'Sex and the City' fans celebrate, mourn ending of 'And Just Like That...' spinoff
Carrie Bradshaw will soon be penning her last column, and fans are sharing mixed reactions.
The "Sex and the City" spinoff, "And Just Like That...," will end following the Season 3 finale, executive producer Michael Patrick King wrote in a social media statement on Aug. 1. The series premiered in 2021, 17 years after "Sex and the City" concluded in 2004.
"I wanted this show to run until all the characters were in assisted living and retirement communities in West Palm Beach," one Instagram user commented on King's statement, followed by a crying emoji.
King said while writing the last episode of "And Just Like That...," he felt it was a "wonderful place to stop."
In a lengthy Instagram post, Parker shared her passion for the series and, of course, her beloved character, who worked as a newspaper columnist and overall fashion enthusiast.
"Carrie Bradshaw has dominated my professional heartbeat for 27 years. I think I have loved her most of all," Parker wrote.
And just like that, it's over: 'And Just like That' fans spot major Season 3 plot hole
When does 'And Just Like That...' Season 3 end?
The two-part finale of "And Just Like That..." will air on Aug. 7 and Aug. 14 on HBO Max.
'We don't want it to end'
Since its first airing in 2021, "And Just Like That..." has received widespread criticism. Fans say the characters have strayed too far from their original selves (despite the once 30-somethings now being in their 50s), the plot is inconsistent, and overall, the spinoff relies far too heavily on nostalgia.
In the most recent season, fans grew upset when a friend of the main cast, Lisa Todd Wexley (played by Nicole Ari Parker), called Charlotte (Kristen Davis) to inform her that her father had died suddenly from a stroke. But Wexley had already informed her friends in Season 1 that her father had died the previous year.
In the comment section of King's statement, fans said the "Sex and the City" gals deserved more.
"We don't want it to end," one Instagram user commented. "We want it to be better."
Others were a bit more strongly worded with their feedback.
"And just like that, we are being released from this hostage, hate-watch situation," TikTok creator Sabrina Bendory said in a video posted on Friday, Aug. 1. "This is not surprising because the writers clearly have no idea how to write for these characters anymore. Maybe once upon a time they did, but they have no idea now."
'And Just Like That...": Sarah Jessica Parker speaks out in emotional message about 'AJLT' ending
Fans share distress over story's end
Not all fans have been unhappy with "And Just Like That..." though, and they took to social media to share their mutual heartbreak.
"I know this season has been a trainwreck overall, but why do I feel sad?" TikTok creator Kayla Charisse said in a video on Friday, Aug. 1. "Like, what are we going to hate watch together every Thursday? And it just finally started getting good. The bar was in hell but like, I really enjoyed last night's episode. The term bittersweet comes to mind."
Viewers also expressed their sadness in the comments of King's social media statement.
"It's the end of an era all over again," one Instagram user commented, referencing the "Sex and the City" finale from 2004.
Contributing: Jay Stahl and Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
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