Development for the series began in December 2020, following the cancellation of a third film adaptation. It was given a straight-to-series order in January 2021 by HBO Max. Casting announcements were made throughout 2021 and filming started in July 2021 in New York City.
And Just Like That... premiered on HBO Max on December 9, 2021. It received mixed reviews, with critics deeming it unnecessary and inferior to the original Sex and the City series. Audience reception to the series has been largely negative.
The first season was billed as a one-off miniseries, and its finale was released on February 3, 2022. However, a second season was announced in March 2022; it premiered on June 22, 2023. In August 2023, the series was renewed for a third season, due to premiere in 2025.
Overview
Set 11 years after the events of the 2010 film Sex and the City 2, the women of Sex and the City make their transition from a life of liberation and friendship in their 30s to a more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s.
Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda, now in their mid-50s, remain best friends. Perpetually squabbling couple Stanford and Anthony are still close to them, though Samantha, after falling out with Carrie, works in London. Happily married to John "Big" Preston, Carrie participates on an LGBTQ-friendly, sex-oriented podcast hosted by Che Diaz, a Mexican-American, non-binary stand-up comic. Carrie finds certain graphic topics uncomfortable, but Che warns she must engage more. Miranda, studying for a Master's degree, nervously blunders meeting Professor Nya Wallace, an African-American woman. Also, Miranda and Steve, having reluctantly allowed teen son, Brady, and girlfriend, Luisa to have sleepovers, now endure their noisy sex. Continually stressed, Miranda copes with alcohol. Charlotte and Harry dote on their teenage daughters: musically accomplished Lily and independent-minded Rose. While Carrie attends Lily's piano recital, John suffers a fatal heart attack following his Peloton workout. When Carrie returns home, she rushes to his side and John dies in Carrie's arms.
2
2
"Little Black Dress"
Michael Patrick King
Michael Patrick King
December 9, 2021 (2021-12-09)
Carrie chooses a non-traditional venue for John's funeral. Samantha sends flowers, but Carrie's thank-you text goes unanswered. John's mature secretary, Gloria, becomes emotional during the service, and Carrie's old friend, Susan-Sharon, makes vague references to some long-forgotten feud. Bitsy von Muffling, now widowed, also attends. Miranda chastises Che for sharing marijuana with Brady at the reception, unaware Che is Carrie's podcast boss. A distraught Charlotte feels responsible for John's death, having pushed Carrie to attend Lily's recital. Carrie assures Charlotte she is blameless. Carrie is emotionally unprepared when John's ashes are delivered to their condo. Miranda overcomes her awkwardness with Professor Wallace after preventing her from being mugged. Miranda becomes increasingly dependent on alcohol.
3
3
"When in Rome..."
Michael Patrick King
Julie Rottenberg & Elisa Zuritsky
December 16, 2021 (2021-12-16)
Carrie rejoins the podcast. Upon learning John left his ex-wife Natasha one million dollars, Carrie suspects they were having an affair; Natasha never saw John after their divorce and declines the bequest, though Carrie believes John was apologizing for marrying Natasha. Stanford claims Charlotte does not consider him part of the girls' inner circle. Charlotte seeks Anthony's advice after twelve-year-old Rose admits to not feeling like a girl. Charlotte finds empty mini-liquor bottles in Miranda's backpack. Miranda confides to Charlotte that she and Steve have a sexless marriage. Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda attend Che's comedy act. Che's bit about making personal changes resonates with Miranda, who returns to the club to seek out Che. Meanwhile, Carrie heads home, but rather than the Fifth Avenue residence, she walks to her old apartment.
When Carrie decides to sell her condo, realtor Seema Patel stages it in beige tones, further depressing Carrie. Carrie stores John's ashes at her old apartment until figuring out where he would want to be. To diversify her and Harry's social circle, Charlotte cultivates a friendship with Lisa and Herbert Wexley, a socially prominent African-American couple. Miranda and Nya bond while dining out together. Nya shares her struggle to become pregnant via IVF, while Miranda reflects on the pros and cons of motherhood. Stanford, now a talent agent, is in Japan with his sole client, Ashley, a popular TikTok singer touring there. Anthony says Stanford wants a divorce.
