Carrie Bradshaw's ending in ‘And Just Like That' is a literal pile of crap
The 'Sex and the City' saga – which began in 1998 and concluded with the Season 3 finale of 'And Just Like That' on Thursday night – ends in the toilet.
Unfortunately, that's not a metaphor.
17 Sarah Jessica Parker channeling her beloved character Carrie Bradshaw in the 'And Just Like That' finale episode.
HBO
For some ungodly reason, the final episode of television featuring the iconic NYC writer Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) had a plotline involving showing an image of literal crap in a toilet on-screen. Seriously.
It's a little too on the nose.
17 Sarah Jessica Parker in 'And Just Like That' Season 3, which aired in May.
GC Images
Spoilers ahead for 'Party Of One,' the series finale of 'And Just Like That,' now streaming on HBO Max.
After Carrie Bradshaw has spent almost 30 years on the air, here's how her story ends in the series finale for the 'Sex and the City' spinoff, 'And Just Like That.'
At the beginning of the episode, Carrie eats a meal alone at a futuristic restaurant.
When the waitstaff puts a doll across from her, she later complains to her friends that she felt like she was being 'shamed' for dining solo.
17 The series finale includes a plotline about poop and clogged toilets.
HBO
17 In the last episode, Carrie met with her editor, who did not like her novel's ending, which is a woman ending up alone.
HBO
Carrie tells Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristin Davis): 'Apparently, not only is it tragic for a woman to be alone in the past, it's also an issue in the future.'
She was referring to the novel she's writing, which is about a woman in the 1800s.
During last week's episode, Carrie met with her editor, who took issue with the fact that the novel ends with the heroine being alone.
17 Carrie's laptop screen showing her novel's epilogue, reading, 'The woman realized she was not alone – she was on her own.'
HBO
17 Sarah Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in 'And Just Like That' finale.
Craig Blankenhorn/HBO Max
17 Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw and Niall Cunningham as Miranda's son, Brady Hobbes.
Craig Blankenhorn/HBO Max
Carrie's editor called it a 'tragedy' and said that she prefers 'happy endings,' which was clearly the show thinking aloud about how Carrie's own romantic saga should end.
Carrie maintained that she liked the way her novel ended, but she caved to her editor's wish in last week's episode and wrote an epilogue, implying that her heroine is alone now, but she will soon meet her friend's cousin, who is a 'handsome widower.'
Later in the series finale, Carrie tells Charlotte, 'I may be alone for the rest of my life.'
17 Carrie Bradshaw dancing around her fancy townhouse in the series finale.
HBO
17 Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie and Chris Noth as Mr. Big in 'Sex and the City' Season 3.
Getty Images
17 Cynthia Nixon and Sarah Jessica Parker in the second season of 'And Just Like That.'
Photograph by Craig Blankenhorn/Max
When Charlotte assures her that she'll find a new man, Carrie refers to the series premiere of 'And Just Like That,' which killed off her longtime 'Sex and the City' love interest and husband, Big (Chris Noth).
'Even when Big died, after the shock and the total devastation, in the back of my mind, I thought, 'Aiden, maybe Aiden,'' she says.
Carrie's other famous ex, Aiden (John Corbett), had an arc on 'And Just Like That' Season 3, where he and Carrie rekindled their romance before they called it quits.
She then had a fling with her neighbor, Duncan (Jonathan Cake), but his work took him away from New York City.
Carrie continues telling Charlotte, 'And recently, though Duncan clearly told me 'I'm not coming back,' I thought, 'Maybe?' Hmm. But, I have to quit thinking 'maybe a man' and start accepting 'maybe just me.' And it's not a tragedy, it's a fact. And I just have to start accepting it, full stop.'
Following that conversation, Carrie attends an awkward Thanksgiving dinner.
17 From left: Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon in the third season of 'And Just Like That.'
HBO
Miranda ditches her because her girlfriend Joy's (Dolly Wells) dog has an emergency.
Charlotte also ditches her because her husband, Harry (Evan Handler), who had erectile dysfunction after his cancer, is suddenly able to perform.
So, Carrie is left alone with Miranda's son, Brady (Niall Cunningham), three of his annoying friends and Mark (Victor Garber), whom Charlotte invited to set up with Carrie, much to Carrie's dismay, since she complains that he's been married three times.
