And Just Like That… – Silent Mode

I hate Carrie’s (Sarah Jessica Parker) book in progress. There. I said it. “Lilies of the valley in the garden bowed their delicate white bonnets to the pounding rain and the woman inside braved the unknown.” I know she’s trying to create a mood, but when I read delicate white bonnets, I’m right back to the Handmaid’s Tale and it’s a totally different vibe.

Carrie and her downstairs neighbor are enjoying mutton on a rainy New York night. Duncan (Jonathan Cake) doesn’t usually share his mutton stew with others, but the rain ruined his plans to take Carrie out to dinner. Wait, are they dating? No, he just wants her feedback on the initial chapter of the biography he’s writing on Margaret Thatcher. Carrie agrees to read Duncan’s first chapter if he reads hers. Place your bets. Will he be transcended by her writing, or will he hate it? 

Duncan’s stew has Carrie reaching for the Tums during an evening phone conversation with Aiden. Bonus points for seeing Speed Stick in the frame with Aiden (John Corbett). Nice callback to the SATC episode, The Good Fight. Aiden tells Carrie that while Wyatt goes to a wilderness program in Wyoming for a week; he’s coming for a visit. Aiden is thrilled about this development because it was Wyatt’s idea and aligns with Aiden’s theory that the outdoors can cure all problems. 

Joy’s (Dolly Wells) dogs are still not sold on Miranda, but their relationship continues to move forward, with Miranda staying at Joy’s while she looks for an apartment. Miranda wants Joy to meet Brady (Niall Cunningham), and Joy is honest about being tentative with kids, but Joy calls Miranda her girlfriend so that’s progress compared to her relationship with Che. Miranda knows just how to get Brady and Joy comfortable with one another, focusing on Sappho and Socrates. 

Charlotte (Kristin Davis) runs into Bitsy Von Muffling (Julie Halston) in front of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Bitsy sees Charlotte heading in and asks who she knows with the “Big C.” First of all, I hate this euphemism and want Charlotte to push Bitsy over, but she doesn’t. What Charlotte does do is lie about volunteering at Sloan Kettering to cover why she’s there, and in the process, reveals an upcoming event that Bitsy didn’t know about—the Teatime at Tiffany’s event. Bitsy is horrified to think she wasn’t invited to the event. This perceived slight gets Charlotte out of the hot seat. 

Seema (Sarita Choudhury) is saying goodbye to her car and driver while listening to Diana Ross’s Touch Me in the Morning. I think we’re meant to feel bad for her, but I just feel annoyed. Seema finds Miranda the perfect apartment but shares that she will need to make an offer of $150,000 over asking price. Miranda is horrified and doesn’t believe in this practice, telling Seema to find something else that’s equally exceptional. It’s worth noting that one of the most substantial criticisms of the show is that Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon have infused elements from their own personalities into the characters, Carrie and Miranda, respectively. This is a notable example. 

Harry (Evan Handler) has a decision to make on his treatment for prostate cancer, radiation or surgery. There are side effects to both, but in the end, Harry is leaning toward surgery and Charlotte is in positive Pollyanna mode, willing everything to be fine, but she really needs an outlet for her fear and anxiety.

The ladies meet at Hot Fellas, which is just an excuse to show two minutes of Anthony (Mario Cantone) and Giuseppe (Sebastiano Pigazzi). Seema has found Miranda another apartment, but it’s a condo that doesn’t allow pets, and that might mean fewer sleepovers with Joy. Miranda needs to make a choice: either make a bid over the asking price or tell Sappho and Socrates to stay at home.

Lisa Todd Wexler’s (Nicole Ari Parker) new editor, Marion (Mehcad Brooks), is a perfect fit for her documentary. He completely gets Lisa’s vision of the project, and they’re in sync. Unfortunately, Herbert’s (Chris Jackson) campaign manager, Chauncey, keeps calling as they’re trying to work, so Lisa sets her phone in silent mode. While working, Marion drops the news that he’s married. Lisa’s crush suddenly diminishes a little and is completely extinguished when Herbert comes in to let Lisa know that her father had a stroke and died. Lisa was a victim of the curse of putting the phone in silent mode and missed an opportunity to say goodbye to her father. Lisa returns home and calls Charlotte, who says all the right things to her friend. Her grief is replaced by rage when she gets an invite to her father’s funeral on behalf of Lucille Highwater (Jenifer Lewis), the manager of Lisa’s father’s theater.

