HBO Max has officially announced the cancellation of “And Just Like That,” the highly anticipated sequel to the iconic “Sex and the City,” bringing an end to its run with a two-part series finale. This major television news, unlike typical quiet cancellations, was dropped bright and early, marking a bittersweet update for the dedicated viewers who followed the continuation of Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte’s journeys.
A significant draw for “And Just Like That” was its direct lineage to “Sex and the City,” a defining pop culture hit of the late ’90s and early 2000s. Many viewers tuned in primarily out of nostalgia and curiosity, eager to see how the beloved characters would navigate life years after their last on-screen appearance in the films, despite a wall of critical op-eds questioning the new series’ writing and tone.
The streaming service confirmed the series finale will air on Thursday, August 7 and 14. The official statement, widely shared on social media, declared, “And just like that… the ongoing storytelling of the Sex and the City universe is coming to an end,” signifying a clear and decisive conclusion to this chapter of the narrative.
The decision to conclude the show was a collaborative one, reached during the writing phase of what was originally conceived as a third season. Creators, alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, Casey Bloys, and Sarah Aubrey, determined that this juncture presented a “wonderful place to stop,” leading to an extension of the original series order from ten to twelve episodes to provide a comprehensive wrap-up for the Sex and the City spinoff.
The announcement conveyed immense gratitude to the audience who had embraced these characters for many years. “And Just Like That” brought back Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis to reprise their iconic roles, resuming their storylines picking up well after the events of the second “Sex and the City” movie.
Despite its pedigree, the show garnered mixed reactions. Online discussions and published reviews frequently questioned its narrative choices, with some even humorously suggesting that AI might have been responsible for its scripts, reflecting the polarizing reception among fans and critics alike for the HBO Max series.
Kim Cattrall’s limited involvement as Samantha Jones was a key talking point, as she returned for a brief cameo without sharing scenes with her former co-stars, a decision that reportedly came with a substantial financial agreement. This absence underscored a significant shift from the original ensemble dynamic.
The upcoming “And Just Like That” finale joins a list of other notable series conclusions, such as “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon” and the controversial cancellation of “The Late Show,” underscoring the constant evolution and sometimes abrupt endings in the landscape of television cancellation and pop culture news.