That's right — the bulk of Carrie's story ends with her at an awkward dinner party with a bunch of irritating new characters, and a date she doesn't want.
What a way to end the story of a beloved TV character.
17 Jonathan Cake and Sarah Jessica Parker in 'And Just Like That.'
HBO
And that's not all: one of Brady's irritating friends clogs the toilet. When Mark uses the bathroom later, the toilet overflows, and the camera pans to show the audience that there's s–t in the toilet — really! — which encapsulates the direction in which the show has gone.
After the toilet incident, Carrie goes home alone and turns on the song 'You're The First, The Last, My Everything' by Barry White.
Smiling to herself, Carrie sits at her computer. She deletes the epilogue for her novel that implied her heroine will end up with a man.
Instead, Carrie writes: 'The woman realized she was not alone – she was on her own.'
17 From left: Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis and Kim Cattrall in 'Sex and the City.'
Getty Images
17 From left: Willie Garson (Stanford), Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie), Kim Cattrall (Samatha) and Cynthia Nixon (Amanda) in 'Sex and the City' Season 3.
Getty Images
After finishing her novel with that line, she keeps smiling and dancing around her apartment, singing along to the Barry White song. The implication is that Carrie has no romantic partner and is content.
The end credits then roll, playing the 'Sex and the City' theme song in the background.
And just like that, with that steaming pile of crap – literally! – Carrie Bradshaw is finally off the air.
'Sex and the City' first premiered in 1998 and followed best friends Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha (Kim Cattrall, who only had a brief cameo in 'And Just Like That') through sex and dating adventures in the Big Apple.
17 Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda returned in when 'And Just Like That,' which premiered in 2021, when they were in their 50s.
Photograph by Craig Blankenhorn/Max
After the show ended in 2004, it had two movies in 2008 and 2010, before returning to follow Carrie, Charlotte and Miranda in their 50s when 'And Just Like That' premiered in 2021.
The spinoff show has been controversial from the start, as there was backlash around the choice to begin by killing off Big.
The show was also blasted over characters such as Che Diaz (Sara Ramirez), who viewers slammed as a 'woke' caricature.
Despite all the controversies, 'And Just Like That' was reportedly not canceled.
17 Sarah Jessica Parker and Chris Noth star in 'Sex and the City' in 1999.
Getty Images
17 Sarah Jessica Parker Stars As Carrie in the original HBO series 'Sex and the City.'
Getty Images
On Aug. 1, when Parker made the abrupt announcement that the show would end with Season 3, showrunner Michael Patrick King also posted his own announcement on social media.
'While I was writing the last episode of 'And Just Like That…' season 3, it became clear to me that this might be a wonderful place to stop,' he wrote. He claimed that they didn't announce Season 3 would be the final season ahead of time because 'we didn't want the word 'final' to overshadow the fun of watching the season.'
So, apparently, showing s–t in a toilet on-screen was 'a wonderful place to stop.'
For a show that began as a fun examination of female empowerment and friendship to end on such a depressing note feels like a slap in the face.
Carrie's final line rings of false bravado, trying to put the best face on her loneliness. It started as a comedy. It ended as a tragedy.
