And just like that… strike three for Aidan Shaw.
In Thursday’s episode of “And Just Like That,” Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her long-distance love (played by John Corbett) called it quits — for the third time — and fans are rejoicing.
In the season’s ninth episode, titled “Present Tense,” the couple clash over Aidan’s jealousy toward Carrie’s friendship with her downstairs neighbor and writing partner, Duncan Reeves (Jonathan Cake). Aidan confesses he still has trust issues stemming from Carrie’s infamous affair with Big in “Sex and the City.”
The tension boils over into a street-side argument, and by the end, they decide to part ways — again.
Carrie and Aidan’s on-again, off-again romance dates back to Seasons 3 and 4 of the original series, where they also broke up — twice.
And this split has certainly put viewers in high spirits, with many taking to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their excitement.
“AND JUST LIKE THAT NO MORE AIDAN COUNTRY BUMPKIN SELF 😭🫶🏻,” one user wrote. “Carrie finally woke up and realized she was hot and rich asf! She don’t need that loser next to her.”
Another person posted, “CARRIE LEFT AIDAN!!!!!! 🚨🚨 Yay! He was the literal worst. He was so manipulative.”
“I never thought I would say this, but thank God Carrie and Aidan finally broke up,” a third said.
Other critics, however, weren’t quite as enthusiastic.
“Everyone seems so happy with what has happened with Aidan. I know he is no longer who Carrie needs, but did people actually hate him from ‘SATC’?” one user posted. “I always thought he was the one for her. I’m not celebrating — I’m sad about this.”
Another fan was more critical of the reason behind the split, writing: “I think it was lazy for Carrie and Aidan to break up for the same reason. What’s the lesson? Men don’t change? You never get over cheating? Don’t try to rekindle an old romance? I think I would have just enjoyed it more if they broke up for something different.”
“And Just Like That” executive producer Elisa Zuritsky told TVLine on Thursday that Carrie and Aidan’s breakup was decided “pretty early on” this season.
“It wasn’t a fiery debate in the [writers’] room,” she told the outlet. “I think it really came down to the way the previous season ended, with Aidan’s family proving to be such an obstacle.”
Zuritsky added that the writers “really did want to play it out in the real world and think of [Carrie and Aidan] as real people and take them out of the fantasy Disney prince and princess happy ending that we were kind of playing with in Season 2. It did feel like too much to ask of those two people, especially with their baggage.”
Fellow executive producer Julie Rottenberg also weighed in, noting that while Carrie and Aidan are “in many ways, maybe older, wiser people,” their final scene reveals that “everything that’s always right under the surface — it all boils down to that.”
“I think we all knew their problems were systemic enough that they would not survive,” she told TVLine.
The episode wasn’t all heartbreak, though. Parker’s good friend Andy Cohen made a brief cameo, reprising his “Sex and the City” role as Daniel, the shoe salesman on a first-name basis with Carrie.
The “Bravo” star appeared in Thursday’s installment, rushing past her in the shoe department of a high-end store.
“Hey Carrie! I am slammed, but I’m going to be right with you,” he says. “Oh, thanks,” Carrie replies. “I’m just looking today, Daniel.”
Cohen originally played Daniel in a 2004 “Sex and the City” episode titled “Let There Be Light.”
Season 3 of “And Just Like That” premiered on May 29 on HBO Max. Episodes release weekly on Thursdays, with the season finale scheduled for August 14.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
