For over two decades, Carrie Bradshaw's love life has been the emotional anchor of the Sex and the City universe, filled with dazzling highs, questionable choices, and plenty of Manolos along the way. But And Just Like That Season 3 might just be setting the stage for what fans never thought they would see: closure. With Big gone and Aidan reintroduced, the revival initially teased a second shot at old love. But as the And Just Like That Season 3 unfolds, it is becoming increasingly clear that the story is no longer about rekindling — it is about release.
The signs aren’t subtle. In episode 7, Carrie is visibly drained by the long-distance strain with Aidan and the emotional baggage they continue to carry. While she once swooned at the idea of romantic history repeating itself, now it feels more like déjà vu with diminishing returns. Aidan is still the same man — caring, but complicated — and Carrie is slowly realizing that she’s evolved past needing to fix what broke long ago.
The writers seem to be saying: It’s time. Not for heartbreak, but for evolution. Carrie isn’t being punished for her past choices — she is simply outgrowing them. And that, in itself, may be the most mature ending this character could ever have.
Miranda’s tough love might be the nudge Carrie needed

In a scene loaded with subtext and emotional honesty, Miranda’s offhand remark about seeing Carrie “have fun” with her charming neighbor Duncan hits harder than expected. Carrie’s reaction is immediate, defensive, sharp, and revealing. She insists her situation with Aidan is “complicated,” but that doesn’t sound like someone holding onto love. It sounds like someone clinging to history.
Miranda, whether intentionally or not, reflects what the audience has long sensed: Carrie deserves more than a relationship that feels like homework. It is a rare moment of clarity that the series hasn’t allowed her often, not some grand epiphany, but a slow-burning realization that maybe, just maybe, she has been fighting for something that no longer fits.
Breaking the cycle means breaking the pattern

There is a narrative pattern And Just Like That Season 3 seems determined to break. Carrie’s romantic arc has always been defined by her back-and-forth between Big and Aidan — the safe bet and the irresistible gamble. Now, after three decades of romantic whiplash, the show is subtly steering her toward a new frontier: Herself.
Whether or not Carrie ends up with Duncan or someone else entirely might be beside the point. What matters is that the show is finally offering her (and us) a version of adulthood that doesn’t revolve around repeating old love stories. For the first time, her journey might be about standing still, rather than running in romantic circles. And just like that…Carrie Bradshaw might finally be free.
Carrie Bradshaw 2.0 in And Just Like That Season 3: A future built on freedom, not fantasy

If the series dares to close Carrie’s romance arc with finality, it opens the door to something rarely explored in her world — a storyline where her identity isn’t defined by who she is dating. After all, the show has already evolved past its ‘90s roots, allowing Miranda and Charlotte to grow in fresh and complicated ways. It’s time for Carrie to do the same.
What comes next doesn’t have to be fireworks or fairy tales. It can be quieter, rooted in joy, independence, and the freedom to choose herself. And Just Like That Season 3 has teased that Carrie might be ready to stop chasing the “right man” and start writing a new chapter — one where love isn’t the endgame, but a bonus. And if that is where her story lands, it may be the most satisfying ending of all.