Writing off a character is never easy. It’s even harder when the actor behind that character is a beloved fixture of a franchise for over twenty years. When Willie Garson passed away in September 2021, the producers of the Sex and the City revival faced a nightmare. How do you handle the absence of Stanford Blatch in And Just Like That without ruining the legacy of Carrie Bradshaw’s "stiletto" and best friend? It’s a messy, complicated situation that fans are still debating years later.
Honestly, the way the show handled it felt weird at first. You’ve probably seen the scene. One minute Stanford is there, helping Carrie through the aftermath of Big’s death, and the next, he’s gone. A letter left on a table. A sudden flight to Tokyo. It felt cold. But there’s a lot more to the story than just "bad writing." The reality of production schedules and a grieving cast made the Stanford Blatch exit one of the most difficult hurdles in modern television history.
What Actually Happened to Stanford Blatch in And Just Like That?
Let’s get the facts straight because the timeline is important. Willie Garson had already filmed scenes for the first season of And Just Like That before he succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Showrunner Michael Patrick King originally had a much larger arc planned for him. Stanford wasn't supposed to leave. He was supposed to be a cornerstone of the new series, providing that acerbic wit and grounded loyalty that defined him in the original HBO run.
Instead, the writers had to pivot. Fast.
In the fourth episode of Season 1, Carrie finds a letter. Stanford has moved to Tokyo to manage a TikTok star. Just like that, he was gone. He also asked for a divorce from Anthony Marentino via letter. It felt out of character. Stanford was many things—fussy, dramatic, insecure—but he wasn't a coward. Fans hated it. They felt it did a disservice to a character who had survived the highs and lows of 1990s New York.
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The Monk Twist in Season 2
By the time Season 2 rolled around, the writers realized they needed a more permanent, perhaps more "graceful" closure. During a trip to Italy, Anthony reveals that he received a letter (again with the letters!) from Stanford.
The update? Stanford Blatch is now a Shinto monk in Kyoto.
It’s bizarre. It’s quintessential Sex and the City camp, yet strangely poignant. Anthony explains that Stanford found peace. He gave away all his worldly possessions—which, if you know Stanford, is a massive deal considering his wardrobe was worth more than most mid-sized apartments. He sent Anthony a photo of himself in robes, smiling. It was the show’s way of saying that Stanford isn’t just "away"; he’s reached a level of Zen that the rest of the neurotic characters are still searching for.
Why the Tokyo Choice Stung for Longtime Fans
We have to talk about the Anthony of it all. The marriage between Stanford and Anthony was always a bit of a polarizing plot point. They hated each other in the original series. Then, in the second movie, they’re suddenly getting married in a ceremony officiated by Liza Minnelli with white swans everywhere. It felt like "pairing the spares."
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When Stanford left for Tokyo and dumped Anthony in a note, it felt like the writers were just cleaning house. Mario Cantone, who plays Anthony, is a powerhouse. He deserved a real scene. But he couldn't have one because Willie was gone. That’s the tragedy of the situation. The "Stanford and And Just Like That" problem wasn't a lack of creativity; it was a lack of time.
The Reality of Filming Through Grief
Sarah Jessica Parker and Willie Garson were incredibly close in real life. They were best friends for over thirty years, long before the show even existed. When you watch those early Season 1 scenes, knowing that Willie was struggling with his health, the performances take on a whole new layer of meaning.
The producers have since admitted that the "Tokyo" plot was a placeholder. They didn't want to kill the character off immediately. They couldn't bear to have another funeral so soon after Mr. Big. Death was already suffocating the show's atmosphere. Giving Stanford a "happy" (if slightly insane) ending in Japan was a mercy move for the cast and the audience.
Breaking Down the "Monk" Decision
- Avoidance of Death: The showrunners explicitly stated they didn't want to mirror real-life tragedy with onscreen death.
- Character Growth: While becoming a monk seems wild, it allowed Stanford to finally stop "clutching" at things—status, clothes, Carrie’s approval.
- The TikTok Manager Flub: The Season 1 excuse was widely panned as "too Gen Z" and disrespectful to Stanford’s sophisticated career as a talent agent. The monk storyline was an attempt to fix that.
Comparing the Original Stanford to the Revival
In the original series, Stanford was the audience's window into the gay scene of NYC through the lens of a "regular guy." He wasn't a caricature. He had real heartbreaks. In And Just Like That, the tone shifted. Everything became glossier, higher stakes, and sometimes a bit more disconnected from reality.
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Stanford’s departure actually highlighted a major theme of the revival: the difficulty of moving on when the world you knew has vanished. Carrie lost Big. She lost Samantha (via a different kind of real-world drama). Losing Stanford was the final blow to the "old guard."
How to Appreciate the Stanford Legacy Now
If you’re rewatching the series, it’s best to view Stanford’s exit as a tribute rather than a plot point. It’s a meta-narrative. The show couldn't replace him. They didn't recast him. That’s a sign of respect. In the world of television, recasting is the ultimate insult. By keeping Stanford alive in Kyoto, the show keeps Willie Garson’s spirit alive in the fictional universe.
The "Just Like That" part of the title has always been about how life changes in an instant. A heart attack. A move. A death. Stanford’s exit fits that theme, even if the execution was clunky.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Content Creators
- Separate the Art from the Circumstance: When analyzing the writing of And Just Like That, acknowledge the production constraints. The "Tokyo" exit wasn't the original plan; it was an emergency backup.
- Watch the Tribute Specials: To truly understand the impact of Willie Garson/Stanford, watch the "Making of" documentary for Season 1. It provides the emotional context the episodes sometimes lack.
- Look for the Easter Eggs: The show continues to drop small hints and nods to Stanford in the background—pay attention to the costume choices and certain set pieces in Carrie’s apartment.
- Focus on the Evolution: Use Stanford’s "monk" arc as a lens to view your own life changes. Sometimes, the most "out of character" things we do are actually the most necessary for our peace of mind.
The legacy of Stanford Blatch remains intact because the show refused to let him simply fade away. He didn't die in the show; he evolved. Whether he's in a bespoke suit or a monk's robe, he remains the heart of Carrie’s inner circle. That's a wrap on the Stanford Blatch era, and honestly, it’s as fabulous as he would have wanted it to be.