And Just Like That...
And Just Like That... is an American comedy-drama television series created by Michael Patrick King as a direct continuation of the HBO series Sex and the City, focusing on the lives of protagonists Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte York Goldenblatt (Kristin Davis) in their fifties as they confront aging, relationships, family dynamics, and social changes in New York City.[1] The series premiered on HBO Max (later rebranded Max) on December 9, 2021, initially conceived as a limited miniseries but extended to three seasons amid mixed production decisions.[2] Produced by HBO with executive production from King, Parker, and others, the show introduced new characters and plotlines emphasizing contemporary issues such as non-traditional relationships and identity shifts, including Miranda's separation from her husband and exploration of same-sex attractions, while controversially killing off Carrie's longtime partner Mr. Big in the opening episode via cardiac arrest during a Peloton workout.[1] Season 1 consisted of 10 episodes released through February 2022, followed by Season 2 in 2023 and Season 3 concluding in August 2025, after which creators announced no further renewal despite treating each finale as potentially final.[3] Reception was polarized, with critics and audiences praising nostalgic elements and performances but lambasting the series for contrived storytelling, perceived pandering to progressive ideologies through characters like non-binary comedian Che Diaz, and deviations from the original's witty, cosmopolitan tone—evident in Season 1's 48% Rotten Tomatoes score and ongoing fan backlash over "woke" arcs that prioritized didactic messaging over character consistency.[2][4] The show sustained viewership aligned with expectations for a niche revival but faced hate-watching trends and demands for continuation or cancellation, ultimately ending amid complaints of incoherence, flawed pacing, and failure to recapture Sex and the City's cultural spark.[5][6]Premise
Overall Synopsis
And Just Like That... continues the Sex and the City storyline, centering on writer Carrie Bradshaw, lawyer Miranda Hobbes, and art dealer Charlotte York-Goldenblatt as they confront midlife challenges including widowhood, marital strains, and family dynamics in 2020s Manhattan.[7] The series opens in its December 9, 2021, premiere with Carrie's husband, Mr. Big, dying of a heart attack during a Peloton workout, forcing her to sell their longtime apartment and relocate to a West Village townhouse while resuming podcasting and dating.[8] Miranda separates from Steve Brady amid a sexless marriage, pursues a romantic and sexual relationship with non-binary comedian Che Diaz, and relocates to Los Angeles before returning to New York after the affair ends.[9] Charlotte navigates her marriage to Harry Goldenblatt, raising daughters Lily and Rose, and supporting son Rock's exploration of gender identity.[10] Subsequent seasons expand the ensemble with characters like real estate broker Seema Patel, professor Nya Wallace, and documentary filmmaker Lisa Todd Wexley, incorporating storylines on interracial relationships, fertility struggles, and professional ambitions.[1] Carrie rekindles her romance with Aidan Shaw in season 2, complicated by his family obligations in Virginia, leading to a temporary separation; she undergoes hip surgery after a fall and focuses on writing a book about grief. Miranda transitions to a relationship with author Joy, facing logistical and familial hurdles, while Charlotte deals with Rock's transition and her own career shifts.[9] The third season, concluding on August 14, 2025, resolves Carrie's arc with her rewriting a novel epilogue to affirm contentment in solitude—"on her own" rather than alone—amid ongoing friendships and personal growth for the group.[11][12] Throughout, the core trio maintains their bond through brunches, crises, and mutual support, adapting to contemporary issues like aging, sexuality, and urban isolation.[13]Cast and Characters
Principal Characters
Carrie Bradshaw, portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker, serves as the central narrator and protagonist, evolving from a newspaper columnist to a podcaster hosting a show titled Sex and the City following the sudden death of her husband, Mr. Big, from a heart attack in the series premiere on December 9, 2021.[14] She navigates widowhood by selling their longtime Manhattan apartment and relocating to a smaller brownstone, while rekindling a romance with on-again-off-again partner Aidan Shaw.[15] Her character maintains core traits of romantic introspection and fashion-forward independence, now complicated by grief and midlife reinvention.[16] Miranda Hobbes, played by Cynthia Nixon, is a corporate lawyer who undergoes significant personal changes, including separating from her husband Steve Brady after recognizing her attraction to non-binary comedian Che Diaz, leading to a divorce finalized in season 1.[17] She relocates temporarily to Los Angeles to support Che's career before returning to New York, shifting focus from her legal career to graduate studies in human rights law and new relationships.[18] This arc updates her original pragmatic, career-driven persona with explorations of late-in-life sexuality and self-discovery, though critics have noted inconsistencies with her established skepticism and loyalty.[19] Charlotte York Goldenblatt, portrayed by Kristin Davis, continues as an art gallery dealer balancing her marriage to Harry Goldenblatt and motherhood to daughters Lily and Rose, the latter born with Down syndrome in 2013.[20] Her storyline emphasizes family dynamics, including Lily's teenage independence and Rose's integration into Jewish traditions after the family's full conversion, while she maintains her optimistic and traditional values amid professional commitments.[21] Charlotte's character retains her emphasis on romance and propriety, now centered on parenting challenges and marital harmony.[22] Stanford Blatch, originally played by Willie Garson, returns briefly as Carrie's gay best friend and fashion enthusiast before his storyline concludes with a move to Tokyo to pursue a career as a Shinto monk, following Garson's death from pancreatic cancer on September 21, 2021, at age 57, prior to season 2 filming.[23][24] This departure honors Garson's wishes against killing off the character, preserving Stanford's witty, supportive essence in limited appearances.[25]Recurring and Supporting Roles
