.