Charlotte coordinates Carrie's post-hip surgery care. During a Zoom meeting with her mom-friends, Charlotte learns that daughter Rose now identifies as non-binary and goes by "Rock", confusing Harry and Charlotte. An indignant Miranda believes Charlotte anonymously sent her a book about quitting drinking. While recuperating, Carrie does the podcast from home. Carrie is asleep when Che stops by. Che and Miranda then do tequila shots in the kitchen and become sexual. Carrie awakens and sees their reflections in the full-length mirror. After Che leaves, Carrie angrily confronts Miranda, who admits her life and marriage are unhappy. Miranda discovers that she drunk-ordered the book from Amazon and dumps out all her liquor. Three months later, Carrie has fully recovered and is back in her high heels.
To start anew, Carrie buys an ultra-modern downtown apartment. Charlotte is dismayed when both Lily and Rock want to update their shared bedroom to reflect each's individual taste and age. Nya recruits Miranda for a student project to renovate old apartment buildings into displaced women's shelters. Seema invites Carrie to her family's Diwali celebration. To quell her parents' constant pressure to be married, Seema falsely claims to be dating a Doctors Without Borders physician who frequently travels. Carrie accompanies Anthony for his plastic surgery consultation and then considers having work done. Charlotte praises Miranda for quitting drinking but questions her about Che, whom Miranda constantly fantasizes about. Carrie moves back to her old apartment.
Carrie's editor, Amanda, suggests adding a hopeful ending to Carrie's new book chronicling her widowhood. To that purpose, Carrie has a computer date with Peter, a handsome widower. The evening starts awkwardly, loosens up with alcohol, and then ends in humiliation when both drunkenly vomit in the street. Miranda is disappointed that her DMs to Che go unanswered. Later, Miranda and Steve's tepid attempt at sex quickly fizzles. Charlotte becomes overly competitive during her and Harry's tennis doubles match with Lisa and Herbert. After multiple failed IVF attempts, Nya and Andre agree to try conceiving naturally. Charlotte helps Lisa organize a school fundraising auction. A lunch date with Carrie is auctioned off without any bids. An embarrassed Carrie bids on herself, then is outbid by Peter, her computer date who teaches at the school. At the auction, Miranda runs into Che, who apologizes for missing Miranda's DMs. After they have sex, Miranda says she loves Che.
8
8
"Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered"
Anu Valia
Rachna Fruchbom
January 20, 2022 (2022-01-20)
Che, mistakenly believing Miranda was in an "open marriage", ends their affair. Lily walks in on Charlotte and Harry having oral sex. Charlotte awkwardly claims to be checking Harry for cancer, scaring Lily who fears her father is ill. Carrie's young downstairs neighbor, Lisette, a jewelry designer, apologizes for her loud social gatherings on the outer stoop that woke Carrie at night. Charlotte talks frankly with Lily after discovering semi-provocative selfies on her Instagram. Miranda declares she loves Che, promising to end her marriage. Che reciprocates Miranda's feelings but warns it would be a non-traditional relationship. Miranda asks Steve for a divorce, then flies to Cleveland to surprise Che.
Michael Patrick King and Julie Rottenberg & Elisa Zuritsky
January 27, 2022 (2022-01-27)
Miranda recruits Carrie and Charlotte to help at the women's shelter. Rock resists having a Bat Mitzvah. Anthony brings new friend Justin to Charlotte and Harry's for dinner, then orders him out after he claims the Holocaust was a hoax. Lily asks Charlotte how to use tampons prior to a Hampton pool party. Che and Miranda reach a mutual understanding. Carrie hopes Steve finds love again after he claims he will always feel married to Miranda. Nya and Andre reach an impasse over having children. While sitting out the work party, Seema meets Zed, an attractive nightclub owner. Carrie, wearing both her and John's wedding rings, panics after nearly losing John's down a sink drain. She later puts both rings away and texts Peter about a redo date.
10
10
"Seeing the Light"
Nisha Ganatra
Michael Patrick King and Julie Rottenberg & Elisa Zuritsky
February 3, 2022 (2022-02-03)
Carrie and Peter's redo date ends prematurely, with neither ready to start dating. Seema spends a passionate three days with Zed. Miranda declines a prestigious internship to go to Los Angeles with Che, who is cast in a TV pilot there. Nya and Andre separate. Che's producer, Franklyn, offers Carrie her own podcast. A transgender rabbi has agreed to officiate Rock's "They Mitzvah" ceremony, but Rock refuses to participate, claiming not to identify with any group, religion, gender, or anything else. Charlotte, a Jewish convert who never had a Bat Mitzvah, takes Rock's place. Miranda leaves for L.A. while Brady and Luisa depart for Europe. On the first anniversary, Carrie, believing John wants to be in Paris, scatters his ashes in the Seine River. She texts Samantha, asking to meet up in London. Back in New York, Carrie's first Sex and the City podcast is a success; Carrie and Franklyn share a romantic kiss.
