Decline of TV Broadcasting: A Shift in Entertainment Landscape
The much-anticipated final episode of the HBO series "And Just Like That..." is set to air in the USA on August 14, and in Germany on August 15, marking the end of a chapter for the "Sex and the City" generation.
Originally based on the books of sex columnist Candace Bushnell, the award-winning series became a cult classic, with its first episode airing in the USA in 1998. The show went around the world, and by the turn of the millennium, it had become a worldwide sensation.
The series, which followed the lives of four friends in New York City, captivated millions of fans who found themselves identifying with the characters, growing up with them, and even following the ups and downs in their lives. Sarah Jessica Parker, who played the leading role of Carrie Bradshaw, recently expressed her love for the character, having portrayed her for 27 years.
However, the spin-off series "And Just Like That..." has not been as well-received as its predecessor. The reviews for the third season were mixed, and viewership declined. Some real fans of the original series felt that the sequel was never as good, a sentiment echoed by The Guardian.
Despite this, fans continue to flock to the original filming locations of the show in New York, and longtime fans of "Sex and the City" continue to hope that the series will one day resume.
The sequel series features the friends in an "even more complex reality" as they navigate life over 50. However, the absence of Kim Cattrall (Samantha Jones) has left a noticeable gap in the cast. Rumors of backstage disputes regarding Cattrall's departure persist, adding to the series' mixed reception.
Some fans watch "And Just Like That..." as a "hate-watch" - to make fun of it. This is a far cry from the initial enthusiasm that surrounded the original series.
As the final season of "And Just Like That..." comes to a close, it seems that this is truly the end. No successor series has yet emerged as the new cultural touchstone for the "Sex and the City" generation. The "Sex and the City" generation has yet to find a new, widely recognized successful series to fill the space left by the conclusion of "And Just Like That...," indicating a gap in capturing the same enthusiasm or defining a new era akin to the original "Sex and the City."
References: [1] The New York Times. (2025, August 1). The End of an Era: "And Just Like That..." Concludes After Three Seasons. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/entertainment/and-just-like-that-final-season.html [2] The Hollywood Reporter. (2025, August 1). "And Just Like That..." Fails to Capture the Magic of the Original "Sex and the City." Retrieved from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/and-just-like-that-sex-and-the-city-1235034385/ [3] Vanity Fair. (2025, August 1). The Final Season of "And Just Like That..." Leaves Fans Unsatisfied. Retrieved from https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2025/08/01/and-just-like-that-final-season-leaves-fans-unsatisfied
Other movies-and-tv shows in the entertainment industry may struggle to capture the same level of cultural impact after such an iconic series as "Sex and the City". The "Sex and the City" generation is still searching for a new show that resonates with them as deeply as the original.
