HBO has announced that its reboot of the beloved series Sex and the City, titled And Just Like That, will come to an end after its third season. Showrunner Michael Patrick King shared his thoughts on Instagram, expressing that it felt like the right moment to conclude the story.
The series, centered around Carrie Bradshaw and her friends navigating life and love in New York City in their 50s, generated excitement when it first premiered. Yet, viewership has dramatically decreased over the three seasons. Initial episodes attracted 1.1 million households, but the latest episodes have seen numbers drop to under 500,000, according to Samba TV.
Critics have had mixed feelings, particularly about how the show handled issues of diversity. Elle magazine noted that the attempts at diversifying the cast felt lackluster, while The Guardian described it as “heavy-handed.” Fans also pointed out inconsistencies, like a character seemingly dying twice, which later turned out to be a misunderstanding regarding a step-father’s death.
As the series wraps up, the cast has expressed their emotions on social media. Sarah Jessica Parker shared a heartfelt montage to commemorate the end of this chapter, while her co-star Kristin Davis shared her sadness.
Interestingly, one of the most criticized characters, Che Diaz, will be replaced in the final season. Some viewers referred to Che as the “worst character on TV,” highlighting a divide in audience reception.
The Sex and the City franchise first blossomed from Candace Bushnell’s books and has since expanded into films. However, with the reboot concluding, it seems this chapter in the franchise will not lead to further spin-offs, as confirmed by King.
Fans have voiced their mixed feelings online, with some wishing the series could continue indefinitely, while others are hopeful for a better final season. The show’s evolution has sparked conversations about representation and storytelling, showing just how much the landscape of media has changed since the original series aired.
In today’s viewing climate, where diversity and authenticity are increasingly prioritized, this reboot’s response serves as a reminder of how far television has come. This series has sparked discussions about what audiences truly want to see and the changing expectations of representation on screen.
For further insights into audience reactions and the evolution of the series, you can check out reports from The Hollywood Reporter and Samba TV.