WARNING: Spoilers ahead for And Just Like That season 3, episode 11.
And Just Like That’s latest episode may have given us the perfect ending for our heroine, Carrie Bradshaw. Much to the fandom’s surprise, it was recently announced thatAnd Just Like Thatseason 3 will be the show’s last, and thus, the characters' storylines will be wrapped up with a two-part finale from theSex and the Citysequel series.
Much ofAnd Just Like Thatseason 3 was taken up byCarrie and Aidan’s toxic relationship, in which she bent over backwards to try and make their romance work. But after moving homes, agreeing to a nonsensical 5-year pause (that Aidan repeatedly broke), his family issues, Carrie had the last straw when Aidan’s trust issues reared their ugly head, and she broke up with him in episode 9.
This madeCarrie and Duncanshippers rejoice. Having formed a creative partnership with her fellow writer and downstairs neighbor, Carrie was reluctant to get involved with Duncan, but their simmering sexual tension bubbled over in episode 10, and they slept together. And while it doesn’t seem like Duncan will be part of Carrie’s ultimate endgame, she could still get her happily ever after.
Carrie Is Nostalgic For Her Past “Single & Fabulous” Life In The Latest And Just Like That Episode
Throughout all ofAnd Just Like Thatseason 3, Carrie has been trying to make her palatial Gramercy townhouse a home. However, for as gorgeous as the property is, and how enviable her closet space may be, it’s obvious that something has always felt off for her.
This is because the only reason Carrie bought the townhouse in the first place was that Aidan wouldn’t set foot in her apartment because of his inability to let go of her decades-past affair with Big. This should have beenCarrie’s first clue that Aidan had no interestin working on his trust issues.
In the latestAnd Just Like Thatepisode, “Forgot About the Boy,” Charlotte remarks that Carrie’s place is really shaping up, with new furniture and decorations making it feel more welcoming. But despite these additions, Carrie still can’t feel back at home, and feels pulled back to her iconic brownstone apartment.
For Carrie, that apartment is so synonymous with the New York City life she carved out for herself. When Aidan came back into her life inAnd Just Like That,Carrie went “100% in” on their relationshipto the point where she completely lost her own identity when she was with him. Now she’s come back to herself and wants to feel at home again.
Alas, with all the changes Lisette and her roommate have made to the apartment, it doesn’t look like that home will be in Carrie’s brownstone. Perhaps theAnd Just Like Thatending will see Carrie make a big move, but the fact that the show appears to be taking her back to her “single and fabulous” roots is a good sign.
Carrie Has Proven She Doesn’t Need A Man To Have Her Fairy Tale Ending
Arguably,Carrie’s bestAnd Just Like Thatseason 3 storylinehas been her writing fiction for the first time. The season has frequently shown her on her laptop, chipping away at a historical fiction novel, and collaborating with Duncan as they swap feedback on each other’s manuscripts.
It’s telling that Carrie has a burst of creative inspiration following her breakup with Aidan, her mind no longer having to babysit his pathetically fragile ego. Episode 10 saw Carrie finishing her novel, while the latest episode featured her meeting with her editor, Amanda, who absolutely loved her pages.
The only catch was that Amanda didn’t think Carrie’s protagonist should wind up alone, arguing that a woman being single in the 1800s is “a tragedy.” Carrie disagrees, and it’s a clear case of life imitating art.
It’s worth noting that Carrie isn’t overly upset about this, and we know that she has a tendency to go on the defensive when faced with truths or ideas she’s not ready to confront (ie, her spat with Miranda about Duncan in episode 7 ). Home issues aside, Carrie is genuinely at peace being alone, and this is a worthy fairy tale ending — for her or her novel’s protagonist.
The Epilogue Of Carrie’s Book Shows She’s Open To Romance — But Doesn’t Need It
Carrie ultimately decides to write the epilogue to her book that her editor asked for. However, the final pages do not see Carrie’s protagonist ending up head over heels in love, but rather, receiving an invitation to a party in which an eligible widower was to be the honored guest, thus setting up the potential for a new romance — nothing more.
Interestingly, the dashing mystery man in Carrie’s novel is returning to New York City from London, where Duncan spends half the year. Earlier in the episode, Carrie is saddened when Seema tells her that Duncan won’t be renewing his lease for the downstairs Gramercy apartment.
At her core,Carrie is a true romanticand always will be. She saw potential with Duncan, and would have liked to keep exploring it. But wanting romantic love isn’t the same thing as making it a necessity.
TheAnd Just Like Thatseries finale airs on Thursday, August 14, at 6:00 p.m. PT/9:00 p.m. ET on HBO Max.
Back in theSex and the Cityfinale, Carrie said that the most “significant relationshipof all is the one you have with yourself.” It looks likeAnd Just Like Thatwill conclude with her taking these words to heart, and we’re here for it.