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Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
I'll miss the chaos of 'And Just like That...' (and Che Diaz too)
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Moises Mendez II is a staff writer at Out magazine. Follow him on Instagram @moisesfenty. Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@ Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of Out or our parent company, equalpride. This article originally appeared on Out: I'll miss the chaos of 'And Just like That...' (and Che Diaz too) RELATED Kim Cattrall Confirms 'And Just Like That' Cameo, Says 'Happy Pride' And just like that, the 'Sex and the City' saga comes to an end Here's what we know about Sara Ramirez's messy firing from 'And Just Like That...' Solve the daily Crossword
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is a born-and-raised New Yorker who is an editor for Eater's Northeast region and Eater New York, was the former Eater Austin editor for 10 years, and often writes about food and pop culture. And just like that, HBO Max's Sex and the City sequel series returns for its third and FINAL season. And Just Like That... brings back our long-time New Yorkers Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte (Kristin Davis), as well as relative newcomers Seema (Sarita Choudhury) and Lisa (Nicole Ari Parker), to our televisions and laptops. What is summer and fall without our gals talking candidly about sex, making bad puns, and dining and drinking around the city? Like previous seasons, Eater will be tracking where the gang is eating across New York City, from brunch sessions to romantic dinners to cocktail dates. This guide will be updated weekly when each episode airs on Thursdays at 9 p.m., leading up to the finale, which is tonight (!). 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USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
'And Just Like That' series finale is a major letdown, for Carrie Bradshaw and her fans
Spoiler alert! The following story contains details about the series finale of "Sex and the City" sequel "And Just Like That..." (now streaming on HBO Max). You know that old Bible verse: 'Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; my toilet runneth over.' It sounds a lot like the series finale of 'And Just Like That…,' which launched unholy scatological warfare against our beloved Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), who had merely hoped to spend a lovely Thanksgiving dinner with her dear friends after her romances with Aidan (John Corbett) and Duncan (Jonathan Cake) fizzled. Instead, Carrie's holiday is filled with a revolving door of haughty art dealers and Gen Z queerdos, one of whom clogs the toilet and expels a sea of brown that Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) is forced to clean up. A magical land called Manhattan, this is not. In some ways, it's an apropos ending for 'And Just Like That…,' which in three seasons found stunning new ways to humiliate and torture our 'Sex and the City' heroines. An entire episode devoted to Charlotte (Kristin Davis) feuding at the dog park? Send the meteor. Carrie listening to Aidan masturbate in his truck after he imposes a five-year break to focus on his kids? Virginia is not bad enough — truly, take him to the Hague. Like dutiful piggies awaiting their slop, we tuned in every week to see what fresh hell was in store for these once-nuanced characters, who during the original 1998-2004 run of HBO's 'Sex and the City,' were as scintillating as a fresh pair of Manolos. 'Sex' was the rare show that could tackle infertility and exhibitionist kinks in the same breath; it never spoke down to its viewers nor judged its central foursome. (Kim Cattrall, who played the voracious and va-va-voom Samantha, wisely sat out the sequel series.) Meanwhile, 'And Just Like That…' could never figure out what kind of show it wanted to be. The original cast was whiter than Miley Cyrus' veneers, and creator Michael Patrick King attempted to rectify that by adding a slew of racially and sexually diverse new characters. But despite the best efforts of Sarita Choudhury (as Seema) and Nicole Ari Parker (as Lisa), their shoehorned storylines contained neither logic nor depth. At least we'll always have the memory of Che Diaz (Sara Ramirez) and their comedy concerts. More egregiously, after spending the entire first season grieving her husband, Mr. Big (Chris Noth), we naïvely hoped that Carrie would dip her toe back into the dating pool as an older yet no less adventurous woman. Instead, the writers dredged up her past, wasting the next two seasons on a stagnant relationship with Aidan that merely rehashed their pent-up resentments and insecurities. The series finale finds Carrie confronting her singledom and asking herself, "Who will I be alone?" It's a worthwhile question: According to a 2020 survey by the Pew Research Center, 29% of women between the ages of 50 and 64 are single; that number jumps to 49% for women over 65. "And Just Like That..." had an opportunity to show the pains and glories of single life for women like Carrie, who was once a witty, wide-eyed emblem for hopeless romantics everywhere. Instead, the final episode almost looks down on Carrie's relationship status with pity. When she goes stag to a Chinese restaurant, servers plop a plush doll in the seat across from her "so you don't have to eat alone." On Thanksgiving Day, she goes door to door delivering pies to her closest pals, most of whom are too busy with their respective families and partners to celebrate with her. For a show that's long insisted that all you really need are your best girlfriends, it's disappointing that Carrie spends practically the entire episode in the company of strangers. "I have to stop thinking, 'Maybe a man,' and start accepting maybe just me," Carrie tells Charlotte early in the episode. "It's not a tragedy, it's a fact." And in the final scene of the series, Carrie eats dessert alone in her kitchen before dancing around her cavernous townhouse to Barry White's "You're the First, the Last, My Everything." It's a sweet sentiment of self-love, but one that feels too tacked on and hastily written to pack an emotional wallop. And after nearly 30 years of knowing and loving Carrie, she deserved far better than this treacly Hallmark sendoff. On Aug. 1, when King announced "And Just Like That..." was ending, Parker penned a lengthy tribute on social media that made me tear up, capturing the wild, wonderful whims of our cosmo-sipping fashionista in all of her beautiful messiness. "Carrie Bradshaw has dominated my professional heartbeat for 27 years," the actress wrote. "I think I have loved her most of all." You can flush the rest – that's how we'll choose to remember "Sex and the City."
