And Just Like That...- Happily Ever After

This episode hit all of my pain points: Aiden (John Corbett) making Dunkin’/Duncan jokes, Charlotte’s (Kristin Davis) vertigo serving as a plot device, and loud chewing. We get not one, but two noisy eating scenes. One had Marion (Mehcad Brooks) slurping on a papaya and the other had Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) chomping on a Pepperidge Farm Sausalito cookie. That’s too much chewing for a 30-minute show.

We’re four episodes from the finale and the stories are not yet gelling, but we can see where it’s going. I don’t mind a predictable plot if the ride’s fun. Anyone having fun? Aiden’s jealousy will drive Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) further away, Miranda will continue to act contrary to everything we know about her character, Seema (Sarita Choudhury) will build a successful new business, and learn some life lessons from the gardener, and we will continue to be forced to hear snippets from Carrie’s historical novel about, I want to say… birds.
Without further ado, I give you the good, bad, and odd of Happily Ever After.

GOOD

Carrie’s outfits. She should always be dressed in blue. Between the outfits and the hair, SJP looks amazing.Adam (Logan Marshall-Green), revealing his full name is Adam Karma, peering over his reading glasses while signing a credit card receipt, was a nice touch. As the ladies walk through the art exhibit discussing how the definition of happiness evolves, I wonder if there’s a parallel version of this show that compellingly expands on this idea. They get halfway there, but Carrie ruins it by using her belt as an example of things she hasn’t let go. Carrie was funny this episode. Between her side-eye at Charlotte when Miranda asks if she’s alcoholic and mimicking Miranda’s inner monologue in a deep voice, I was amused. Someone give Patti LuPone and Victor Garber a show. Now. I may be getting into Bi-Bingo.

BAD (Mostly about Aiden)

Aiden calling Duncan (Jonathan Cake), “Dunkin’ Donuts”. It’s not witty and makes Aiden seem so unsophisticated. Now that I think about it, what do Carrie and Aiden talk about? Miranda thinking she’s “alcohol-ish”. She’s in a real relationship and needs to come clean with Joy.
Aiden is using the situation with Wyatt to keep Carrie from writing with Duncan. It’s manipulative. This is not a man who wants what’s best for the people around him. Wyatt chooses to live with Kathy. No kidding; he doesn’t want to manage his mental health through physical labor.Aiden saying, “How did I wind up the bad guy?” almost made me throw something at the TV.Aiden trying to get information on Duncan at Charlotte’s gallery exhibit. Red flag, but kudos to Adam and Seema being on the same page by characterizing Duncan as a meanie, but giving nothing more.I’m not interested in this side plot about Lisa (Nicole Ari Parker) and Marion. Is the show only allotted one happy marriage?

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

ODD

Why is Harry (Evan Handler) and Charlotte’s bed so small? Lisa and Charlotte’s relationship continues to deepen, but Charlotte has always taken a hard line against cheating or anything cheating-adjacent. Dreams are okay, and Charlotte is trying to play off the flirting. I have to know, when Charlotte has dreams about ex-boyfriends, does she mean any of the men from SATC? Can’t be Trey, right? The minute I saw the art installation with a used condom and bed, I knew Charlotte was going to end up falling on it. Sex is back, but it’s decidedly unsexy. I guess armpits are Adam’s thing. Eating papaya is a callback to an episode of SATC. I didn’t like it then and hate it now. I’ll be disappointed if the season doesn’t end with a cameo from Michelle Obama. Is not using deodorant a deal breaker?

Are we making progress this season, or is it veering further away from a cohesive plot? Does this show deserve another season?

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).

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