In Season 3, Episode 9 of And Just Like That…, the emotional rollercoaster for Carrie (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) and Aidan (played by John Corbett) comes to an end—again. The episode, which aired on July 24, featured their heartbreaking breakup, but also a lighthearted cameo from Andy Cohen.
A Tense Start to the Episode
The episode kicks off with Carrie coming home to find Aidan having an awkward conversation with her downstairs neighbor and fellow author, Duncan (played by Jonathan Cake). Aidan grills Duncan about his pipe-smoking habit, and things only get more tense when Carrie has a writing session with Duncan, causing her to miss dinner with Aidan.
When Carrie returns home, she tries to cuddle with Aidan, but he pushes her away, telling her, “You smell like smoke. Go take a shower.”
Feeling hurt, Carrie sleeps in another room, and Aidan later tries to reconcile, but she refuses. The tension continues the next morning when Aidan tries to make breakfast and have a conversation, but Carrie shuts him down, saying she’s going for a walk.
Aidan’s frustration grows, and he says, “I’ll stay mad too,” but Carrie accuses him of being suspicious and trying to figure out if there’s something going on between her and Duncan.
A Retail Therapy Break with Andy Cohen
After storming off, Carrie seeks comfort in retail therapy, and this is where Andy Cohen makes his cameo. Cohen appears as a shoe salesman named Daniel, referencing a past Sex and the City episode. “Hey, Carrie. I am slammed. But I’m gonna be right with you, okay?” he says before helping another customer.
Later, Aidan texts Carrie asking her to lunch at “that place we love.”
The Breakup
At lunch, Aidan admits that he has trust issues when it comes to Carrie and other men, a topic that ties back to their past. Fans may recall that Carrie cheated on Aidan with Big in Sex and the City Season 3, ending their relationship at that time. Aidan also reveals that he recently slept with his ex-wife, Kathy (played by Rosemarie DeWitt).
Carrie challenges Aidan about his use of past tense when talking about trust issues. She asks, “You should have said ‘had’ trust issues, not ‘have.'” Aidan brushes it off, but Carrie points out how his jealousy is damaging their relationship.
“Can you stop f—— blaming me?” Carrie shouts, and when Aidan follows her, she confronts him with an emotional outburst. “How is it possible that I haven’t earned your trust by now?” she asks. “I have moved mountains and apartments.”
Ultimately, the two agree that despite their deep feelings for each other, their trust issues are too much to overcome. Carrie admits, “I can’t give you any more than I have, and it wasn’t enough.”
A Sad Goodbye and a Taylor Swift Moment
As the emotional goodbye unfolds, Taylor Swift’s song “How Did It End” from The Tortured Poets Department plays in the background, highlighting Carrie’s pain. The song plays as Carrie takes down the Aidan-inspired postcards from her refrigerator and finds solace with Shoe the cat.
Later, Carrie meets with her friends Charlotte (Kristin Davis), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Seema (Sarita Choudhury) in a dimly lit restaurant.
The episode ends with Carrie’s voiceover reflecting on the end of her relationship with Aidan: “The woman had thought that she and her love were very present, but now realized they were still locked in the past, which meant, of course, that they had no future.”