Carrie and her Sex and the Villagepodcast producer, Franklyn, settle into an "every Thursday" hookup routine. Carrie juggles who to take to the Met Gala as her "plus one" and then has a fashion disaster when her custom-designed dress doesn't fit. She instead wears her Vivienne Westwood wedding dress. In L.A., Miranda attempts to keep busy while Che works long hours. Che, meanwhile, becomes withdrawn after being asked to lose weight for the TV pilot. Seema breaks up with Zed after learning he lives with his ex-wife, though he clarifies they have separate quarters. Nya, estranged from Andre, calls for a sexy FaceTime encounter, only to discover him with a woman he claims is only a musical collaborator. Carrie is uncomfortable when Franklyn invites her to a social event, preferring their relationship remain as is.
12
2
"The Real Deal"
Michael Patrick King
Susan Fales-Hill & Michael Patrick King
June 22, 2023 (2023-06-22)
Carrie and producer Chloe clash over a podcast commercial. Lisa Wexley dreads her overbearing mother-in-law's impending visit. Lily sells her expensive designer dresses to buy an electric keyboard after Harry and Charlotte refuse to get her one. Charlotte is upset but accepts her maturing daughter's changing priorities. Nya and Andre discuss reconciling, but Nya resists surrogacy to have children. Italian-American actor Tony Danza, cast as Che's father in the TV pilot, is uncomfortable playing a Hispanic character. Seema reconsiders breaking up with Zed until he asks her to invest $100,000 in a new club. When Miranda is stranded at the beach, Che sends Lyle, who Miranda learns is Che's husband. Che explains the two are still friends and just never got around to divorcing. When the production studio is sold, ending all podcasts, Carrie feels it may be time to move on from her Sex and the City identity. Carrie, unready for a steady relationship, amicably ends her relationship with Franklyn.
13
3
"Chapter Three"
Michael Patrick King
Julie Rottenberg & Elisa Zuritsky
June 29, 2023 (2023-06-29)
While audio recording her latest book, Carrie finds the chapter about John's death too emotional to read. She subsequently feigns having COVID so a voice actor will replace her. A mugger steals Seema's vintage Birkin bag. Charlotte and Lisa are flattered to be on a male student's MILF list at their children's school. Che is dismayed with how their non-binary TV character is depicted. Lisa interviews Nya for a new documentary, after which Lisa's sound engineer asks Nya out. Bitsy Von Muffling offers Carrie advice about widowhood. Miranda considers a tattoo to reflect her new life, then chooses her initials "MH" to affirm who she always has been. After Luisa dumps him in Europe, a distraught Brady calls Miranda, annoying Che. Miranda tells Brady to fly home and she returns to New York City. Carrie comforts Lisette after her new jewelry designs are stolen during a "pop-up" tent sale. Seema finds her beloved Birkin discarded on the street. Carrie finishes recording her audiobook. After she and Seema mingle with Australian rugby players, Carrie actually contracts COVID.
14
4
"Alive!"
Michael Patrick King
Julie Rottenberg & Elisa Zuritsky
July 6, 2023 (2023-07-06)
Carrie's former Vogue boss, Enid Frick, asks her to be a contributor for a new online publication for retired women. Carrie feels she's too young for that demographic and then learns that Enid only wants her to donate $100,000. Bitsy Von Muffling tries matching Carrie with a man who is dating Enid. Harry and Charlotte, as well as Lisa and Herbert, send their children to summer camp. Charlotte helps Harry to strengthen his weakened pelvic floor muscles, which has affected his sexual performance. During family counseling, Brady wants Miranda and Steve to divorce so everyone can move on with their lives. Che is back in New York and sharing an apartment with their estranged husband, Lyle. Che is comfortable being intimate with both Lyle and Miranda, though Miranda is uneasy. Lisa and Herbert's 20th wedding anniversary party is a bust after Herbert fails to send the invites and Lisa forgets the cake. Charlotte receives a standing job offer from Mark Kasabian, a prominent art gallery owner.
