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And Just Like That, HBO Max’s series, now largely redefines one of its most legendary love pairs: Carrie Bradshaw and Aidan Shaw. Since its initial few episodes, And Just Like That has been more than a retrograde remake of Sex and the City. Instead, it attempts to depict the dilemmas and challenges of women in their fifties navigating friendship, loss, personal reinvention, and love.
In the process, it has now officially moved on from the Carrie-Aidan relationship, wrapping up their long-term romance on an unexpected but realistic note. When Aidan returned in Season 2 of And Just Like That, it felt like a throwback to coarser, less complicated times. They could envision the potential for rekindled romance—two people with a checkered history trying again at another point in their lives. The reunion did not happen, however.
Aidan didn’t make it past five episodes, and by the final episode of the series, the tale ended with a soft emotional farewell instead of a triumphant return. That wasn’t just a twist of the plot; it was an artistic choice that shows how And Just Like That is choosing to narrate from a more realistic, more emotionally evolved position.
A sensitive conclusion of And Just Like That, not a cliffhanger
Creator Michael Patrick King explained that Aidan’s return was always going to be limited. In an interview, King assured that his And Just Like That Season 2 return was intended to leave some unfinished emotional business between Carrie and Aidan, never restarting an old romance for good. As per Variety, he said:
"We’ve made this almost impossible demand of Carrie — can you wait for me? I’ll see you in five years — and in shock, she says, OK. The thing we didn’t want to do was start the season with a chyron that says “Five years later…” So I think that the best-laid plans lead to the best “get laid” plans."
He added:
”The idea that he’s drunk, and has always been a rule breaker, and calls her was something that I believed could happen, because we wanted to see John Corbett sooner."
The showrunners never had a plan for the relationship to be a new overall story. Instead, it was an introspective path, providing characters and viewers alike with closure they never quite received in Sex and the City or its spinoff movies. The writers’ room did not decide to have Aidan request a five-year break lightly.
It was a reflection of the tribulations of real life—raising children, maintaining a long-distance relationship, and living with emotional baggage from past heartbreak. As the season finale established, Aidan’s highest priority was holding out until he saw his youngest son, Wyatt, reach 18—and he made Carrie do the same. Though it was a giant ask, it was framed as a human, dignified, and real boundary. Not so much a breakup, but an incompatibility of timing on both of their parts.
Why Aidan's exit is just right for where the show is headed
For viewers who were expecting Aidan to be a consistent presence on And Just Like That, the outcome might have been disappointing. However, the direction shift of the show suggests otherwise. With Carrie still emotionally moving forward after Big’s passing, her storyline has narrowed in focus from romancing to personal discovery.
Aidan’s exit reflects thematic consistency: not every relationship is meant to be rekindled just because the characters are older and available. And Just Like That is not just tying up loose ends, but redefining the way romantic histories are wrapped up in midlife stories. Importantly, the decision to separate them was not framed as a failure or even a tragedy.
It showed both of them living with emotional intelligence. Aidan’s dedication to his children and Carrie’s deference to his need to prioritize them bring depth to a show that had long been built upon irresponsible passion and heartbreak. On And Just Like That, people get the choice to opt for responsibility over love—and that, in itself, is new territory for this brand.
No plans to bring back Aidan in Season 3
No comeback for John Corbett has been announced so far in And Just Like That Season 3. In Michael Patrick King’s view, theoretically speaking, the door hasn’t been closed, but the show isn’t heading in a direction where Aidan would be a regular character.
The writing team has also shifted focus more to Carrie’s friendships and non-romantic life, and also to Miranda, Charlotte, and the evolving conflicts between the new cast and changing times. In general, in And Just Like That, Carrie’s life is moving away from her love life and toward self-realization. The final scene wasn’t left hanging in suspense.
Carrie's character is evolving bigger
The greatest evolution in And Just Like That is Carrie Bradshaw’s growth as a character. Where she was previously defined by her constant search for love in Manhattan, she’s now discovering what loneliness means—on her own terms. Her choice to accommodate Aidan’s schedule, rather than begging or bargaining, is a display of her emotional maturity.
This change aligns with the overall theme of And Just Like That: individuals get older, and so do their expectations. Carrie’s journey this season wasn’t about reigniting old loves; it was about determining what relationships mean at different stages of life.
What lies ahead for the series
As And Just Like That begins its new season, it’s clear that attention will shift to character development, not on-again-off-again endings. Carrie and Aidan’s affair was an attempt to recreate the past and reframe it—not as a decades-long romance revival, but as a personal moment of reflection. The five-year time gap may never be feasible on television—and perhaps that’s the point.
The show is embracing uncertainty, showing that not everything wraps up in tidy resolutions—especially during midlife. Aidan’s absence in the later episodes allows the show to explore other plots and dynamics not necessarily rooted in romance. It’s coming closer to complete storytelling—focusing on Carrie’s writing, Miranda’s workplace struggles, and Charlotte’s domestic life.
Carrie and Aidan’s romance got its due time—and its final chapter, albeit subdued, is already there.
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In the end, And Just Like That chose to honor the past, but not be imprisoned by it. Carrie and Aidan’s storyline was resurrected with tact and left on a positive note. It’s not about closing the door forever—it’s about knowing when to stop leaving it ajar.
Also read: Why is And Just Like That ending after Season 3? Showrunner reveals the reason
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