Summary
- Series 3 of And Just Like That has no Kim Cattrall, leaving fans wondering about Samantha's fate.
- Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte return in Season 3, but Samantha's absence looms large.
- Cattrall's refusal to return as Samantha adds a layer of uncertainty to the show's future.
A Sex and the City star confirmed my worst fears about the season of And Just Like That cast and crew across Manhattan. AJLT seasons 1 and 2 established life for the leading women after their 30s and 40s.
Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis returned as Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte. I loved seeing the original ladies as their Sex and the City characters again (despite the series establishing much room for improvement.) However, a vital piece of the friend group was missing, and the series has yet to successfully reckon with the absence. A season 3 update made me less confident about how it will play out.
And Just Like That Season 2 Recap & Ending Explained
Coming on the heels of the series' Max renewal, the And Just Like That season 2 finale closes some chapters in Carrie's life — and sets up her future.
Kim Cattrall Seemingly Confirmed She Won't Appear In And Just Like That Season 3
Cattrall Updated Her AJLT Status On X
I've anticipated Kim Cattrall's return to the small screen since they announced a Sex and the City reboot. Naturally, I was disappointed when she confirmed in a post on X in July that she wouldn't be returning in season 3. I was hoping that after her cameo at the end of season 2, she would reconsider her stance on reprising the Samantha character. She previously implied she wasn't interested in the role after turning down Sex and the City 3.
Kim Cattrall is on X as @KimCattrall.
Cattrall's confirmation came in response to another X post that read, "#AndJustLikeThat - It Looks Like #KimCattrall (aka Samantha Jones) Will Be Back For 'And Just Like That...' Season 3 After All!" The star replied to the post, saying, "Aw that’s so kind but I’m not." She concluded her comment with the kiss mark emoji. The response was short but sweet.
Why Kim Cattrall Is Crucial To The AJLT Narrative (14 Years Later)
No One Can Replace Samantha Jones
Kim Cattrall is crucial to the And Just Like That narrative because she is a vital piece of the foundation on which it stands. Sex and the City focused on four women in their 30s, and the women were the entire draw of the series. Television was often reserved for portraying families or couples until HBO spearheaded new content with series like SATC in the 1990s. Samantha Jones was a crucial element in pushing that narrative. While any of the women would be missed if they hadn't appeared in AJLT, the Samantha character is almost as critical as Carrie.
Kim Cattrall has not reprised the iconic Samantha Jones character on the small screen, with one remarkable exception. I hoped Cattrall would continue to play the character, but it also doesn't surprise me that she isn't overly interested. While the actor has cited other reasons for wanting to move on from the character, the memorable Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker feud is a crucial part of the conversation. The misunderstanding defines the conversation about whether the Samantha Jones actor will return to the character.
How Kim Cattrall Appeared In AJLT Seasons 1 & 2
Sam Jones And Carrie Have Kept In Touch
Kim Cattrall's Sex and the City character appeared in season 1, although it was just in text conversations between her and Carrie. AJLT needed to address the Samantha character somehow. That said, I didn't like that not including Cattrall meant not including her in the conversation about how Samantha had evolved. That was a real shame. The actor should have had some say about who the character is in her 60s, but Cattrall chose not to return to the franchise for Sex and the City 3. Since then, returning to the character has had complications.
At some point, a third Sex and the City movie was in the works, following Sex and the City (2008) and Sex and the City 2 (2010), but it never came to fruition.
When it looked like Cattrall would never reprise the Samantha Jones character due to the feud with SJP, it was announced that there would be a brief Kim Cattrall And Just Like That season 2 cameo in the finale. Samantha appeared via a video call with Carrie, revealing that she had booked a flight to New York to attend her farewell dinner but wouldn't make it. It was a brief yet profound moment between both the actors and the characters, who haven't appeared side by side on-screen since Sex and the City 2 premiered in 2010.
What I Wanted For Samantha Jones If She Appeared In AJLT Season 3
Samantha And Carrie Need To Reconcile
If Samantha Jones had appeared in And Just Like That season 3, I would have wanted her to have honest conversations with Carrie about their friendship. Audiences deserve a more sturdy explanation for what kept the friends apart. There is no one better to deliver that than Cattrall, who could channel her frustrations into the narrative. It's natural for friends to fall out of touch, and the series has honored that by portraying Samantha as hesitant to open back up to Carrie after being hurt. However, AJLT's reason for Samantha and Carrie's separation isn't believable.
In And Just Like That season 1, Carrie and Samantha text back and forth, but Samantha often leaves Carrie on read.
The irreconcilable difference is that Carrie chose not to use Samantha as her publicist anymore, and Cattrall's character took it as a personal offense and put their friendship on pause. What's more, Samantha even moved to London, which feels somewhat disted for the character. Samantha's biggest mistake in the franchise was leaving New York City for Los Angeles. Suppose Cattrall's character does appear in the series again. In that case, it's an opportunity to discuss how cherished friendships can mutate in the open. I hope Cattrall considers another chance if it occurs.
While I didn't expect Samantha Jones to be a regular in And Just Like That... season 3, I didn't expect her to sit out the season. Maybe Kim Cattrall's season 2 cameo was a goodbye to her character, but it could have been the doorway to a more permanent return. It would be all the more potent for Cattrall to return so she and Carrie can reconcile, even if it's not pretty. That said, Cattrall staying away from the series makes the situation all the more relatable. The reality is that friendships often don't make sense over time and sometimes can't be reconciled.
And Just Like That...
- Release Date
- December 9, 2021
- Network
- HBO Max, Max
- Showrunner
- Michael Patrick King
Cast
Sarah Jessica ParkerCarrie Bradshaw
Cynthia NixonMiranda Hobbes
WHERE TO WATCH
And Just Like That… is a continuation of the Sex and the City narrative, exploring the lives of Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte as they transition from the complexities of life in their 30s to navigating friendships and personal growth in their 50s.
- Writers
- Susan Fales-Hill
- Seasons
- 2
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