John Corbett Opens Up About Aidan and Carrie’s Fate on “And Just Like That”
John Corbett recently shared his personal thoughts on the relationship between his character Aidan Shaw and Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw in HBO Max’s “And Just Like That.” While promoting his new film “Soul on Fire,” Corbett revealed that he was among the select few who knew from the beginning that Aidan and Carrie wouldn’t ultimately end up together in the series. “When I started talking to Michael Patrick King about even coming back, it was my first question – what’s going to happen?” Corbett explained. Despite the outcome, fans had held out hope for the beloved couple, especially when Aidan returned as a divorced man in the revival series, seemingly opening the door for a second chance with Carrie after Mr. Big’s death in the premiere episode.
The history between Aidan and Carrie spans back to the original “Sex and the City” series, where their relationship was marked by both deep connection and heartbreak. They first met in a charming encounter, but their romance was derailed when Carrie had an affair with Mr. Big in season 3. Though they rekindled their relationship in season 4 and even became engaged, underlying issues—Carrie’s anxiety about marriage and Aidan’s lingering trust issues—ultimately led to their breakup. The original series concluded with Carrie ending up with Big, while Aidan found happiness with a woman named Kathy, with whom he had a son. However, the revival offered what seemed like another opportunity for the pair when they reconnected for dinner and briefly dated, before separating again due to geographical differences—Aidan’s life was in Virginia, while Carrie remained firmly rooted in New York City.
Despite the romantic disappointment, Corbett speaks with genuine warmth about his experience returning to the beloved franchise. “I just love every single person involved, whether they’re on camera or making us a little peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” he shared. “It’s just such a tight-knit group.” The actor’s return to the series came with a sense of nostalgia, as he even stayed in the same apartment near Lincoln Center that he had occupied 25 years earlier during his original run on the show. This full-circle moment seemed to deepen his connection to both the character and the world of the series, making the news of the show’s cancellation after three seasons particularly poignant for him.
The announcement that “And Just Like That” would not continue beyond its third season came as a disappointment to Corbett, who finished filming his arc before the final episodes aired and the cancellation was announced. “When Aidan and Carrie had their final scene in the street, there were two or three more episodes,” he explained. “So when I was at home watching it on TV, I didn’t know what those stories were, because I had already left.” This timing meant that like many fans, Corbett experienced the show’s conclusion from a distance, having already completed his contribution to the story. The finality of it all seems to have hit him hard, as he admitted he is “still” sad that the show won’t continue, expressing that he “would just love to keep watching” and had hoped to enjoy the series “for another decade.”
Corbett’s candid admission that he was rooting for Aidan and Carrie to end up together reflects the sentiments of many longtime fans of the franchise. The possibility of this relationship finally working out was one of the most compelling storylines of the revival series, offering a sense of narrative symmetry and emotional resolution that appealed to viewers who had followed these characters for years. However, the decision to keep them apart maintained the show’s tradition of realistic, sometimes bittersweet, portrayals of relationships. Aidan and Carrie’s story ends not with dramatic conflict but with the simple reality of lives that have grown in different directions—a conclusion that honors the complexity of their history while acknowledging the practicalities of their present circumstances.
Throughout his interview, Corbett’s affection for the “Sex and the City” world shines through unmistakably. He describes the cast and crew as his “absolute favorite family” that he’s ever been involved with professionally, emphasizing the special nature of this long-term creative relationship. His hope that “And Just Like That” might somehow return despite the announced conclusion speaks to both his personal connection to the material and his understanding of how deeply these characters resonate with audiences. “So me and the rest of the world now are out of luck because it’s over,” he remarked with evident disappointment, “and that’s just the way Sex and the City/And Just Like That goes.” In these words, Corbett captures the bittersweetness that has always characterized the franchise—the acknowledgment that even the most meaningful connections sometimes come to an end, leaving us with memories rather than the continuations we might have hoped for.