Nya Wallace, portrayed by Karen Pittman, serves as a recurring supporting character introduced in season 1 as Miranda Hobbes's colleague and friend, a tenured law professor at Columbia University specializing in human rights.[26] Her storyline explores professional pressures, infertility treatments via IVF, and a contentious divorce from husband Andre Rashad Wallace, providing contrast to Miranda's personal upheavals while highlighting academic and marital challenges among high-achieving women.[27] Pittman, previously known for roles in The Morning Show and Uncle Frank, appeared through season 2 but departed prior to season 3 production, citing expanded opportunities beyond scheduling conflicts.[26][27] Che Díaz, played by Sara Ramírez, recurs across seasons 1 and 2 as a non-binary stand-up comedian and podcast host who develops a romantic relationship with Miranda, catalyzing her separation from husband Steve Brady and subsequent self-examination of sexuality and identity.[28] Che's narrative arc involves pursuing opportunities in Los Angeles, including a pilot TV show, which strains the partnership and underscores themes of mismatched ambitions and fluid relationships.[29] Ramírez, an Emmy winner for supporting actress in a drama series on Grey's Anatomy, publicly identified as non-binary in 2020 and received mixed reception for the role, with show leads expressing surprise at audience backlash.[28][30] The character does not return for season 3.[28] Seema Patel, embodied by Sarita Choudhury, functions as a recurring ally in Carrie Bradshaw's social sphere, depicted as a confident Indian-American real estate broker in her 50s navigating modern dating, including relationships with significantly younger and older partners, while maintaining financial independence.[31] Introduced in season 1, Seema's arcs emphasize resilience against romantic disappointments, such as a breakup with a married businessman, and professional transitions, evolving through season 3 to explore vulnerability beneath her bold exterior.[32][33] Choudhury, of Indian and English descent with prior credits in Mississippi Masala and A Hologram for the King, drew on personal contrasts to portray Seema's unapologetic sensuality and cultural poise.[34] Herbert Wexley, played by Christopher Jackson, recurs as Charlotte York Goldenblatt's husband, a Wall Street finance executive whose grounded family-oriented perspective balances Charlotte's social ambitions, particularly in managing their three children's upbringing and occasional ethical dilemmas like school admissions fraud.[35] Jackson, a Broadway veteran from Hamilton and In the Heights, brings authenticity to Herbert's role as a supportive yet principled partner in the York family's evolving dynamics across all seasons to date.[35]Notable Guest Stars
Kim Cattrall reprised her role as Samantha Jones, originally from Sex and the City, through text messages in season 1 before making a brief on-screen cameo in the season 2 finale, which aired on August 24, 2023, where Samantha appears in London reconciling with Carrie Bradshaw via a phone call and hug.[36][37] Jon Tenney portrayed Peter, a podcast producer and Carrie's short-lived love interest, in three episodes of season 1, beginning with episode 7 aired on January 13, 2022, where their relationship explores post-widowhood dating dynamics before ending due to Peter's progressive MS diagnosis.[38][39] Gloria Steinem appeared as herself in season 2, episode 4, providing feminist commentary during a storyline involving Miranda Hobbes's personal growth at a women's retreat.[40] Victor Garber guest-starred as Mark Kasabian, a theater director, in season 2, contributing to a narrative thread on artistic collaborations and personal revelations in episode 4.[41] Rosie O'Donnell joined season 3 as Mary, a nun and Miranda's romantic interest, debuting in the May 29, 2025 premiere, where her character navigates themes of faith, sexuality, and late-life intimacy, marking a limited arc focused on Miranda's evolving relationships.[42][43] Oliver Hudson played Lyle, a neighbor involved in a community subplot, in season 2, adding levity to Charlotte York Goldenblatt's family dynamics.[41] Sam Smith made a cameo as themselves in season 2, enhancing a celebrity encounter scene tied to cultural events in New York.[41]Episodes
Season Structure
And Just Like That... comprises three seasons, released exclusively on Max (formerly HBO Max), with episode counts increasing from 10 in the first to 12 in the third, spanning December 2021 to August 2025.[44] The series began as a limited miniseries but was renewed twice, with the third season designated as the final installment, concluding with a two-part series finale.[44] Season 1 consists of 10 episodes, premiering on December 9, 2021, with the first two episodes released simultaneously, followed by one episode weekly on Thursdays until the finale on February 3, 2022.[45][46] Season 2 features 11 episodes, beginning June 22, 2023, again with the initial two episodes dropping together and subsequent weekly Thursday releases through the August 24, 2023, finale.[47] Season 3 includes 12 episodes, the longest run, starting May 29, 2025, under a weekly Thursday pattern that extended to the two-part finale airing on August 7 and August 14, 2025.[48][49][44]| Season | Episodes | Premiere Date | Release Pattern | Finale Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | Dec 9, 2021 | Two initial, then weekly Thursdays | Feb 3, 2022 |
| 2 | 11 | Jun 22, 2023 | Two initial, then weekly Thursdays | Aug 24, 2023 |
| 3 | 12 | May 29, 2025 | Weekly Thursdays, two-part finale | Aug 14, 2025 |