Heads up: this contains spoilers for season 3, episode 4 of And Just Like That…

Carrie, who has seemed to move past her late husband (RIP Big, just kidding), has always been depicted as free from family ties since her debut in 1998. She briefly mentioned her father abandoning her and her mother during her childhood, but that’s all we ever learned. We know Miranda’s mother died, though we never really knew her. Charlotte ended up with a rather odd family through marriage (assuming RIP Bunny MacDougal), and we briefly encountered her brother, who had a memorable encounter with Samantha.

This focus on the lead characters primarily as friends and lovers, rather than as daughters or sisters, allowed us to see them as autonomous women navigating life in New York City. We’ve mostly been privy only to their present lives, unfolding along the Hudson and East Rivers.

However, this episode takes Carrie to rural Virginia, where she suddenly finds herself in the thick of family life. She wakes up in Aidan’s guest house, dressed in a bra and cardigan after leaving her luggage in the rental car, to find Aidan’s youngest son, Wyatt, peering at her as he paints the house exterior. Aidan could’ve been more considerate, perhaps offering a more comfortable change of clothes or instructing his son to wait until she was awake before starting his painting. Thankfully, Aidan’s middle son, Homer, shows some hospitality by lending Carrie some of his clothes as she navigates around backyard clutter in her heels.

Unexpectedly, Aidan invites Carrie to extend her visit to meet his eldest son, Tate, who is turning 21. Carrie had briefly met Tate as a baby, but now he’s old enough to drink and chat. Eager for any attention from Aidan, she agrees to stay longer and soon finds herself shopping for clothes at a local store, indulging her well-known shopping habits.

Meanwhile, in New York, Miranda is crashing at Carrie’s luxurious townhouse. She becomes an internet sensation for the wrong reasons after a slip-up during a BBC interview goes viral. Despite her embarrassment, things seem to turn out okay when Carrie spots her kissing her work crush, Joy, on her doorstep via a doorbell camera.

In another part of the city, Charlotte and Harry face their own challenges as Harry struggles with erectile dysfunction, prompting a discussion about whether their relationship can survive without sex. Their subplot is quite touching, and there’s also a humorous moment with their child Rock, who equates someone asking for an extra banana on a community list with mutual aid. Lily, their other child, reveals her new boyfriend is polyamorous.

Seema is dealing with a new professional rival, Ryan Serhant—a real-life real estate celebrity from Million Dollar Listing New York. I apologize to last week’s angry commenters; I now know who he is and still am not a fan of his impact on Seema’s career.

It takes a long time for Lisa to find a replacement for her editor, Grace. The job goes to Marion Odon, a charming man who might pose a threat to Lisa’s husband, Herbert, especially since Herbert has moved to another room to sleep better.

Back in Virginia, Carrie’s rural escapade proves to be anything but simple. The complexities of Aidan’s family life, including a tense moment where Wyatt causes a scene during a game night, overshadow what was supposed to be a relaxing visit. The family chaos and Carrie’s discomfort suggest that this relationship might not be destined for happiness.

After a particularly rough family game night, it seems like Carrie might end things with Aidan when she says, “No more games,” a phrase often used during breakups. However, instead of ending things, she gives him a key to her New York apartment, inviting him to visit anytime—a decision that feels more like a compromise than a solution.

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