It’s been over twenty years since Carrie Bradshaw first asked if we can have it all, and somehow, we're still arguing about her shoes, her life choices, and her grief. If you’ve been following the new Sex and the City series, And Just Like That..., you know the drill. It’s polarizing. People love to hate-watch it, or they genuinely love seeing these women navigate their fifties, but nobody is quiet about it. As we look toward 2026, the buzz around Season 3 is hitting a fever pitch because, let’s be honest, we need to know if Aidan is actually staying in Virginia for five years or if that was just a very expensive fever dream.
Max (formerly HBO Max) took a massive gamble when they decided to revive the franchise without Kim Cattrall’s Samantha Jones as a physical presence. It felt wrong. Then it felt okay. Then, after that Season 2 finale cameo where Samantha appeared in a car for about sixty seconds, it felt like the show finally found its heartbeat again.
The Identity Crisis of a Modern Classic
The new Sex and the City series isn’t trying to be the 1998 version of New York. It can't be. The world changed, and the show had to catch up, sometimes awkwardly. Remember the "Che Diaz" era? It was a lot. Sara Ramírez’s character became a lightning rod for internet discourse, basically becoming the most talked-about person on television for all the wrong reasons. But that’s the thing about this revival; it’s messy. It’s supposed to be.
Michael Patrick King, the showrunner, has been vocal about the fact that these women aren't the same people they were in their thirties. Miranda Hobbes, played by Cynthia Nixon, blew up her entire life—her marriage to Steve, her career in corporate law—to find herself. Fans hated it. They felt it betrayed the "old" Miranda. But isn't that what a mid-life crisis actually looks like? It’s not a clean, organized transition. It’s a wrecking ball.
We saw Charlotte York Goldenblatt (Kristin Davis) grappling with the reality of being a "mom" who lost her own identity in the process. Her return to the art gallery world in Season 2 was one of the most grounded, relatable arcs the show has ever done. It reminded us that even with a Park Avenue apartment and a Harry Goldenblatt, a woman can still feel invisible.
Where Does Season 3 Take Us?
Production for the third installment of this new Sex and the City series kicked off in New York City with some major cast shifts. We know Karen Pittman (Nya Wallace) and Sara Ramírez (Che Diaz) aren't returning as series regulars. This is a huge pivot. It suggests the writers are tightening the circle, focusing back on the core friendship dynamics that made the original show a powerhouse.
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The Aidan Problem
John Corbett’s Aidan Shaw is the human equivalent of a warm blanket, but his "five-year" ultimatum at the end of Season 2 left fans screaming at their TVs. Carrie waited years for Big, and now she's waiting half a decade for a man who won't move his kids to Manhattan? It’s a polarizing plot point.
- Some viewers think it shows growth; Carrie is finally comfortable being alone in her gorgeous new Gramercy Park house.
- Others think it’s a cheap way to keep the "will-they-won't-they" tension alive without having to actually write a functional relationship.
Honestly, the chemistry between Sarah Jessica Parker and John Corbett is still there. You can't fake that. But the show thrives on Carrie's neuroses, and a happy, settled Carrie might actually be... boring? The writers know this. They've always leaned into the friction.
The Samantha Jones Sized Hole
We have to talk about the phone call. When Samantha called Carrie from the back of a town car in the Season 2 finale, the internet basically broke. It was the first time Kim Cattrall had filmed anything for the franchise in years, following very public drama with SJP. While Cattrall has been clear that she isn't returning full-time, her presence—even via text or a brief call—is the glue that holds the nostalgia together.
The new Sex and the City series has struggled to replace her energy. Seema Patel, played by the brilliant Sarita Choudhury, comes the closest. She’s wealthy, unapologetic, and fierce. She’s not "New Samantha," but she fills that void of the high-powered, single woman who refuses to settle for less than she deserves. Her relationship with Ravi Sansari added a layer of vulnerability we hadn't seen from her yet.
