Does Big die in And Just Like That? Character's fate explored in depth

And Just Like That shocked the fans when one of the most beloved characters, Mr. Big (played by Chris Noth), was killed off in the first episode of Season 1. The Sex and the City reboot was off to a controversial start.

Mr. Big, aka John James Preston, is the romantic interest of the series’ protagonist, Carrie Bradshaw (played by Sarah Jessica Parker). Although they had an on-again, off-again relationship, they garnered a fan following for their charming chemistry. In a shocking, heartbreaking twist, Mr. Big dies of a heart attack in Carrie’s arms in the pilot.

It was a tightly kept secret that perplexed the audience, especially since Mr. Big and Carrie had finally left all the drama behind to settle down. In an interview with E!News, Parker spoke about the much-debated moment on the show:

"Big dying was really, really hard to do both professionally and personally. That's not just a thread. It's one of the main arteries that you would struggle to do without… It was really sad to say goodbye to that… All of it was a mess, and all of it was wonderful. It was romantic, and it was a disaster. It was destructive, and it was healthy.”

More about the shocking twist

In Sex and the City, Mr. Big is known as the quintessential larger-than-life, loving businessman who enjoys living a glamorous life in New York City. Despite their questionable relationship choices, he became an essential part of Carrie’s life.

Mr. Big appeared in the first episode of Sex and the City when he would accidentally bump into Carrie on the streets. She would playfully name him ‘Big’ as a reference to his wealth and status in society. The two would go on to have a borderline-toxic relationship complete with betrayals, fights, and whirlwind romance. In the Sex and the City movie, they finally get married.

Carrie and her friends are adapting to the modern New York City when we meet them in the And Just Like That Season 1 pilot episode titled ‘Hello It’s Me’. Carrie is happily married to Mr. Big.

Carrie attends Charlotte’s (played by Kristin Davis) daughter’s piano recital. But when she gets home, her world turns upside down as Mr. Big collapses in her arms while the shower is still running. And of course, making the scene even more heartbreaking and dramatic is her voice-over:

‘And just like that…Big died.’

Mr. Big died from a heart attack after his workout. While his death is a tear-jerker, it created the perfect catalyst for Carrie to evolve into the protagonist we have known her to be in Sex and the City. The reboot needed a shake-up, and this provided a seamless setup to move away from the happily-ever-after narrative and give the storyline more gravitas.

With Mr. Big out of the picture, Carrie is single and grieving, looking for ways to cope with the tragedy. One of the names often appearing in the story is Aiden Shaw (played by John Corbett). Her relationship with Aiden has always been in the background, and their decision to wait a few years before pursuing their relationship again presents Carrie with new opportunities. With Mr. Big gone, Carrie steers through the single life again.

Watch And Just Like That on Max

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