‘And Just Like That…’ Season 3 Continues To Be Comfort Food That Is Not Completely Satisfying

Sandra Miska

And just like that, New York City writer Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) entered into her next chapter at the end of this series’ sophomore season, trading in her beloved brownstone for a stunning new townhouse and a fresh start in Gramercy Park. But her adventures in real estate could only come second to her love life, as the move was brought on by her rekindled relationship with the man she almost married before Mr. Big, the hunky and lovable furniture designer Aidan Shaw (John Corbett). However, last season ended with Aiden pumping the brakes on their second chance at love before it really got started, insisting he needed to focus on his family in Virginia for the next five years. In “And Just Like That…” season three, the pair navigate a long-distance relationship, but as their romance oscillates between wonderful and wearisome to watch unfold, one cannot help but wonder; Is Carrie in a modern, more mature relationship? Or is she just delaying another heartbreak?

There is no doubt that Aidan still ardently loves Carrie, but, much to her chagrin, she is currently relegated to fourth place in his life behind his three sons, the youngest being troublesome Wyatt (Logan Souza). Last season, Aidan explained he had to stay in Virginia to keep an eye on Wyatt until he is old enough to go to college (or prison). This season, Aidan’s life outside of Carrie is finally fully fleshed out, as Carrie is pushed out of her comfort zone when she visits Aidan and his family on his home turf. What starts off as another cutesy storyline takes a turn when Carrie finally gets to know Wyatt, and this kid’s problems go beyond sneaking beers and smarting off. He has some real anger issues stemming from his parents’ divorce. Complicating things is the fact that Aidan and ex-wife Kathy (Rosemarie DeWitt) do not see eye to eye on some major parenting issues, including whether or not to medicate Wyatt, and put Carrie in the middle. The writers deserve props for going there and exploring a dysfunctional family dynamic, but it may spell disaster for Carrie and her second great love.

Something that was exciting about those early days of “Sex and the City” was the idea that the ladies’ next great loves (or sexual partners) could be right around the corner, and this spontaneity is still mostly lacking in “And Just Like That.” However, this season, Carrie gets a new neighbor, a handsome British writer (Jonathan Cake), with whom, after some initial friction, she bonds with over their shared profession. Even the most loyal Aidan fans will not help but feel a twinge of something when they see her dipping her toes into fresher waters. Still, the one thing that is most sorely missed from “And Just Like That…” is Samantha, who, at least in the first six episodes made available to critics, is only appearing in the form of text messages. Fortunately, Seema (Sarita Choudhury), who oozes confidence and is equally comfortable in a boardroom as she is in a bedroom, fills some of the void left behind by Samantha. Not only does she play well off of Carrie, she also has some solid storylines of her own, including one in which she meets her match in a strong-willed matchmaker (a fantastic Cheri Oteri).

One major thing the writers of “And Just Like That…” have received a lot of flack for is having Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) become a late-in-life lesbian and ditch her husband, fan favorite Steve (David Eigenberg). While this development was inspired by Nixon’s own sexuality, it feels inauthentic to her character. Surprisingly, Miranda has the most amusing storyline in the season premiere, as she has a fling with a woman played by none other than Rosie O’Donnell, who brings her A game as a tourist with a surprising vocation. Sadly, Miranda’s subsequent romance with a posh colleague (Dolly Wells) is less interesting. And while the stylists do a great job of making Miranda look like her old self again, her trademark sardonic wit is still somewhere in storage.

As for Charlotte (Kristin Davis), she finds herself at the center of the silliest storylines this season, including one involving her dog being mistakenly accused of attacking the dog of another wealthy lady, and another in which she and pal Lisa (Nicole Ari Parker) resort to desperate measures to meet a popular college admissions advisor (Kristen Schaal). We keep waiting for Charlotte to pull a Lori Loughlin, but the stakes here remain disappointingly low for her until she and her beloved hubby Harry (Evan Handler) are dealt a blow in episode five. As for Lisa, her storylines are also mostly bland for the first half of the season, although the great Jenifer Lewis pops up as her grating (to her) sorta stepmother.

Lastly, there is once again a lack of sex this season, and most attempts at spiciness are cringe, such as a scene in which an employee at Charlotte’s art gallery openly discusses her fantasies regarding a client to Charlotte in a bar bathroom. Charlotte’s daughter, Lily (Cathy Ang), to whom Charlotte delivered condoms last season on a snow day in an oddly touching moment, romances a male ballet dancer this season. It is very sweet, until it comes out that he also has a boyfriend with whom Lily is in competition with. Nothing wrong with a little polyamory, but putting Lily, who is still a high schooler, in that position just feels off. Overall, while “And Just Like That” continues to be comforting for longtime fans, even enjoyable and funny at times, season three still leaves a lot to be desired. 

“And Just Like That…” season three premieres May 29 with new episodes streaming Thursday on Max.