After 27 years, the story of Carrie Bradshaw has officially concluded. Sarah Jessica Parker, the actress who brought the iconic character to life, has opened up about the difficult choice to end both the original Sex and the City series and its sequel, And Just Like That. In a recent television appearance and a series of interviews, Parker and showrunner Michael Patrick King shared that the decision was made out of respect for the story and its characters, aiming to leave on a high note rather than overstay their welcome.
The Reason Behind Ending the Franchise
On CBS Mornings, Sarah Jessica Parker called the choice to end And Just Like That a “very tough decision“. She emphasized that the choice was not made lightly and was driven by a desire for creative integrity. Parker explained that the team wanted to “gracefully walk away when things feel really right and energetic,” rather than risk “squeezing and exploiting people’s generosity and hospitality”.
This sentiment echoes the reasoning behind ending the original Sex and the City series in 2004. Parker recounted that the first time she and King decided to end the show, it was “out of respect and affection for the work and more importantly the people that we love”. She stated that the recent decision for And Just Like That was “a version of agony,” but was done for the same principled reason: “You have to have something to say”.
Michael Patrick King, the writer and director behind both series, supported this view. He told The Hollywood Reporter that the choice was about “telling these stories and bringing them to a place where there was a finish“. He described this finish as “open-ended,” allowing the characters’ lives to continue in the audience’s imagination while providing a satisfying closure for the creative team.
Carrie Bradshaw’s Final Story and a Look Back
The series finale of And Just Like That aired on August 14, 2025. It concluded the third season, which was announced as the show’s last in August 2024. The finale saw Carrie finally at peace with being on her own after ending her long-distance relationship with Aidan Shaw (John Corbett) and a brief fling with her neighbor. She completed her latest novel, embracing the idea that being “on her own” was not the same as being “alone”.
The finale also wrapped up storylines for Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristin Davis), showing them navigating family chaos and renewed connections with their partners. Notably, the show ended without a final group scene of the three original friends together, a choice Parker defended. She felt the deep, decades-long friendship between the women was already so well established that such a scene wasn’t necessary.
Following the announcement of the series’ end, Parker shared an emotional tribute to Carrie Bradshaw on Instagram on August 1, 2024. In a poetic caption accompanied by a montage, she reflected on the character’s journey: “She crossed streets, avenues, rubicons, so it seemed,” Parker wrote. “She broke hearts, heels, habits. She loved, lost, won, tripped, leaped, fell short and into puddles, aged, got wiser“.
She acknowledged the character’s profound impact on her own life, writing, “Carrie Bradshaw has dominated my professional heartbeat for 27 years. I think I have loved her most of all“. Co-stars Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon also posted their own heartfelt goodbyes to the series and crew.
Addressing Fan Reactions and the “Hate-Watch” Phenomenon
Throughout its run, And Just Like That generated significant online discussion, with some labeling it a “hate-watch” – a show people watched specifically to critique. When asked about this trend by the New York Times, Sarah Jessica Parker gave a direct response.
“I don’t think I have the constitution to have spent a lot of time thinking about that,” she said. “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.”
Parker and King also addressed comparisons between Carrie’s ending in And Just Like That and her original Sex and the City ending, where she ended up with Mr. Big. Some fans saw Carrie’s singlehood in the finale as a “course correction.” Parker denied this was the intent, stating the decisions were not made to placate fans but were a natural evolution of the character.
Michael Patrick King viewed the two endings as a conversation. “I think they talk to each other,” he said to Vanity Fair. “It’s about the evolution of a person realizing what growth is… Carrie doesn’t have to speak for everyone”. He highlighted that the final season was “deliberately” filled with love and family around Carrie, showing she had a full life even without a romantic partner.
Also Read:
The Legacy of 27 Years in New York City
The Sex and the City franchise began in 1998 and spanned six television seasons, two feature films, and the three-season sequel series. Parker’s recent explanations provide a bookend to a cultural phenomenon that defined fashion, friendship, and life in New York City for a generation of viewers. The decision to end it, while difficult for the cast and creators, was framed as the most respectful way to honor the characters’ legacies and the audience’s investment in their stories.
Also Read: Lee Byung-hun Explains How He Played The Front Man’s Three Different Versions In Squid Game
