Why Carrie and Aidan’s Love Story Ended for Good
If you ever found yourself rooting for Carrie Bradshaw and Aidan Shaw, season 3 of And Just Like That comes with a reality check. After years of will-they-won’t-they, the series finally pulls the plug on their romance, busting the old belief that Aidan was somehow ‘the one that got away’ for Carrie.
In ‘Sex and the City,’ these two had sparks, no doubt. But let’s get real: their relationship was rocky from the beginning. Aidan wanted things his way—he made Carrie quit smoking, got jealous over her friendships, and after they got back together post-breakup, things actually got worse. The problem wasn’t just Carrie’s infidelity with Big. Aidan brought his own baggage, from jealousy to trying to control Carrie’s choices. Their connection was passionate but fragile, always teetering on the edge of collapse.
Season 3: History Doesn’t Just Repeat, It Explodes
Fast forward to the revival. Carrie and Aidan share some nostalgic moments—a kiss here, a rendezvous there. But season 3 isn’t here to give shippers what they want. Instead, it wants to set the record straight: their story was never destined for a happy ending. The show drags their relationship back into the light, not to revive it, but to finally bury the ‘what if’ for good.
The real turning point? The five-year ‘waiting period’ they awkwardly agreed on at the end of season 2. Aidan cracks first, calling Carrie for some late-night phone sex, and suddenly, that whole pact feels like a joke. They try long distance—Aidan in Virginia, Carrie in Manhattan—but Aidan’s old issues pop up almost immediately. He can’t shake his trust issues, and his jealousy kicks into high gear, especially whenever Carrie is around her new co-worker Duncan. It all snowballs, and by episode 9, the tension explodes. Aidan spirals, doubts fly, and Carrie calls it—this love story is over, for good this time.
Fans may have clung to the idea that Carrie and Aidan could work it out, but the show makes a solid point: sometimes ‘chemistry’ isn’t enough. If the same cracks keep opening up, maybe the foundation was never solid. By finally putting this storyline to rest, the show gives Carrie a clean slate. No more looking back at Aidan as ‘the one.’ Now, she gets a shot at something new—without old heartbreak slowing her down.