And Just Like That… – Outlook Good

Will season three be the year And Just Like That… figures out what kind of show it wants to be? The first two seasons were messy and divisive. New characters were introduced with varying degrees of success (welcome Seema and Lisa! So long, Che and Nya ), and original characters were killed in devastating ways (justice for Stanford). But the costumes were gorgeous, and this fantastical candy-colored New York resembled the original Sex and City series. It was a little like attending your high school reunion. The people seem familiar, but they look and sound so different. For this first episode of season three, the show is trying to correct some of the previous misfires, but it’s still a mess. 

When we last left our ladies, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) bought an amazing Gramercy Park house to start over with Aiden (John Corbett), only to have him leave town to help his troubled son, Wyatt. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) rediscovered her professional side at a non-profit agency, and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) went back to work at an art gallery. The finale ended with Seema and Carrie on the beach, sans boyfriends but happy to be with one another. 

Here we are again, ready to celebrate summer in New York. Carrie and Aiden are still keeping their distance but sending each other blank postcards. Carrie is filling her time decorating her new home and makes an offhand remark about not writing (red flag!). Eventually, Aiden calls her from his truck out on his land, and the two engage in supremely awkward phone sex with Carrie’s cat Shoe watching and Aiden accidentally honking his horn (not a euphemism) while trying to remove his pants. Carrie is distracted and lies to Aiden that she is still into the sex. She feels bad about this and calls him back to tell him the truth and try connecting again, but he’s with Wyatt. We get it. They’re not in the same place.

Miranda is putting herself out there on the dating scene and, in an awkward exchange at a lesbian bar with Brady’s old babysitter, catches us up on her life. She divorced Steve, sold the house in Brooklyn, and now lives in an Airbnb. Miranda has a one-night stand with a tourist named Mary (Rosie O’Donnell), who happens to be a nun. Sister Mary ends up being a stage-five clinger. Still, she gives Miranda the opportunity to have a sincere conversation about where she is in her journey and that Miranda understands that Mary has just started hers. This was actually a sweet exchange, and it was great to see confident, honest Miranda back. 

Charlotte’s storyline (if you can call it that) involves her beloved dog, Richard Burton, being wrongfully accused of attacking another dog at the park. That’s it. That’s the storyline. In between, we revisit her annoying children, and Harry is along for the ride. 

“Outcome Good”-AND JUST LIKE THAT…, Pictured: Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw, Kristin Davis as Charlotte York and Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes. Photo by Craig Blankenhorn/MAX ©2025 MAX. All Rights Reserved

On to the new members of this group. Seema (Sarita Choudhury) is still trying to make her relationship with film director Ravi Gordi (Armin Amiri) work, but the long distance is exhausting. Literally. While waiting for Ravi to Facetime her, she falls asleep smoking in bed and sets her mattress on fire (red flag!). Seema finally calls it quits.

Lisa Todd Wexley (Nicole Ari Parker) is pitching her 10-part documentary series, and her husband, Herbert (Chris Jackson), is trying to prove he’s cool in his run for city comptroller. 

Anthony is still with his Italian poet Giuseppe (Sebastiano Pigazzi). In a telling exchange with Carrie, they both voice some judgment on her situation with Aiden and not finding time to write. Carrie’s not thrilled by this statement of the obvious truth (Anthony aptly calls her Rapunzel).

Other than some shared scenes at New York locales (Lincoln Center and Red Rooster) and the fact that all of these characters have so much money and so little self-awareness, this really feels like multiple shows stitched together. 

After each episode, I groan and roll my eyes, but I’m also counting the days to episode number two. This could have been a great opportunity to showcase women in their 50s living amazing lives, but it’s all style and false substance. Join me as I hate watch the third season and bring an unrealistic amount of optimism that things will improve. 

Random thoughts

In looking at Carrie’s large hat, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Where’s my childhood Strawberry Shortcake playset? 

Carrie’s puns get worse with age. 

The kitchens are drool worthy.

Meredith Howell

Meredith lives in Chicago where she and her husband made sure their two boys were fluent in all things pop culture. She loves talking about all things GG- Gilmore Girls, Gossip Girl, and Golden Girls and indulges in a yearly viewing of Pride and Prejudice (the Colin Firth version is the only one recognized).