Miranda shuttles back and forth between her home in Brooklyn and Che's Manhattan apartment. Their differing schedules mean neither gets a full night's sleep. Charlotte helps facilitate a large Halloween fundraising event. Seema and Carrie take Nya to a five-star hotel bar to meet eligible men. Nya meets Ian while Seema hooks up with a gin sales representative who suffers from erectile dysfunction. Carrie takes George to an urgent care clinic after causing him to fall off his bike. Charlotte is excited when Rock is offered a modeling job with Ralph Lauren, though Harry is wary. Nya offers to let a sleep-deprived Miranda use her spare room. Che is crestfallen after a focus group gives negative feedback regarding their non-binary character and TV pilot. Carrie and George's brief fling ends when Paul, George's business partner, complains that Carrie is disrupting their upcoming sales presentation.
16
6
"Bomb Cyclone"
Cynthia Nixon
Michael Patrick King & Rachel Palmer
July 20, 2023 (2023-07-20)
While helping Carrie buy a new computer, Seema invites her to share a summer rental house in the Hamptons. Miranda settles in at Nya's place while also spending time at Che's. Nya files for divorce from Andre. Herbert, running for city comptroller, wants Lisa to attend his campaign rally, which is scheduled when the MoMA is honoring her as a black filmmaker. Lily shocks Charlotte and Harry by casually announcing she is losing her virginity later that day. Carrie is the keynote speaker at WidowCon, a conference for bereaved women. Che, depressed over losing the TV pilot, accompanies Carrie to the event after Miranda insists Che stop moping at home. A severe snowstorm hits New York, impeding everyone's various events. Miranda and Steve vent their feelings to each other and agree to divorce, though Steve refuses to move out. Che and Miranda mutually decide to end their strained relationship while they can still remain friends. Carrie emails her former fiancé, Aidan, who is now divorced and living in Virginia.
Aidan and Carrie agree to meet for dinner. Drew Barrymore invites Anthony and a Hot Fellas bakery delivery man to appear on her talk show. Anthony panics when all his employees suddenly quit, but Charlotte recruits a last-minute replacement, a young Italian poet named Giuseppe. Che, needing an income, is turning their apartment into an Airbnb and is offered their former job at a veterinary clinic. Lisa's parental patience is tested when her son Herbert Jr pushes sexual boundaries. Seema and Carrie book joint massage appointments only to discover that all sessions are for Valentine's Day couples. Nya spends Valentine's Day at home, happily eating a chocolate soufflé. Feeling consumed by her daughters' lives, Charlotte accepts the position at the Mark Kasabian Gallery. Miranda meets Amelia, an audiobook reader that Miranda particularly admires for her Jane Austen series. Their date quickly devolves when Miranda realizes Amelia lives a far less romanticized life than she envisioned. Carrie and Aidan's reunion goes well until Aidan refuses to step inside Carrie's apartment, citing bad memories. They agree to meet up elsewhere.
18
8
"A Hundred Years Ago"
Ry Russo-Young
Michael Patrick King & Julie Rottenberg & Elisa Zuritsky
August 3, 2023 (2023-08-03)
Carrie rents Che's Airbnb full-time for when Aidan visits. Carrie agrees to visit Aidan's Norfolk, Virginia, farm and meet his sons. Miranda's Human Rights Watch supervisor, Raina, assigns her more responsibility than the two younger interns, who have been there longer. Carrie wonders if she and John were a mistake. Charlotte starts her art gallery job but obsesses over overdressing her middle-aged body until meeting Lela, a casually attired, full-figured staff member. Upon learning that Giuseppe is gay, Anthony wants to fire him because he is irresistibly attracted. Giuseppe voluntarily quits so they can become involved. Seema cancels the Hampton summer house rental, not wanting to be the "third wheel" to Carrie and Aidan. Seema's business partner, Elliot, urges her to date Ravi Gordi, a film director looking for a temporary rental. Miranda hesitates to cover for Raina during her maternity leave, fearing a conflict with the other two interns; Raina insists she is the most qualified. Che and Seema meet Aidan, and Carrie leaves for Virginia.
