And Just Like That … Recap: End of an Era

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It’s clear now that their reunion wasn’t meant to last. From the moment he rejected spending time in Carrie’s old place and urged her to move instead, it was a sign of trouble. And when he asked her to wait five years in New York while he sorted out his family matters in Virginia, it became evident that they were not destined to be together. The red flag was already waving from the get-go with that outrageous jacket he arrived in. That jacket symbolized the underlying problems, a clear indication of impending doom. Even though we might have suspected their relationship was toxic from the start, it took spending extended time together for them to finally acknowledge that this union wouldn’t work out.

Though it goes against my usual inclination to support Carrie Bradshaw’s viewpoint, in this instance, I must admit she makes a valid point. She requested Aidan to maintain distance from her professional relationship with Duncan. Admittedly, it might seem excessive that a boyfriend can’t engage in casual conversation with the neighbor she works with. However, instead of discussing his concerns with Carrie, Aidan disregarded the boundaries she set. The morning he was found having coffee with Duncan in the garden, Carrie became defensive instantly. When Aidan began grilling Duncan about smoking a pipe, which, to be fair, is a reasonable question many might have, Carrie’s reaction was so intense and her embarrassment so obvious that I was surprised she didn’t end their relationship on the spot.

In a clear and enlightening moment, though it’s not meant sarcastically, Carrie confesses to Seema that she recognizes Aidan’s behavior stems from the trust issues that arose from their past, when Carrie was unfaithful. When it comes to Aidan, there will always be a comparison to Big. Admit it, this confession indicates their relationship won’t survive this episode. However, with Aidan now in New York for an extended stay, Carrie decides against spoiling the moment and postpones acknowledging this truth. And then things take a turn for the worse.

During one of Carrie’s evening writing sessions with Duncan in his apartment, Aidan unexpectedly arrives. Carrie tries to stop him, but he persists on preparing dinner for the three of them. However, Carrie declines the offer, as she won’t be back until late. She doesn’t ask him to leave angrily, but her refusal is firm. To Carrie’s surprise, Aidan becomes agitated and leaves the uncooked steaks on the counter. When Carrie finally returns home, she shares that she didn’t want to interrupt her writing session with Duncan because he’d been so generous with his time. Upon finding Carrie climbing onto him, Aidan snaps at her, suggesting she reeks of smoke. This remark is insulting, and in a swift turn of events, I find myself siding with Carrie. Eventually, Carrie takes a shower and retreats to the spare room, refusing to share a bed with Aidan that night, even when he tries to convince her otherwise.

The next morning, I’m still fuming. Aidan and I have a heated argument about his behavior towards Duncan, and I finally confront him about this whole situation being rooted in his inability to trust me around other men. After storming out in a fit of rage, I headed either to therapy or shoe shopping. Later, when Aidan texts me to meet for lunch, I agreed, skipping the usual prelude. Instead, we dove straight into the issue: Yes, Aidan confessed, he does struggle with trust issues regarding me and other men. I corrected him on his use of “have,” pointing out that these old trust issues aren’t ancient history – they’re very much alive and kicking. I reminded him that I haven’t done anything wrong with Duncan, that I haven’t cheated. It’s utterly irrational for him to accuse me of cheating on him with Big, but alas, he didn’t bring it up. Instead, I yelled at him to stop blaming me and stormed off. However, I failed to address his recent indiscretion with his ex-wife during our argument.

When he pursues her, she strongly rebukes him, exclaiming “How presumptuous of you!” She then goes on to express all the efforts she has made to gain his trust, such as moving out of her apartment and committing for five years. She wonders why this isn’t enough to earn his trust. “I was completely committed!” she shouts, a sentiment that rings true given how dedicated she had been. However, Aidan notices the past tense in her statement and questions if she truly meant “was.” “I can no longer give you any more than I have, and it wasn’t enough,” she admits, clarifying that she did mean “was.” Both are emotional as they acknowledge the implications of this. Aidan laments that he thought they had a chance this time, and her response causes me to chuckle. In their sorrow, they remain embraced on the street. She returns home to her cat, discards Virginia postcards, dons a dress, and goes out for dinner with her friends. Carrie Bradshaw is now moving on from Aidan Shaw, marking the end of an era. Despite the melancholic Taylor Swift tunes associated with it, this doesn’t seem sad; instead, it feels liberating and relieving. Carrie Bradshaw is free.

As a film enthusiast, I found myself captivated by the central event that dominated the latest episode, leaving other characters with mere brief appearances to progress their narratives. In the case of Seema, it was just over two scenes (or if you count her emotional breakdown, almost three). Frankly, I can’t help but wonder if And Just Like That has a different understanding of solid story structure compared to me.

However, the subplot that truly resonated with me was Miranda’s. Her struggle with the challenges of modern technology and her desire to connect with her children in a meaningful way felt incredibly relatable. It’s not just about a mother-daughter bond; it’s a story about our evolving relationship with technology, something I believe many can identify with.

In all honesty, I wouldn’t mind seeing more of these subplots unfold. They offer a unique perspective and depth that complements the main narrative beautifully. But for now, Miranda’s journey seems to be the most engaging among them.

Instead of withdrawing, Joy empathizes with Miranda’s vulnerability by sharing her own emotional burdens, rooted in self-hatred. Both women decide to embrace each other’s darker aspects, rather than running from them. Miranda expresses that this relationship has space for both their emotional baggage, making it seem perfect for her. In a joking manner, she mentions Che who, hinting at the enduring memory of their shared past. Alas, if only they could forget!

This and That

It appears that Seema has saved enough money to rent an impressive office space, despite her financial circumstances being rather puzzling. Yet, she’s lacking clients. Her new assistant, who used to work for Ravi, secures a lunch meeting with a potential big client for her, but time is of the essence as she needs to rush uptown to attend it. With Adam’s rock-crystal deodorant as her current choice, she arrives at the meeting smelling less than fresh. She then has to use her travel deodorant from her purse to freshen up, which is the crux of the story.

Once more, let’s wish well for Charlotte and Harry, who manage to create a memorable moment in their brief appearance: Charlotte, struggling with her vertigo, accidentally falls while attempting to cheer for Harry’s milestone of urinating without a catheter. Despite their difficulties (Harry’s swollen privates), they try to assist each other, but the York-Goldenblatt apartment is not in the best shape at the moment.

It seems like Herbert might be concerned about his weight as the election approaches, and Lisa repeatedly advises him to take Ozempic. However, these events aren’t amusing or captivating, despite the intrigue they held after the previous week’s exciting episode.

In a heated confrontation, Anthony and Gia discuss matters over a dish of Anthony’s risotto, ultimately leading to Gia switching her accent from Italian to Buffalo. She expresses that Anthony is too old for her son, using the phrase “get your aged self out of Baby’s life!” which seems fitting and appropriate. Patti LuPone says this. Later on, she informs Giuseppe that she will no longer be funding his lifestyle in New York, but he is welcome to return home whenever he wishes.

In this new instance, Andy Cohen once again steps into the role previously occupied by an unnamed shoe salesman, now identified as Daniel. Over the years, he has been consistently managing that very shoe department. For those curious about his past work, Cohen appeared in season six of “Sex and the City” in an episode titled “Let There Be Light.

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2025-07-25 05:54