And Just Like Thathas marked the end of an era for Carrie Bradshaw and her friends, and star Sarah Jessica Parker has addressed not only the show’s conclusion but its status as a “hate watch.” TheSex and the Citysequel series premiered in 2021 and ran for three seasons, withAnd Just Like That’s series finaleairing last Thursday.
While the original series was hailed as a pioneering masterpiece and is still beloved to this day, with many20-somethings rediscoveringSex and the City, the fandom’s prevailing consensus is thatAnd Just Like Thatis a severe dip in quality compared to its predecessor. However, the spinoff — particularly season 3 — has gone viral for its “hate watch” addictiveness.
Parker, who played Carrie Bradshaw for 27 years, recently spoke to theNew York TimesaboutAnd Just Like That’s conclusion. She shared that she was “absolutely” happy with Carrie’s ending, and when asked about the hate watch reactions, Parker replied that she doesn’t “really care” because of the show’s success and meaningfulness to audiences. Read Parker’s full comment below:
Sarah Jessica Parker: I don’t think I have the constitution to have spent a lot of time thinking about that. We always worked incredibly hard to tell stories that were interesting or real. I guess I don’t really care. And the reason I don’t care is because it has been so enormously successful, and the connections it has made with audiences have been very meaningful.
What Sarah Jessica Parker’s Comments Mean For And Just Like That’s Legacy
While it may have been a critical dud and a hate watch for many audiences, Parker is right thatAnd Just Like Thatwas a hugely successful show, especially from a viewership standpoint. In its days leading up to the finale,And Just Like Thatclimbed the HBO Max streaming charts, becoming the most-watched show on the platform.
48%
27%
63%
36%
51%
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Many also agree with Parker in terms of connectivity with the show, and that most ofAnd Just Like That’s main charactersgot meaningful endings. Not every viewer may loveAnd Just Like That, but almost all adore, if not Carrie Bradshaw herself, then her friends.
And Just Like Thatalso isn’t the only entry in theSex and the Cityfranchise to miss the mark with its fans. Two theatrical movies were also released —Sex and the City(2008) andSex and the City 2(2010). Audiences flocked to the cinemas in droves, though both films, particularly the second, were considered misfires.
In the grand scheme of things, these movies were essentially treated as bad dreams, and have done little to hurtSex and the City’s brand. Ultimately, the numbers don’t lie — even ifAnd Just Like Thatis good for nothing more than a hate watch, people keep showing up for Carrie Bradshaw.
Our Take On SJP’s Comments About And Just Like That Being A “Hate Watch”
Parker’s assertion that she doesn’t have the “constitution to have spent a lot of time thinking about that” is exactly the right attitude. She made Carrie Bradshaw one of the most iconic characters in television history, and Parker has been devoted to showing viewers her adventures for almost 30 years. Of course, she should celebrateAnd Just Like That’s successes and not dwell on its perceived failings.
And Just Like Thatmay have ignored Samantha Jones, but Parker is embracing one of the belovedSex and the Citycharacter’s most famous quotes — “If I worried about what every b**** in New York was saying about me, I’d never leave the house.” Here, Parker has extended New York to the entire viewing world, and she’s all the better for it.