New Faces and Fresh Perspectives
Nicole Ari Parker as Lisa Todd Wexley has brought a level of fashion and "Black Excellence" that the original series desperately lacked. Her storyline involving her documentary and her unexpected pregnancy/miscarriage was handled with a level of nuance that felt very "HBO." It wasn't flashy; it was just real.
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The show is finally moving past the "tokenism" critiques of Season 1. The new characters feel like they actually have lives outside of the main trio now. They have their own mess. They have their own struggles with aging, career, and family. It makes the world of the new Sex and the City series feel wider and more representative of the actual New York City, not just the 10021 zip code.
Why We Can't Stop Watching
Critics have been brutal. Some call it "cringey." Others say the dialogue feels like it was written by people who have never met a Gen Z person. And yet, the streaming numbers are massive. Why?
Because we grew up with these women. We saw them through the Post-it Note breakup, the funeral of Mr. Big, and the birth of Brady. There is a deep, psychological connection to Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte. Watching them navigate the indignities of menopause, the death of parents, and the changing landscape of dating in a digital age feels like watching our own futures or our own presents.
The new Sex and the City series captures the specific "weirdness" of being fifty. You're too old to be the "it girl" but too young to disappear. You're caught between caring for teenagers and caring for aging parents. It’s a heavy time of life, and seeing it reflected—even through the lens of designer clothes and $20 cocktails—is oddly cathartic.
Production Insights and Real-World Impact
Filming in NYC is never easy, but the production of And Just Like That... has become a tourist attraction in its own right. If you walk past the Perry Street brownstone (Carrie’s original apartment), there are still crowds. The show isn't just a TV program; it’s an economic engine for New York fashion.
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Designers like Molly Rogers and Danny Santiago, who took over from the legendary Patricia Field, have the impossible task of keeping the "Carrie Look" alive. Every outfit is analyzed. Every bag is sourced. When Carrie wore the JW Anderson pigeon clutch, it sold out immediately. This new Sex and the City series still has the power to move markets, proving that the "SATC effect" is very much alive.
The Reality of Season 3 Expectations
What should we actually expect when the new episodes drop? Sources close to the production suggest a "back to basics" approach. Expect more scenes of the women just sitting and talking. That was always the heart of the show. The brunch scenes. The late-night phone calls.
There are rumors of new love interests for Miranda as she fully embraces her single life post-Che. We might see Charlotte dealing with the "empty nest" as her kids grow up and move out. And for Carrie? Expect her to keep writing. Her podcast "Sex and the City" (the one within the show) was shuttered, but she’s a writer at heart. A new book is almost a certainty.
Practical Insights for the SATC Fan
If you're looking to dive back into the world of the new Sex and the City series, here is the best way to handle the experience:
- Watch the original series first: If you’re a newcomer, the emotional payoffs in the revival won't land without seeing the six seasons of the original HBO show.
- Ignore the social media noise: The "hate-watching" community is loud. Form your own opinion. Some of the most poignant scenes about grief in modern television are hidden in Season 1 of the revival.
- Follow the fashion accounts: To get the most out of the visual experience, follow @andjustlikethatcostumes on Instagram. They break down every single piece, from the vintage finds to the runway looks.
- Prepare for the "Big" absence: The show is fundamentally different without Chris Noth. It’s a show about widowhood and starting over. Adjust your expectations accordingly.
The new Sex and the City series is a testament to the staying power of female friendship. It's not perfect. It's often frustrating. But in a landscape of superheroes and sci-fi epics, there’s something comforting about three women sitting around a table in Manhattan, trying to figure out what the hell happened to their lives.
Keep an eye on the official Max trailers. The release window for Season 3 is widely expected to be sometime in 2025 or early 2026, depending on post-production timelines. Until then, we’ll just have to keep debating whether Carrie should have ever let Aidan back into her apartment.
To stay ahead of the curve, sign up for the Max newsletter or follow the official cast members on social media, as they often post behind-the-scenes glimpses from the set in the West Village. Re-watching Season 2 before the new premiere is also highly recommended to keep the complicated web of new character relationships fresh in your mind.