Sex And The City (SATC) has always been a complex show that struggled with the same question its protagonist Carrie Bradshaw posed two decades ago: how to write an ending for a character like her? A romantic and cynical woman, feminist icon, and woman defined by men, Carrie’s contradictions made her an avatar of possibility. However, the show’s finale reinforced traditional romantic tropes, suggesting that independence was just a detour.
The spin-off series And Just Like That… (AJLT) aimed to subvert this notion, but its approach feels too little, too late. By repeatedly emphasizing Carrie’s loneliness, AJLT tries to bully its audience into accepting her solo existence. However, this approach reveals the show’s own insecurity and lack of confidence in its message.
The finale’s ending, where Carrie is shown alone at 59, lacks emotional depth. It feels more like a PR stunt than a genuine reflection on the character’s journey. The show’s messaging is complicated by rumors that season three was not planned as the series finale, casting doubt on whether the ending is truly feminist or just a result of an unfinished arc.
Ultimately, nailing the intersection between fantasy and feminism is hard, but AJLT would have done better to try rather than pretend it’s doing something revolutionary here. An honest conclusion for 59-year-old Carrie Bradshaw would have acknowledged her complexities and contradictions, rather than simplifying them into a neat package.
Source: https://www.avclub.com/and-just-like-that-too-late-giving-carrie-bradshaw-feminist-ending