Why isn’t And Just Like That returning for season 4?

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In much the same way, the captivating and occasionally perplexing series “And Just Like That,” a prequel to Sex and the City, has concluded its run after three enchanting seasons on our screens. Despite contemplating stepping away at times, we found ourselves unable to look away.

Week after week, I found myself questioning decisions made on And Just Like That… From what seemed like an oversized misstep with Big, to the reintroduction of Carrie and Aidan 2.0, the undermining of Miranda’s character, and, in the finale, a bathroom scene filled with an overflowing mess – it all tested my patience.

To be honest, there’s a tiniest corner inside me that might secretly yearn for it, maybe just because of the sheer madness and excitement of it all.

2021 saw the return of a series featuring Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte, along with several fresh characters, as they all dealt with novel hurdles in their lives during their fifties. These included widowhood, divorce, self-discovery, raising teenagers (a task notoriously difficult), and a whole new wave of expectations that middle age brings.

Similarly to the initial series, it possessed all the elements needed for a long-lasting show, and indeed, it has managed to continue for 33 episodes. This is quite impressive, given current economic conditions.

Here, we part ways with Carrie, who though not entirely isolated, finds herself single-handedly navigating life after her split with Aidan and Duncan’s absence.

From a movie buff’s perspective, it seems that the karaoke and eating Thanksgiving pie solo don’t exactly align with feeling empowered – much like Charlotte, I’m convinced that Carrie won’t be celebrating future national holidays on her own. That’s just not her character.

It appears that romance and close relationships are forecasted for her in the future, although we may not get to witness these events unfold from a prime vantage point. This situation raises an intriguing query: what factors led to And Just Like That not being renewed for a fourth season?

Let’s look at what’s been said – and what hasn’t.

Why isn’t And Just Like That returning for season 4?

August 1st saw a concise announcement from the showrunner, Michael Patrick King, through the show’s Instagram account, indicating that there would be no more seasons beyond the remaining two episodes of And Just Like That… Season 3.

During the process of composing the final episode for season three of And Just Like That, I realized that it could be an ideal point to wrap things up here, he commented.

Together with Sarah Jessica Parker, Casey Bloys (HBO’s CEO) and Sarah Aubrey (another HBO exec), it was decided that we would conclude our well-loved series this year. Instead of the initial plan for 10 episodes, we extended the order to 12 episodes and divided the finale into two parts.

King later explained that he and Parker decided to delay the announcement since they didn’t want the term ‘final’ to detract from the enjoyment of watching the season unfold.

He expressed his heartfelt appreciation to everyone who welcomed the characters into their homes and lives over the years, stating it with genuine gratitude.

Now, if we look more closely at King’s words, there are a few takeaways.

Initially, it may not have been intended to conclude the series after only three seasons. Rather, Stephen King was contemplating this possibility when writing episode 33. Moreover, he hinted that it could be an appropriate moment to wrap up the show, implying that there had been thoughts about a fourth season at some point.

So, what gives?

According to a previous report from The Hollywood Reporter, the show was maintaining its viewership levels as usual. However, when analyzing the ratings for Samba’s third season premiere, there was a drop of 7% in comparison to the second season, and an astounding 62% decrease compared to the initial launch (based on data from The Guardian). This suggests that while people were still watching, the audience size has been diminishing significantly over seasons.

According to Google Trends, there was a significant decrease in interest following AJLT’s debut, and this decline persisted throughout its entire run. Part of this drop could potentially be explained by the absence or presence of a specific individual.

Three seasons into the series, I found myself regularly encountering the spectral presence of Samantha, a ghostly reminder that was repeatedly emphasized, hinting at her existence beyond our realm. This persistent nod towards her seemed to deter many fans, some of whom might have even chosen to abandon the show entirely, possibly contributing to its dwindling viewership.

It seems that when you take into account the references to HBO executives Bloys and Aubrey, there’s an impression that King might have felt less in control over this decision than desired.

But that, it must be said, is pure speculation.

A point worth noting alongside declining ratings is the significant amount of criticism the series has been receiving, even though Season 3 garnered positive remarks from a few critics.

Despite the audience still engaged, it seemed to King that the Season 3 finale wasn’t an ideal ending point due to numerous issues, but rather, he found the continuous criticism cycle exhausting – and potentially disheartening – and chose not to deal with it anymore.

Experiencing one’s work being met with bafflement and mockery, even if deserved, can be extremely disheartening, especially when it quickly devolves into something resembling a moral lesson or a joke. This sting is particularly intense given that the earlier version of the work had a significant impact on shaping culture. A more natural way to phrase this could be: “It’s incredibly disappointing and painful when your work, which was initially well-received for its cultural influence, is later misunderstood or ridiculed.

At what point does that take its toll and sour the whole experience?

Even if King deliberately avoided interacting with the conversation about the program, it would still manage to reach him somehow, demonstrating just how potent an influence algorithms can be.

Nevertheless, regardless of the causes behind its demise, the conclusion did not dampen Parker’s experience. In fact, she said goodbye to her beloved character through an Instagram post that could easily have been penned by Carrie herself.

Over the past 27 years, Carrie Bradshaw has captivated my professional admiration like no other. To be quite honest, she’s been the one who’s held a special place in my heart. I know that many others feel the same way about her – some have even shared my affection, while others have found themselves at odds with her story. Yet, we’ve all been drawn into her world, cheering her on, growing frustrated, and at times questioning her choices along the way.

The harmonious blend of all those feelings has served as the most impactful soundtrack and steadfast companion throughout my life. For this reason, I hold the deepest and most heartfelt gratitude towards you all, a debt that will last a lifetime.

The AJLT series brimmed with joy, excitement, and challenging yet rewarding labor, enriched by the exceptional skills of our remarkable cast of 380 talented actors. We sincerely hope that you cherish the last two episodes as much as we have enjoyed creating them for you.

In a similar vein, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis each paid homage to the series, with Nixon describing the process as an “utter joy from beginning to end,” while Davis conveyed her affection for the “devoted fanbase.

“We love you forever and ever,” she added. “You hold me up and I do not take it for granted.”

And Just Like That… seasons 1-3 are showing on Sky Comedy and NOW.

“Place ‘Add And Just Like That…’ onto your watchlist within the TopMob: What to Watch app – get it today for personalized TV suggestions, features, and much more!

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2025-08-15 05:36