While the heart and soul of the TV show Sex and the City was the friendships between Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte, there's little question that we were also watching for the romances. Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) was the protagonist, so we followed her relationships the most closely, and the writers gave her many dramatic turns in her path to finding happiness. By Sex and the City's final season, viewers had seen Carrie experience the best and worst of what New York bachelors had to offer, but two love interests stand out in the series.
Aidan, played by John Corbett, was one of the great loves of Carrie's life, besides Mr. Big (Chris Noth), and the debate over which man was better for Carrie has been raging for many years. Carrie ends up with Big, though this bliss is interrupted in the spinoff, And Just Like That..., but Aidan is always in the back of her mind. Though Carrie was often a terrible friend on Sex and the City, many of her romantic misadventures were just as much the fault of her partners, who had extremely toxic moments.
In "Change Of A Dress", Aidan Tries To Get Carrie To Marry Her When He Knows She's Not Ready
This Is One Of Aidan's Worst Moments On The Show
In Sex and the City season 4, episode 15, "Change of a Dress," Carrie and Aidan can't pretend their relationship is working anymore. Ever since the pair got back together following the affair with Big, Carrie has been working overtime to convince Aidan that she's committed to their relationship, but his fear gets the better of him. After popping the question and miraculously getting a yes from Carrie, even being engaged isn't enough for Aidan. He tries to get Carrie to elope right after Richard's gala, and this results in their breakup.
It's true that Carrie shouldn't have agreed to marry Aidan in the first place, but earlier in the episode, she had opened up to him about not being ready to get married yet, and he still pushed the issue. Carrie isn't always the most communicative partner. However, it's Aidan who isn't listening to what she's clearly telling him at the end of the episode. "Change of a Dress" is one of the Sex and the City, finally closing the book on Carrie and Aidan's relationship after many dramatic ups and downs.
Mr. Big May Be A Commitment-Phobe, But He Never Tried To Control Carrie Like Aidan
Mr. Big Would Never Push Carrie Into Doing Something She Wasn't Ready For
Mr. Big is far from a perfect boyfriend, pushing Carrie to her limits many times throughout the show. While it took many years for him to get used to the idea of marrying Carrie, he didn't try to control her, though he manipulated her in other ways. Aidan's pushy actions might have come from a place of love and the desire to be with Carrie, but if he wanted their relationship to work, he should have known that he had to listen to her. Throughout season 4, it's clear that Aidan and Carrie are hanging on by a thread.
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Sex And The City tells the story of a group of women navigating modern love, but some love interests are far better partners than others.
It makes sense that Aidan was still hurt when he and Carrie got back together. However, Carrie was right in thinking that he never truly forgave or trusted her after she cheated on him with Big. The reason he was so adamant about getting married and controlling Carrie was because of his anxieties and insecurities about their relationship. However, that isn't a reason to commit to someone forever. Trying to force Carrie into marriage before she was ready was never going to work, and it's clear that Aidan was only thinking about himself and what would make him happy.
Aidan's Toxic Behavior Continues In And Just Like That
So Far, Things Aren't Looking Good For Carrie's Other Great Love
When Aidan came back on the scene in And Just Like That... I was instantly skeptical about what his purpose would be and if he and Carrie would break each other's hearts again. Unfortunately, the season 2 finale showed us that things won't be smooth sailing for Carrie and Aidan, and that he is still forcing her to be on his timeline. Though it makes sense that he would want to be with his kids in Virginia while they're growing up, it's not fair of him to ask Carrie to wait five years for him.
Leaving her on this uncertain note and trying to convince her that their time apart would by like nothing, repeats his old pattern.
However, the season 3 trailer seems to feature a romantic future for Carrie and Aidan, but I'm not so sure that he's truly evolved and is ready to be a good partner to Carrie. Leaving her on this uncertain note and trying to convince her that their time apart would by like nothing, repeats his old pattern of making Carrie change to fit into his life and his desires. Sex and the City saw Carrie break out of this cycle before, and I hope she sees what's happening between them in And Just Like That....
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
Sex and the City (1998–2004) |
70% |
81% |
Sex and the City
- Release Date
- 1998 - 2004-00-00
- Network
- HBO Max
- Showrunner
- Darren Star
Cast
Kim Cattrall
Cynthia Nixon
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Darren Star
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