19
9
"There Goes the Neighborhood"
Julie Rottenberg
Julie Rottenberg & Elisa Zuritsky
August 10, 2023 (2023-08-10)
Carrie meets Aidan's three sons in Virginia, but the youngest, teenage Wyatt, is indifferent to her. Carrie and Aidan vacate Che's apartment after the building management served a notice that the guest-stay limit has been exceeded. Seema and Ravi become romantically involved. Miranda wants Lily to encourage Brady to consider college. Harry thinks Charlotte's boss, Mark Kasabian, is romantically interested in her. Herbert is frustrated over Lisa constantly missing his campaign events due to overwork and exhaustion until learning she is pregnant. Nya's noisy sex sleepovers annoy Miranda. Nya, meanwhile, is despondent after seeing an Instagram photo of André and his pregnant girlfriend, Heidi. Che meets Toby, a potential romantic interest. Anthony thinks Giuseppe is using him to obtain a green card until discovering he has dual citizenship. Carrie decides to buy a new apartment that Aidan is willing to stay in. Charlotte tells Miranda that she suspects Lily and Brady are having sex. Aidan's ex-wife, Kathy, asks Carrie to avoid writing anything about her sons and not hurt Aidan again.
20
10
"The Last Supper Part One: Appetizer"
Michael Patrick King
Michael Patrick King
August 17, 2023 (2023-08-17)
Steve, partnering with Aidan, opens a Coney Island food stand. Miranda's boss, Raina, returns to work. After selling her apartment to Lisette, Carrie plans a gourmet farewell dinner there. Aidan will not attend, and Miranda also declines to avoid Che, then relents. Lisa's pregnancy conflicts with a possible PBS documentary until she suffers a miscarriage. Anthony and Giuseppe have generational differences. Seema panics after blurting out she loves Ravi during sex. After Andre sends an e-vite for his and Heidi's baby shower, Nya buys an expensive stroller to remind them of her when using it. Stanford is permanently staying in Japan to become a Shinto monk and gives all his possessions to Anthony. Che performs at a small Brooklyn club, unaware Miranda is in the audience, hearing unflattering jokes about her. Charlotte struggles balancing work and homelife. Aidan acknowledges his previous mistakes with Carrie. Aidan rushes back to Virginia after Wyatt is injured in a crash. Che persuades Carrie to adopt a kitten that she names "Shoe".
21
11
"The Last Supper Part Two: Entrée"
Michael Patrick King
Michael Patrick King
August 24, 2023 (2023-08-24)
London fog derails Samantha's surprise visit for Carrie's "Last Supper". Miranda and Steve agree to be friends. Charlotte demands Harry be more involved in running their household. Nya is elected to the American Law Institute. Relationships become more defined during the dinner: Anthony promises Giuseppe to drop his emotional and physical barriers. Lisa and Herbert move past Lisa's miscarriage. Che and Miranda establish a friendly understanding. Ravi's constant work-related phone calls bother Seema. Nya clicks with Toussaint Feldman, the Michelin chef preparing Carrie's dinner. The BBC interviews Miranda regarding a Human Rights issue. Afterwards, she and BBC producer, Joy, meet for a drink. Che and their new friend, Toby, become romantic. After Wyatt crashes his father's truck while driving under the influence, Aidan says he and Carrie cannot be involved while his sons are still teenagers. Carrie agrees to a five-year relationship pause. Carrie and Seema visit Greece.
