When And Just Like That premiered in December 2021, the mission seemed clear — and almost impossible: to honor the legacy of Sex and the City while introducing a New York and protagonists updated for a world completely different from the late 1990s. Between calculated nostalgia and fast-tracked attempts at reinvention, the series delivered three seasons filled with emotional moments, improbable scenes, long-awaited reunions, and decisions that split the audience. Now, with the definitive finale, it’s time to revisit what was most memorable — and most controversial — in this farewell to Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes, and Charlotte York-Goldenblatt.

The Moments We’ll Remember

The opening blow came early: Big’s death in the very first episode, after a workout on a Peloton bike. Carrie’s silent reaction — embracing him without calling for help — became one of the show’s most debated choices, both shocking and puzzling. The understated funeral scene, almost entirely without dialogue, drew praise for its restraint, refusing melodrama in favor of quiet grief.

Miranda’s unapologetic refusal to play along with age denial and setting up her arc of personal and sexual reinvention. Carrie’s awkward early days on the podcast showed the clash between her print-era persona and the invasive, confessional style of modern media.

The most polarizing turn came with Miranda and Che’s romance — ignited in a now-infamous kitchen scene — which led Miranda to leave her marriage to Steve. Carrie, meanwhile, took a symbolic leap forward when she said goodbye to her iconic apartment in the Season 1 finale, marking the end of an era.

Season 2’s emotional centerpiece was Aidan’s return, a nostalgic revival of their decades-old love story, followed closely by Charlotte’s raw dinner-party outburst that she deserved her own time after years of self-sacrifice. Fans got a brief but unforgettable gift when Samantha Jones appeared for a few seconds in the Season 2 finale — Kim Cattrall’s long-awaited return after years of public tension with the franchise. The final season closed on a joyful note with Anthony and Giuseppe’s wedding, a warm reminder that love and celebration don’t have an expiration date.

The Controversies That Divided Us

No storyline stirred debate quite like Carrie’s reaction to Big’s death — some saw it as poetic minimalism, others as implausibly cold. The fallout extended beyond the screen when Peloton became an accidental villain in a very public PR crisis.

Miranda and Che’s relationship remained a lightning rod, criticized for feeling rushed and out of character, while Che Diaz themselves drew fire for being written as a broad caricature despite their importance for non-binary representation. Critics also accused the show of over-explaining its diversity push, treating important themes more like lessons than organic storylines.

Samantha’s absence, justified in the plot as a falling-out with Carrie, was widely seen as unconvincing — and the real-life feud between Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker kept the controversy alive. Longtime fans also struggled with abrupt personality changes in the main trio, feeling they bore little resemblance to their Sex and the City selves.

Some comedic beats landed poorly, especially in scenes with Charlotte trying to keep up with her daughters’ slang or Carrie navigating the podcast. The Carrie–Aidan reunion became a late-series flashpoint: for some, it was the heartwarming rekindling they’d hoped for; for others, it was an artificial detour, ending with yet another breakup. And throughout its run, the show was criticized for juggling too many subplots and secondary characters, diluting the focus on its core friendships.

The Bittersweet Goodbye

In the end, And Just Like That never managed — nor seemed to want — to be a copy of Sex and the City. It chose instead to take risks, stumble, succeed, and reinvent itself, even if it meant losing some fans along the way. The series leaves behind a mosaic of emotions: unforgettable moments that recall the charm and boldness of its characters, and controversies that underline how television — and the world — have changed since the days of cosmopolitans at Pastis. For some, the farewell feels bittersweet; for others, it’s a reminder that, just like New York itself, Carrie and her friends never stop evolving.