Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis have played the roles of Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York, respectively and respectfully, since 1998. Their first run of these characters, alongside Kim Cattrall’s Samantha Jones, was in SEX AND THE CITY for 94 episodes. That led to two feature films for them and then AND JUST LIKE THAT…(minus Cattrall, but for a brief cameo) took these actresses and their characters onward for an additional 33 installments. As we are aware, that series just concluded on August 14, 2025.
With other jobs and roles along the way of course, that makes for 27 years in these roles for these women. And just like that, they now have come to an end. Perhaps. I mean David Patrick King, Parker and company could always bring them back after a decade for a look at their lives on the cusp of turning 70, yeah? For now, it all ends with Thanksgiving plans falling apart, a backed-up toilet (seriously this is how you want us to remember last moments?) and the realization that Carrie is not alone, but meant to be on her own.
Deadline had a quick Q&A with co-creator King regarding the way it all wound down. Here are excerpts:
DEADLINE: Is this the ending you wanted?
MICHAEL PATRICK KING: Yes. I wouldn’t have stopped. The ending told us to stop when we were writing, and that sentence, the woman realized she was not alone. She was on her own. It was so important for me to hear, and it just sort of appeared. I was like, well, that’s the ending, especially since it is a response and a callback to Carrie at the end of Sex and the City when she says, “the most significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And then if you find someone to love, love you, love, that’s fabulous.” She’s saying that voiceover while Mr. Big is calling to say, “I’m coming to town.” So the growth and the evolution and the resonance of her saying a new version of that when maybe no one is coming is the most significant addition we could add to this whole Carrie Bradshaw universe. I knew then that I wanted her to stop there because I believe that’s her message to everyone who’s been watching for many, many years. It’s for the women who have someone or the people who have someone. More importantly, it’s for the people who don’t have someone. If you can feel good about the life you create, it’s great.
DEADLINE: And the other characters?
MPK: We ended all the other characters in this, I guess, projection of a happy ending. Miranda and Joy are back together, even though they have to clean up some shit every now and then. Harry and Charlotte are back in bed, which is so important because everything else in their relationship works as well. Even [Harry and Charlotte’s nonbinary child] Rock ends by saying, “I’m going to be a lot of different people in my life.” Seema is saying she doesn’t miss the gluten, but she’s really saying is, “I don’t miss the idea of a marriage binding people together.” And then Lisa is recommitting to Herbert by saying, I’m here. Even though there was no real split, there was an emotional doubling down on who they are. So yeah, that’s where we felt it should stop. It felt so real to me that I went to Sarah Jessica and said, “I think this is it. This is where we stopped for Carrie.” And she said, “then we stop.” Luckily we’re at a place like HBO Max where they go, “we think you did an amazing story. You got them all where they need to be.”
So, they are all okay with it? Are you? Now, in a fun way, we have to let MPK mention the poop and its significance.
DEADLINE: Why the poo in Miranda’s toilet? And not to get too down and dirty, but what served as your poop? Babe Ruths?
MPK: It was silicone poop. And it was a one-take poop. We didn’t have to do it twice. Sex and the City and And Just Like That has always dealt with a lot of relationship shit. This was a manifestation of how shit backs up and you have to deal with it. And also, we’ve always done high-low on the show. We’ve always done couture and comedy. We also had this highly elevated Victor Garber character trapped [in the apartment], and plot-wise, I wanted him to leave. But Carrie Bradshaw is hard to leave unless you’re humiliated and don’t want to be there. Otherwise, it was the symbolic version of having to deal with a lot of doo doo in relationships and it backs up if you don’t.
And this question had to be asked, right?
DEADLINE: So can we expect And Just Like That movie?
MPK: Look, I closed the book. Here’s the sound of the book. Boom! And happily, there was no dust that came out of it. It was very alive, very active, very in the moment. It wasn’t pulled off an old shelf. I chose it because it means something was alive. We took a show that’s 27 years old and made it so alive that people had to have conversations about it.
MPK:And just like that, he is done with it.
Sarah Jessica Parker had her goodbyes to say to her character and worded it thusly;
“She crossed streets, avenues, rubicons, so it seemed. She broke hearts, heels, habits. She loved, lost, won, tripped, leaped, fell short and into puddles, aged, got wiser. She has made the hardest, worst and best decisions, traveled near and far for the new, the vintage, friends and love. She changed homes, time zones, boyfriends, her mind, her shoes, her hair, but never her love and devotion to New York City. She had dates, drinks, boyfriends, a husband and truly great loves and romances. She told the truth and she lied. She typed, wondered, wrote, published, grieved, forgave, got stood up, stood strong, stood out.”
“She devoted herself to hats, books, shoes, friends and the promise of a new day in her beloved city and the people she treasured most, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha. She has worn shame, pride, honor, optimism and literally countless dresses, skirts, tutus. Held onto hands, hopes and the very best of people.
“There will never be better friends and what great fortune for Carrie to come to know and love Seema and LTW, most divine new connections. “The symphony of all those emotions has been the greatest soundtrack and most consequential companion. Therefore, the most sentimental and profound gratitude and a lifetime of debt. To you all.”
“AJLT was all joy, adventure, the greatest kind of hard work alongside the most extraordinary talent of 380 that includes all the brilliant actors who joined us, I am better for every single day I spent with you. It will be forever before I forget. Carrie Bradshaw has dominated my professional heartbeat for 27 years. I think I have loved her most of all.”
Thank you all for 27 years on HBO.
(Additional Source: (E! News)
