Warning: Some SPOILERS lie ahead for And Just Like That… season 3!As viewership continues to dip for the show, theSex and the Cityspinoff seriesAnd Just Like That…will now be ending after season 3. Developed by Michael Patrick King, the HBO Max show has served as a sequel to the iconic comedy, picking up with Carrie, Charlotte and Miranda navigating their friendships and relationships in their 50s, particularly after Mr. Big’s death.
And Just Like That…season 3has seen Carrie pick back up her writing while also struggling with her renewed relationship with Aidan, all while Miranda continues to manage her alcoholism and a new relationship with TV producer Joy, and Charlotte tries to process Harry’s cancer diagnosis.
Revealed by showrunner Michael Patrick King in a letter on the show’s official Twitter account,And Just Like That…season 3 will be the last for the spinoff. While the season ended on July 31, King revealed that he, Sarah Jessica Parker, HBO & HBO Max CCO Casey Bloys and HBO Max Head of Originals Sarah Aubrey came to the joint decision to end it with a two-part finale, indicating that this was also the plan before the new season’s premiere. See King’s announcement below:
What This Means For And Just Like That & Sex And The City
The Iconic Franchise May Just Be Saying Goodbye For Now
The decision to bringAnd Just Like That…to an end with season 3 is sure to come as a shock given how many plot threads were left open in the initial finale. Not only did Carrie and Duncan finally take a step forward,but he also revealed he would be returning to England permanently.
Miranda also agreed to let Brady move back in as he tried to hide from his father due to his anger over Brady getting a woman pregnant, while Charlotte and Harry both found themselves being brought down by their ailments. With a number of other lingering questions, King certainly has a lot to answer in his plannedAnd Just Like That…two-part finale.
That being said, in looking at his statement about bringing the show to an end, it does at least sound like he wrote the season with a plan to close everything out,thus making it likely very few lingering threads will be there. Additionally, with King feeling season 3 is a “wonderful place to stop”, there is a chance of someone else continuing the franchise.
Ultimately, the biggest hurdle theSex and the Cityfranchise has to come back isthe muted responseAnd Just Like That…has seenthroughout its run. Audiences have been particularly critical of the show,with none of its three seasons having a Fresh rating from them on Rotten Tomatoes. See the show’s Rotten Tomatoes score in the chart below:
48%
27%
63%
37%
68%
35%
The other major hurdle is the fact thatAnd Just Like That…’s viewership has shown diminishing returns for theSex and the Cityspinoff. Where season 1 was once HBO Max’s most-watched series debut, season 2 saw a significant decline by 59% and season 3 a 62% drop from season 1, with subsequent episodes of season 3 further dipping.
Our Take On And Just Like That… Ending With Season 3
The Show Was Just Finding Its Stride
While the show has had its fair share of problems,And Just Like That…certainly seemed to be getting closerin season 3 to what madeSex and the Citywork for as long as it did. Not to mention with some emotional developments for its fan-favorite characters, particularly Charlotte and Harry’s health concerns, King seemed to have exciting ideas about how to give the show further depth.
That being said, given the aforementioned early struggles, and already picking the baton up from the fairly conclusive prior endings,And Just Like That…being the end oftheSex and the Cityfranchisemay be for the better. It’s already a series that felt it was overstaying its welcome with its movies, let alone its multiple spinoffs.
The first 10 episodes ofAnd Just Like That…season 3 are available to stream on HBO Max.
And Just Like That…
Cast
And Just Like That is a continuation of the beloved franchise Sex and the City, chronicling the experiences of Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte as they transition from the complexities of life and friendships in their 30s to those in their 50s.
