If Darren Star wants to keep putting Carrie Bradshaw on my screen, I’ll always happily watch her, but I’m still mourning the loss of Star’s underrated show,Uncoupled. From a longevity standpoint, the 2022 Netflix series was a rare misfire for Star, as, in comparison,And Just Like Thatseason 3will premiere on August 01, 2025, and shows no signs of slowing down. TheSex and the Citysequel series catches up with Carrie and the girls (sans Samantha) in their 50s. Things take a turn for the tragic when Big dies in episode 1, leaving Carrie a widow.
Again, I’ll watch anySATCproperty Star produces, but there’s no denying thatAnd Just Like Thatdoesn’t have the same spark as the flagship series. Despite its success, many criticize the revival as simply cashing in on successful IP. On the other hand,Uncoupled, created by Star and Jeffrey Richman, was a totally original idea. A romantic comedy series, theUncoupledcast is led by Neil Patrick Harrisas Michael Lawson,a successful NYC real estate agent whose world is rocked when his partner of 17 years abruptly dumps with him. Canceled after one season,Uncoupleddeserves another shot.
Uncoupled Proves Why Neil Patrick Harris Is One Of TV’s Best Leading Men
He’s Selfish But Lovable — A Classic Darren Star Protagonist
Neil Patrick Harris was casting gold asUncoupled’s protagonist, Michael. Harris stole every scene he was in his best-known project,How I Met Your Mother, butwhile it took multiple seasons to peel back the layers of vulnerability beneath Barney Stinson’s womanizing, suit-wearing exterior, he immediately bares his soul when he gets to step into the role of leading man.
Michael is hardly 100% likable, and his selfishness is alarmingly apparent right from the start.Uncoupled’s pilot episode sees Michael throwing his partner, Colin (Tuc Watkins), a surprise 50th birthday party so lavish it would make Jay Gatsby blush, despite Colin saying he didn’t want to make a fuss about the milestone. Yes, I found myself screaming at my TV at Michael’s actions, buthow boring would it be if Harris’s character were perfect?
Michael is on a romantic coming-of-age journey, and it’s a heartwarming experience watching him evolve and become a better person.
Plus, narcissistic protagonists are a staple of Darren Star shows. Carrie Bradshaw is a glaring example, but also think about Emily Cooper inEmily in Paris— a far more successful Netflix series thanUncoupled. Like these two characters, Michael is on a romantic coming-of-age journey, and it’s a heartwarming experience watching him evolve and become a better person, and it’sall anchored by Harris’s nuanced, winning performance.
Why Uncoupled Was Canceled Twice, Explained
The 2023 WGA Strike Was The Final Nail In The Coffin
Typically, Netflix announces its series renewals shortly after the release of the latest season, so when they stayed mum onUncoupledfor months after its season 1 premiere in July 2022, things weren’t looking good. It turns out thatUncoupledfans had reason to worry, as the show was officially canceled in January 2023. While the Neil Patrick Harris series achieved favorable critical reception, it failed to stay in Netflix’s Top 10 list, only achieving the number 6 spot for one week.Its lack of sustained buzz is likely why Netflix pulled the plug.
ThoughUncoupledwas scheduled to start filming season 2 in July 2023, the Writers Guild of America strike squashed those plans.
However, in a reversal of fortune, just one month laterin February 2023, Showtime announced that they were saving the show, and thatUncoupledseason 2 was officially happening. Alas, the good news would be short-lived. ThoughUncoupledwas scheduled to start filming season 2 in July 2023, the Writers Guild of America strike squashed those plans, and production was halted in June 2023. Despite both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes ending in 2023, Showtime ultimatelyreversed its decision to proceed withUncoupledseason 2, and the network officially canceled the show on August 17, 2025.
There’s been no updates since, but it doesn’t look likeUncoupledwill be getting its Cinderella ending anytime soon, if ever. What really makesUncoupled’s second cancelation so disappointing is that it’s also no longer accessible on streaming, on either Netflix or Paramount+ (who owns Showtime). If we can’t getUncoupledseason 2, we should at least have access to the spectacular first season.
And Just Like That Fans Would Like Uncoupled Even More
It Has All The Trappings Of A Darren Star Series
When it premiered in 2021,And Just Like Thatfelt a little bit tired, and it hasn’t really been successful in picking up steam. If anything, it’s resorted to frustrating storylines to stay relevant — like Carrie thinking she was wrong to be with Big instead of Aidan, and agreeing to wait five years while he raises his kids. Still, there’s no denying that it’s fun to be back inCarrie’s world full of designer shoes, glamorous restaurants, and overall sophisticated NYC life.
If that Darren Star-created world is appealing, the TV titan also delivers it in spades withUncoupled. Upscale New York City real estate is on full display, with Michael’s high-powered real estate job. Andlike Carrie and the girls, it seems that every episode sees Michael and his crew at another fabulous party.
The show also feels a lot fresher thanAnd Just Like That, asnot many series explore gay dating life, which Michael gets a crash course in when he finds himself single for the first time in 17 years. Glamour plus originality isUncoupled’s recipe for brilliance, and it deserved better than what it got.
Uncoupled
Cast
Uncoupled is a comedy-drama series starring Neil Patrick Harris. It tells the story of Michael Lawson, a New York City real estate agent whose partner Colin unexpectedly ends their 17-year relationship, and his struggles to come to terms with single life in the big city. Despite being well-received by most viewers, the show was canceled by Netflix after just one season.
And Just Like That…
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.
