The End of ‘And Just Like That’: Why the Franchise Is Saying Goodbye Now
Only a handful of TV shows become true cultural touchstones, and Sex and the City easily lands in that rare circle. But even icons can't avoid endings, and Michael Patrick King, showrunner and longtime guardian of the series, finally confirmed that 'And Just Like That...' will close shop after its third season. So, what’s behind bowing out now—and what does it mean for the Carrie Bradshaw era millions grew up with?
King didn’t break the news right away; he waited, not wanting to overshadow fans’ final ride with the looming threat of ‘final season syndrome.’ His logic is tough to argue: after all, nobody wants their last slice of New York drama to feel like a wake. He teamed up with star and executive producer Sarah Jessica Parker and HBO decision-makers to pull the trigger only after the writing itself hinted at a natural conclusion. Instead of the standard ten-episode order, they opted for a meatier twelve-episode send-off, with a special two-part finale to let the story breathe and resolve.
Even loyal fans can admit the revival has had a rocky road. The original series broke new ground, got people talking, and sparked endless debate about love, friendship, and Manolo Blahniks. 'And Just Like That...' never quite recaptured that lightning-in-a-bottle energy. Critics circled in, episodes sparked arguments online, and the third season cemented the feeling that this chapter was running on borrowed time.
King and Parker weren't making the decision alone. Alongside them were Casey Bloys, the guy steering HBO and HBO Max, and Sarah Aubrey at the wheel for HBO’s original programming. They faced the tough reality: carry on and risk diluting the brand, or take control of the goodbye and leave fans with bittersweet memories instead of ongoing disappointment.
Looking Back — and Forward — at a Cultural Phenomenon
This ending doesn’t just tie up loose ends for Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte. It’s a curtain call for the entire Sex and the City franchise, which started way back in 1998, morphed into two splashy movies, and pivoted (with mixed results) to a modern spin through 'And Just Like That...'. It’s hard to ignore one major missing piece, though: the absence of Kim Cattrall’s Samantha, long a lightning rod for debate among fans and a shadow over the entire reboot run.
A bump up from ten to twelve episodes gives the creative team extra room to land the plane without rushing beloved characters into thin endings. But the fact remains—after years of setting the pop culture pace, the show’s creators decided this was as good a point as any to stop and savor what’s left of the legacy, rather than risk running it further into the ground.
As the two-part finale approaches, don't be surprised if old conversations about the show's best moments, its questionable choices, and its place in TV history spring back up. Everyone’s got a favorite Carrie storyline, a least favorite breakup, and a hot take about the reboot’s choice to shake up its cast and stories. One thing’s for sure: fans are getting a real goodbye, on the creators’ terms, and a clear full stop to one of TV’s most recognizable worlds.
Write a comment