Warning: This post contains spoilers for Episode 4 of And Just Like That.
Recently, a video circulated showing Sarah Jessica Parker seemingly unaware of the Sex and the City episode that introduced the . The clip, taken from a BuzzFeed interview with Parker and her And Just Like That co-stars Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, and Sarita Choudhury, sparked fan annoyance online due to Parker’s apparent unfamiliarity with the original series’ events. This followed Parker’s May statement that she’s rarely watched Sex and the City or And Just Like That.
Despite her role as executive producer, Parker isn’t the sole creative force behind And Just Like That. While the third season has taken some unexpected turns—like Che Diaz—it has generally remained faithful to the original’s essence. However, after episode 4, it’s questionable whether the show’s creators remember its predecessor.
Episode 4 of Season 3, “Apples to Apples,” is set primarily at Aidan Shaw’s (John Corbett) rural Virginia farmhouse. Aidan has come a long way since Carrie’s visit to his “rustic cabin” in Suffern, New York, as seen in Season 4 of Sex and the City. In that episode, Carrie was recognizably herself, reacting dramatically to squirrels, driving out of state for cell service and fast food, and inexplicably inviting her ex, Big (Chris Noth), with whom she had cheated on Aidan, to stay over. The countryside was simply not for her. She declared herself a “bona fide city girl.”
This time, Carrie’s behavior is strikingly out of character. After secretly obtaining Adderall for Aidan’s son Wyatt (Logan Souza) at the request of Aidan’s ex-wife Kathy (Rosemarie DeWitt), Carrie engages in activities like fishing, ATV riding, and family game night, wearing clothes from a local boutique after dismissing Target as too far away. She barely makes a sarcastic comment about her dislike for rural life, missing her usual complaints about being a “hick town hostage” and her desire for “cocktailing and sample sale-ing.”
One could argue that Carrie has evolved in the 20 years since Sex and the City. However, viewers of And Just Like That aren’t necessarily interested in seeing Carrie mature, especially if it means becoming a completely different person than the . A significant draw for Sex and the City fans is the expectation that Carrie will continue her messy, fabulous life as an out-of-touch Manhattan socialite.
Carrie and Aidan broke up twice in Sex and the City for good reasons. Even with Big out of the picture, they still don’t appear to be a perfect match. And Just Like That adds to their difficulties with distance, a troubled teenager, and conflicting texting habits. Yet, Episode 4 concludes with Carrie agreeing to a five-year long-distance relationship with Aidan, despite his limited promises. While Aidan’s focus on his children is understandable, the old Carrie might have seen it as a sign that they aren’t meant to be, at least for now.
As Miranda pointed out before Carrie’s initial country trip, a relationship requiring you to “pretend to be someone else” might not be right. One wonders if And Just Like That will ever heed that advice.
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