Season 3
The first episode of season 3, titled as "Outlook Good", was written and directed by Michael Patrick King.[6]
Production
Development
In December 2016, Radar Online reported that a script for a third Sex and the City film had been approved.[10] However, on September 28, 2017, Sarah Jessica Parker confirmed that the third film was not going to happen. She said, "We had this beautiful, funny, heartbreaking,
joyful, very relatable script and story. It's not just disappointing that we don't get to tell the story and have that experience, but more so for that audience that has been so vocal in wanting another movie."[11] It was reported in 2018 that Kim Cattrall did not want to return as Samantha Jones in the film due to disagreeing with its planned storylines, involving killing off Mr. Big and Samantha receiving sexting and nude pictures from Miranda's 14-year-old son, Brady.[12] Cattrall later clarified in 2019 that she opted not to appear in a third film, explaining she "went past the finish line" portraying the character of Samantha because of her love for the franchise.[13]
In December 2020, it was reported that the proposed third film's script had been redeveloped as a miniseries revival of the original Sex and the City television series in development at HBO Max, without Cattrall returning as Samantha, in line with her previous comments.[14][15] In January 2021, And Just Like That... was confirmed by HBO Max as a series which would consist of 10 episodes.[16] In February 2021, Samantha Irby, Rachna Fruchbom, Keli Goff, Julie Rottenberg and Elisa Zuritsky joined the series as part of the writing team. Rotternberg and Zuritsky also serve as executive producers.[17] It was also confirmed that long-time series costume designer and collaborator Patricia Field would not be returning to work on the revival. However, she recommended her friend and colleague Molly Rogers to the creative team for consultation.[18][19] On March 22, 2022, HBO Max renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on June 22, 2023.[20] On August 22, 2023, Max renewed the series for a third season.[21]
Casting
Upon the series order announcement, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis were reprising their roles as close friends living in New York City.[16] In May 2021, Sara Ramírez was cast as a series regular, while Chris Noth was cast to reprise his role in an undisclosed capacity.[22][23] On June 9, 2021, Mario Cantone, Willie Garson, David Eigenberg, and Evan Handler all joined the cast to reprise their respective roles in undisclosed capacities.[24] In July 2021, Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker, Karen Pittman, and Isaac Cole Powell joined the cast in starring roles while Alexa Swinton, Cree Cicchino, Niall Cunningham, and Cathy Ang were cast in undisclosed capacities and Brenda Vaccaro and Ivan Hernandez were cast in recurring roles.[25][26][27][28][29] In August 2021, Julie Halston was cast to reprise her role in a guest-starring capacity while Christopher Jackson and LeRoy McClain were cast in recurring roles.[30][31] Willie Garson, who played Stanford Blatch throughout Sex And The City and reprised his role in the new series, died on September 21, only three months after his return, after filming his scenes for the series' first three episodes. The new series explained his absence via a letter to Carrie in episode four.[32] On November 8, 2021, Bobby Lee announced on an Instagram post that he has a small role in the revival.[33]
Despite Mr. Big dying in the first episode, Noth was set to appear as Big in a fantasy sequence in the season finale, but he was edited out after sexual assault allegations were brought against him.[34]
On August 19, 2022, John Corbett was cast to reprise his role as Aidan Shaw in a recurring capacity for the second season.[3] On October 18, 2022, Tony Danza joined the cast in a recurring role as Che's TV father for their new sitcom.[5] On May 31, 2023, it was announced that Kim Cattrall would return as Samantha Jones for a cameo in the second-season finale.[7]
On February 26, 2024, it was announced that Ramírez would not be returning as Che Diaz for the third season.[1] On March 22, 2024, it was reported that Pittman would not be returning as Dr. Nya Wallace for the third season.[2] On May 1, 2024, it was announced that Rosie O'Donnell was cast as Mary in an undisclosed capacity.[6] On June 27, 2024, Dolly Wells and Sebastiano Pigazzi were promoted to series regulars while Logan Marshall-Green, Mehcad Brooks, and Jonathan Cake were cast in recurring capacities.[4]
Filming
Production began in June 2021 in New York City.[23][35] The first table read was held on June 11, 2021, at the show's studio in Manhattan.[36] Filming had commenced on location in New York City by July 9, 2021, and was commemorated by the release of a promotional photo of Parker, Nixon and Davis on the streets of Manhattan.[37] To mislead speculation about a major plot line, Noth arrived on location the day his character's funeral was filmed.[38] On October 11, 2021, it was reported that filming had taken place on location in Paris, France.[39] Filming for the first season concluded on December 6, 2021.[40]
Filming for the second season began on October 4, 2022, and concluded on April 14, 2023, in New York City.[41][42] The third season began filming on May 1, 2024 and wrapped on October 28th, 2024.[43][44]
Pittman had a smaller role in season two due to the simultaneous filming of And Just Like That... and Apple's The Morning Show.[45]
Release
The series premiered on December 9, 2021, with the first two episodes available immediately and the rest debuting on a weekly basis until the season finale on February 3, 2022.[46][47] The 11-episode second season was released on June 22, 2023, with two new episodes and the rest debuting on a weekly basis.[48] The third season is scheduled to premiere in 2025.[49]
The first season was released on DVD on December 13, 2022.[51]
The complete second season was released on DVD on July 29, 2024.
