Warning! SPOILERS For And Just Like That Season 3, Episode 10, “Better Than Sex”
Aidan Shaw (John Corbett) and Carrie Bradshaw’s (Sarah Jessica Parker) romance was totally worth it, even ifAnd Just Like Thatevoked the same cautionary romance tale thatSex and the Citytold twice before. Shaw first appeared inAnd Just Like Thatseason 2, but he was one of the originallove interests inSex and the City.
Carrie started dating Aidan inSex and the Cityseason 3, their romance marking a new chapter after her split from Mr. Big (Chris Noth). However, Carrie would go back to Big in the end, having a happy marriage to John Preston for over a decade. Still, we now know what another chapter for Carrie and Aidan looks like.
Now We Know For Sure It Was Always Doomed
Image via Max
DespiteCarrie and Aidan’s struggles inSex and the City,some held onto the belief that Aidan was a good guy, and he was Carrie Bradshaw’s “one that got away.”And Just Like Thatneeded to explore another wind of Carrie and Aidan’s romance to flesh out what would have happened if the writer didn’t end up with Big.
Carrie and Aidan’s romancewas indeed suitable for some of the time in the original series, but the relationship also had its hurdles. Carrie gave the romance its doubts when she slept with John, but Aidan was controlling from the start. He then became manipulative and jealous after their affair, when the couple revived their romance briefly.
Still, even after all their years apart, with both Carrie and Aidan getting married to other partners, the couple had chemistry, as we see whenthey share a kiss inSex and the City 2.Had the revival series not rekindled their romance, some, including Carrie herself, would have wondered whether Carrie and Aidan’s relationship could have worked out.
Aidan & Carrie’s Romance Is Officially Over, And It’s For The Best
The Ship Has Sailed
The relationship almost immediately hits a series of roadblocks throughoutAnd Just Like Thatseason 3, after Carrie and Aidan agreed to wait to be together for five years at the end ofAnd Just Like Thatseason 2. Their agreement falls apart when Aidan calls Carrie for phone sex, beginning a back-and-forth long-distance romance from Manhattan to Virginia.
While Carrie navigated the changing landscape of their revival romance gracefully,things hit a final snag when Aidan came to Manhattan, getting jealous of Carrie’s professional relationship with Duncan(Jonathan Cake). When Aidan finally admits that he still has trust issues, Carrie officially calls the romance off, pointing out that Shaw was the one who cheated, and she was all-in.
Carrie & Aidan’s Romance Reached Its Natural Conclusion In And Just Like That
Carrie & Aidan Weren’t Meant To Be
With Carrie and Aidan’s romanceending inAnd Just Like Thatseason 3,we now know for sure that the partnership never would have worked out inSex and the City.Regardless of the circumstances, Aidan’s need to control Carrie was pervasive. He did this before Bradshaw cheated with Big, coercing her to quit cigarettes to be with him.
In short, Aidan has always been jealous, and that was hard for them to overcome, especially when Carrie was showing up to the romance as her best self. Shaw’s appearance inAnd Just Like Thatproved that even after all these years, Aidan still isn’t mature enough for the relationship to work out, and I can’t say that I’m surprised.