“Silent Mode”-AND JUST LIKE THAT…, Pictured: Nicole Ari Parker as Lisa Todd Wexler and Christopher Jackson as Herbert Wexler. Photo by Craig Blankenhorn/MAX ©2025 MAX. All Rights Reserved

Aiden arrives at the Gramercy house and, thinking he’d be cute, throws pebbles at her window. Another call back to SATC, only this time, his pebble completely shatters a vintage window. We get nowhere near subtle symbolism here. Aiden says he can fix it (sure, he can fix everything. Maybe the window can get some outdoor time and repair itself). I’m not a huge fan of Aiden, but Carrie’s pretty bitchy about the situation, whining that the window has sustained wars and remained intact. Aiden wants to bring in a glazer to replace the glass, but Carrie tells him this historic glass can’t be replaced. Also, it throws beautiful rainbows, which sets off Aiden. Nothing works out for poor Aiden. As Aiden and Kathy were dropping off Wyatt for his Wyoming adventure, Wyatt changed his mind. However, Kathy and Aiden were united in making him get on the plane, which led to extreme guilt on both sides. Aiden stays up all right, researching doors, and plans a trip to Pennsylvania to find the perfect glass. In the morning, he goes on his quest and leaves Carrie a Post-it note. Yet another callback to SATC when Carrie was dumped by Berger via Post-it note. 

Lisa meets Lucille, played by the amazing Jenifer Lewis. There is no love lost between these two ladies, who each want to take control over planning the funeral. Lucille struck a nerve by implying that Lisa would be too busy to plan the funeral and was too busy to say goodbye to her father. And just like that, we think the gloves are off, but Lucille is vulnerable by sharing why she wants to be so involved with this funeral. It’s all she has. Lisa requests a simple, respectful homegoing, but we’re in for a grand goodbye. 

Aiden has returned from Pennsylvania with every door in the state. Suddenly, this isn’t about the door. Aiden admits to sleeping with Kathy in a moment of weakness and comfort after making a difficult decision about Wyatt. Carrie is calm and understanding. Red flag. Carrie should be furious, and Aiden is apologizing for betraying her, but that’s not how Carrie sees it. They have different definitions of waiting for each other. Aiden thought it meant they were monogamous, and Carrie thought it meant that she would be there for him when he was ready. Carrie, being the adult in this conversation, is jarring, but she’s right; the fact that they never had this conversation is concerning. Carrie has to do so much reassuring; I’m exhausted watching her. Aiden is just as possessive as he was all those years ago. 

The gang’s all together to support Lisa at her father’s funeral, which starts with Magic to Do from Pippin. Lucille went all out. When it comes to giving a eulogy, Lisa asks Herbert to join her on stage. Still consumed with guilt, Lisa has trouble speaking and shares that she wasn’t there to say goodbye to her father. Herbert speaks on her behalf and reminds Lisa that she has been a wonderfully supportive daughter all along. Herbert’s frosty mother, Eunice (Pat Bowie), offers Lisa some wise and strangely kind words. I’m a sucker for when the tough cookie softens. 

Aiden finally meets Duncan, who is dropping off his first chapter, and Aiden knows this is going to be an issue. 

Finally, we get to the scene we’ve been waiting for. Carrie is at the drugstore buying more Tums (always a sign of a good relationship) when she runs into Charlotte, who is buying adult diapers. Charlotte finally lets her guard down and tells Carrie about Harry and all of her fear and anxiety pour out. Carrie responds as an old, trusted friend should, with kindness and support. 

“Silent Mode”-AND JUST LIKE THAT…, Pictured: Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw and Kristin Davis as Charlotte York Goldenblatt. Photo by Craig Blankenhorn/MAX ©2025 MAX. All Rights Reserved

PARTING THOUGHTS 

Still loving Carrie’s hair this season.

What was the purpose of Bitsy Von Muffling and the scene in Tiffany’s other than a beautiful location?
Where’s Steve? 

We’re still not talking about Che, Big, or Stanford for that matter?

Brady is much more likable without the girlfriend.