Warning: This review contains spoilers for And Just Like That season 3, episode 12The end finally arrived, and it was underwhelming and more than a little blasé.And Just Like Thatgot markedly better in season 3, so it’s still a shame that it was canceled, but I can’t honestly say I will miss the show. In parts, it was a level of cringe that was hard to shake, and, unfortunately for its series finale, “Party of One,” that level gets dialed up a bit more than usual. It’s an episode that doesn’t feel like a finale, much less a series finale.
Some of the story’s moments don’t feel earned by the end.And Just Like Thatends with Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) alone — well, not alone, but “on her own.” Inmy last review, I believed the show would find a way to bring Duncan (Jonathan Cake) back, but that didn’t happen. It’s good to be surprised sometimes. But while I can get on board with Carrie’s story closing out as a single woman, I almost wish the season hadn’t spent so long on her and Aidan’s (John Corbett) relationship if it was just going to blow it up right before the end.
Carrie’s Storyline Wasn’t As Thoroughly Explored
Carrie’s post-Big life has been rather uneventful. She dated a couple of people, but it felt like Aidan was brought back because the show didn’t want to deal with her dating life in her 50s. Seema (Sarita Choudhury) got that side of the story. If Carrie’s storyline was always leading to her being single — at least for the time being — it could’ve been handled more thoroughly. That said, I did like her conversation with Charlotte (Kristin Davis) about always believing she would be alone temporarily. It was perhaps the most honest Carrie’s been on this show.
More than anything, however,And Just Like Thatwasn’t bold enough to execute most of its storylines…
I didn’t feel as sad for Carrie as I thought I was going to be. She’ll be alright. It’s just a shame that her final storyline didn’t have enough room to breathe. The episode didn’t really do it justice, even with its editing. It cuts between each character while Carrie dances by herself in her home. I’m sure it was meant to make us feel something, anything, but I couldn’t help but feel anything but relief that it was over.
And Just Like That Cut Things Short
Once again,And Just Like Thatcuts things short. Conversations between characters were half-baked and felt like I’d missed something. Even Seema’s storyline with Adam (Logan Marshall-Green) was rushed. The discussions about marriage and what it means (and doesn’t mean) were half-formed and unearned. To that end, it was hard not to compare it to Carrie and Aidan’s marriage storyline inSex and the City’s original run; though different, it at least had legs to stand on, whereas there have been no real stakes for Seema and Adam (or any real depth).
By the series finale’s halfway point, the lack of overall stakes was more obvious than ever. Steve (David Eigenberg) made an appearance, at least, and it was nice to see that he and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) were still friends. Her storyline started rocky and only stabilized in season 3, so it’s a shame we won’t get to see more of her new relationship with Steve or how her romance with Joy (Dolly Wells) shakes out, though I suspect they’ll stay together.
It bothered me how Mia (Ella Stiller) and her friends were portrayed. Maybe the writers were trying to add a laugh or two, but it was more annoying than anything, and portraying the younger characters as rude, loud, and thoroughly obnoxious was lazy. I laughed more at Victor Garber’s character being in the bathroom when it started flooding. His reactions were gold.
Meanwhile, Charlotte spends Thanksgiving with her family and Harry (Evan Handler) gets hard post-surgery. Of all the characters, Charlotte’s ending was significantly more pleasing than almost anyone else, if only because she finally gets a moment to enjoy her family after a stressful season. It’s well-deserved and earned.
Lisa’s (Nicole Ari Parker) storyline with Herbert (Christopher Jackson) and Marion (Mehcad Brooks) is a reminder that the characters’ feelings in this show are heavily muted. It’s almost as if they can only get frustrated or be emotional to a point before they reel themselves back. Lisa making it clear to Marion that they can only be work friends is fine and all, but I didn’t buy her reproposing to Herbert, who’s still sulking about losing the election. The episode had some interesting conversations about marriage, but while Charlotte’s response about doing it all over again made sense, Lisa’s didn’t.
There’s a version ofAnd Just Like That’s series finale that could have worked better, but even 12 episodes into season 3, things simultaneously moved too fast and too slow. The pacing issues certainly didn’t help, and there were several instances when the HBO Max show wasted time it could’ve spent on other things. More than anything, however,And Just Like Thatwasn’t bold enough to execute most of its storylines, interesting as some of them could have been. After the series finale, all we’re really left with is the potential it could’ve had, and that’s the saddest part of all.
And Just Like That Season 3, Episode 12
Cast
And Just Like That is a continuation of the beloved franchise Sex and the City, chronicling the experiences of Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte as they transition from the complexities of life and friendships in their 30s to those in their 50s.