Reception
Audience viewership
And Just Like That... was HBO Max's most-watched series debut, including both HBO and HBO Max originals premiered on the service,[52] until the premiere of House of the Dragon.[53] The series placed within the service's top 10 most-watched premieres including film debuts. The series was the most-watched first viewing in the service's history at the time of its premiere, implying that new subscribers enlisted to watch the series.[52]
The second season debuted to significantly lower viewership, dropping 59% from the first season.[54][55] Only about 463,000 households watched the season 2 premiere over a live-plus-three-day viewing period. Viewership for the following episode fell an additional 13%, suggesting that most audiences had lost interest and abandoned the series.[56] The second season was one of the biggest TV show flops of 2023.[57] Despite the steep ratings drop, the series was still the #1 Max Original of the year[58] before being dethroned by the second season of Our Flag Means Death.[59]
Critical response
For the first season, the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 48% approval rating based on 80 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "And Just Like That... fails to recapture Sex and the City's heady fizz, but like a fine wine, these characters have developed subtler depths with age."[60]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 55 out of 100 based on 33 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[61]The New York Times review, while stating that the show "in moments is very good," described it as "painful" and "part dramedy about heartbreak, part awkward bid at relevance," writing "when you are [reviving] a series there is the fatal danger of losing your touch. And there you have 'And Just Like That'."[62]
The themes of diversity and social justice were criticized. The Telegraph described it as "tediously woke",[63] and the Radio Times wrote: "The main three's newfound social and cultural awareness is shoe-horned into such a degree the whole endeavor feels often cloying.'"[64]Deadline Hollywood wrote that "far too many 2021 cultural touchstones and new characters are awkwardly parachuted into [the show] ... as if to check a box".[65] EmpireOnline added: "the attempts to paint a rich, real, diverse world are ham-fisted, inauthentic and riddled with self-consciousness, awkwardness and moments of self-congratulation."[66] Specifically, the character of Che Díaz was derided online and was described as one of the worst characters in television history.[67][68][69][70][71] Kristin Corry of Vice Media criticized the tokenization of Black characters, writing "The 'Sex and the City' reboot wants to undo its colorblind legacy by including Black characters. Unfortunately, they're treated as luxury accessories."[72]
The second season has a 64% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 70 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus states, "And Just Like That... still stumbles where Sex and the City once confidently strutted, but this much-improved second season comes a lot closer to offering fans their favorite cosmopolitan with a twist."[73] On Metacritic, the second season received a score of 56 based on reviews from 18 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[74] Although critics noted the second season was an improvement from the first, many still considered it to be one of the worst shows of the year.[75][76][77][78][79][80]
Response from Peloton
After the first-season episode in which Chris Noth's character dies following a Peloton bike workout, the stock for the company dropped significantly.[81] The company issued a statement through Suzanne Steinbaum, a cardiologist and member of the company's health and wellness advisory, saying that they agreed to the product placement but were not aware of how it would be used in the pivotal scene. The statement also said not to blame the company for the character's death, and cited some contributing factors, such as his lifestyle (e.g., his consumption of steaks and cigars) and a cardiac surgery in a previous season.[82] Three days after the episode aired, the company released an ad, featuring Chris Noth and narrated by Ryan Reynolds, with Reynolds quickly citing the benefits of cycling and ending with "He's alive."[83] Four days later, the ad was removed after sexual assault allegations were reported against Chris Noth.[84]
Accolades
The series was given the Seal of Authentic Representation from the Ruderman Family Foundation for the portrayal of Steve Brady by David Eigenberg, and Chloe by Ali Stroker, as actors with disabilities and at least five lines of dialogue.[85] The series was recognized with The ReFrame Stamp for hiring people of underrepresented gender identities, and of color.[86]
Other media
A documentary that serves as a behind-the-scenes look of the series titled as And Just Like That... The Documentary was released on February 3, 2022.[87]
Notes
^Eigenberg is only credited as "Starring" in select episodes.
^Garson is only credited as "Starring" in the first three episodes of the first season.
^Noth is only credited as "Starring" in the first two episodes of the first season. He was also set to appear in the tenth episode, but was edited out following sexual assault allegations that were brought against him.
^Choudhury is credited as "Starring" from episode four of the first season onwards.
^Corbett is credited as "Starring" from episode seven of the second season onwards.
^Her cameo in And Just Like That... was filmed separately and without interaction with the other three Sex and The City protagonists due to Catrall's ongoing feud with Sarah Jessica Parker and Michael Patrick King (the series' showrunner and Parker's close friend).
