And Just Like That Season 3, Episode 2 recap: Carrie’s texting habits clash with her reality

And Just Like That returns with an episode that plays out more like a slow simmer than a fast boil. Season 3 Episode 2 takes a quieter route, offering setups rather than resolutions.

This episode focuses on Carrie's unusual texting style, Seema's awkward re-entry into the dating world, and Lily's teenage crush spiraling into something real. But is slow pacing enough to keep things interesting?

Let's break down the episode.

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Carrie’s world slips between the past and the present in And Just Like That Season 3, Episode 2

The S*x and the City sequel opens with Carrie Bradshaw. On this episode of And Just Like That Carrie is caught between timelines – her present-day struggles with a long-distance relationship and the fictional world of 1846 she's writing about.

As she dictates messages to Aidan using voice-to-text, "Hi love, period," and "exclamation point!", it becomes clear how communication is failing her in both romance and writing. Their separation is becoming heavier. Even small gestures like a thumbs-down emoji on a text about a table start to feel like sharp cuts.

While that tension brews, Carrie reconnects with Lisette, the young jewelry designer now living in her old apartment. Lisette hands over a chunky necklace with the number 245, referencing Carrie's old address.

Carrie politely responds with:

"You made this" and "I love it..."

She responds that way even though it's clear it's not something she'd ever wear. Their conversation leads to an unexpected bar meet-cute with a man who catches Carrie's tossed phone and offers to buy drinks.

But it's not romance Carrie finds- it's a growing realization: she might be sharing space with Aidan in spirit, but reality feels much emptier.

Adding to this growing void is a run-in with actual rats in her backyard, which sends her sprinting indoors. She texts Aidan about it saying,

"Many, many rats, exclamation point, exclamation point, exclamation point!"

But, what she really wants is to feel closer to him again. That need becomes more obvious in And Just Like That when he shows up unannounced. They talk through their complicated situation: her new apartment, his kids, and the ache of distance.

Though he bends their break-up rules by offering emotional access through calls and texts, the gap between them still feels wide.

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Seema’s identity clashes with forced dating norms

Meanwhile, And Just Like That Season 3's Episode 2 focuses on how Seema is doing her best to move forward after her breakup with Ravi. But her return to the dating scene is far from smooth. In this episode of And Just Like That, she tries everything from meeting multiple men to agreeing to a matchmaker.

At first, she resists the idea of letting someone else choose her partner, especially when the matchmaker, Sydney, begins advising her to change nearly everything about herself. Seema's discomfort is immediate, but she still tries. On one date, she dresses conservatively, speaks cautiously, and lets her guard down-only to be left mid-dinner.

"He ran to the bathroom..." she says, which basically meant he ran out on the whole thing. That moment becomes her breaking point. She decides not to compromise who she is, telling Sydney to take her suggestions and shove them – though in slightly more colorful language.

While Seema wrestles with modern matchmaking, her friends are caught up in their own dramas. Charlotte and Lisa scramble to find a college consultant after learning other parents got a head start. Miranda faces rejection at a restaurant after mistaking a shared love for reality TV as romantic interest.

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A new spark might just be blooming for Carrie

There's a flicker of new energy toward the end of And Just Like That Season 3 Episode 2 when Carrie meets Adam, a rugged gardener who shows up to consult on her backyard space.

After her cat darts outside, it's Adam who scoops it up. They talk briefly, and Carrie finds herself unexpectedly intrigued.

When he says,

"Not knowing is a good thing... it means what's meant to be will show up..."

This is when it hangs in the air longer than it should. Maybe it's not just about garden plans.

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And Just Like That, Episode 2 doesn't chase big storylines but instead lets its characters face quiet, personal battles. Whether it's Carrie's strained texting rituals, Seema's dating misfires, or Lily's innocent romance, the episode roots itself in smaller moments.

It's not explosive television, but it plants the seeds for future changes...and perhaps, something unexpected waiting to grow.

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