WithAnd Just Like That…getting the official word that the current season will be its last, fans are prepping for the stories to wrap up for all the main characters. At the center is, of course, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), the revered writer navigating single life in New York City once again following the death of her husband.
Part of that storyline involved reuniting with old flame Aidan (John Corbett), but not everyone was happy to see the two rekindle their love, mostly due to their circumstances. Sure, they made a great match back in the day (sometimes), but there’s way too much history. What’s more, the nature of their relationship this time around simply didn’t make sense. Here are eight reasons it’s good they’re finally broken up.
And Just Like That…
1The Trust Issues Never Dissipated
As noted, there wasway too much tumultuous history between Carrie and Aidan, and it wasn’t worth dredging up the past. This was evident when Aidan couldn’t bear to go into Carrie’s apartment because of the negative memories there. That includes Carrie cheating on him with Mr. Big (Chris Noth), the man she ended up marrying.
After they got back together the first time, Aidan proposed, but Carrie couldn’t commit, mostly because she felt that Aidan was still not able to trust her. Even after getting back together in the present day, Aidan showed that those trust issues remained, and he would likely never get over them.Refusing to go up to her apartment when they crossed paths again proved that he hadn’t matured and let go of those old feelings of distrust, even more than a decade later. He even refused to go to the farewell dinner at the apartment after she sold it to appease him. If Carrie selling her beloved apartment and moving into a massive house to be with him (eventually) wasn’t enough, nothing would be.
2The Arrangement Didn’t Make Sense
The entire arrangement between Carrie and Aidan made little sense. While they yearned to be together, he had family issues to deal with, including a son suffering from mental health issues. Rather than decide that his family was the most important thing and that it wasn’t fair to make Carrie sit around and wait,they decided to put their relationship on hold for five years.Yes, 60 months, while he spends most of his time trying to be there for his kids.
The idea that the two would spend five years apart, seeing one another sparingly whenever they could, was ludicrous.It was clear that the plan would never last, yet they both seemed keen on not letting go even when every sign was telling them to do so.
3They Did Not Have Clear Boundaries
The oddest thing about their arrangement is thatthere were no clear boundaries. Aidan visits and confesses to having slept with his ex-wife in a moment of weakness following trouble with their son. Marking one ofthe cringiest moments in season 3, Carrie instantly forgives him. She not only says she understands, given what they are going through, but she adds that their arrangement was never supposed to be exclusive anyway.
That came as a shock to not just Aidan but viewers as well. They agreed to wait for one another. Carrie bought a new house that she declared on numerous occasions was “their” house, even consulting with him on furniture. Yet the idea is that they will possibly see other people over the next five years, then reunite once his son is of age, abandoning whatever other relationships they might have formed since? Or perhaps they were to only have casual sex, reserving an emotional connection only for one another?Aidan’s confusion at this revelation is the same as that of the viewersbecause it never seemed like the idea was for them to continue dating other people. Considering Aidan had a key to the house, what would happen if he showed up for a surprise visit and she was with another man? The entire situation was messy and not clearly defined.
4Aidan’s Plan Disregarded His Son
Perhaps the most troubling thing about their renewed relationship is thatit had a timeline: exactly five years. This is the time when Aidan’s troubled son Wyatt (Logan Souza) would be a legal adult and thus could presumably fend for himself. Basically, what Aidan was saying was that when Wyatt turned 18, he would no longer be his problem. Wyatt would have to go out into the world and make his own decisions.
The idea that Wyatt would magically be okay at 18, or that Aidan could relinquish his fatherly duties at this time to pursue his love interest hours away in New York, was ridiculous. It was unfair and insulting to both Wyatt and his ex.He was implying that once Wyatt is a legal adult, he would feel no parental obligation anymore, or at least not the necessity to be there. It suggested that Aidan is just biding his time because he has to, not because he truly cares about his kids. That should have been a big red flag for Carrie.
5Carrie Deserved Better
Dealing with the loss of her husband,Carrie deserves betterthan to wait around for an old flame who she’s convinced is the one who got away.She didn’t choose him originally, so why would she choose him now? He’s basically the second choice. As a successful woman in New York City, she has so many single men from whom to choose right on her doorstep. What’s more, she doesn’t necessarily need to be with someone to be happy. She has a successful career, great friends, and an overall fulfilling life.
Even if she did yearn for love, being with someone she couldn’t actually be with for half a decade isn’t really being with someone at all. What’s more, if Aidan cared at all about his kids, even after the five-year period, he would want to continue to look out for Wyatt until he truly felt he was okay. There’s no guarantee that would happen right at 18. This isn’t to say he couldn’t have both,but Carrie deserved better than someone asking her to wait five yearsfor him to be fully committed, even if the reason was understandable.
6There’s Less Time To Waste At Their Age
The reality is that both are now in their 50s. If they were teenagers, waiting five years might seem romantic. At their age, there’s not a lot of time to take things slow. Of course, there’s no reason not to find love well into your 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond, butthe idea of waiting for someone for five years makes far less sense the older one gets.Carrie is a catch, and Aidan, having obligations beyond finding companionship, shouldn’t be the thing to hold her back from finding the same.
The idea that Aidan is the perfect man she has been waiting for this whole time props him up way more than he should be. The chemistry seems to be lacking, andCarrie should move on and enjoy being single for a whilebefore diving into a relationship that takes her backward and reignites old wounds.
7Aidan is Kind of Annoying
There’s something inherently annoying about Aidan. His overly joyful personality, which appears to be nothing more than a facade to hide his familial pain, combined with the obvious lack of trust he hides beneath the surface, doesn’t fit with Carrie’s carefree style. When they’re together, it almost seems like they are playing roles and not being genuine with one another.
Throwing a rock through her window (then obsessively trying to find a vintage replacement) and cramping her style when he’s there, wanting her to drop her life to spend time with him, gives an icky feeling.He crossed the linewhen he purposely tried to feel out Duncan (Jonathan Cake), showing that he never got over his trust issues. Sure, Carrie slept with Duncan not long after breaking up with Aidan, but it was likely she would have pushed those feelings of attraction towards him aside and respected her relationship had Aidan still been in her life.
8New York City Wasn’t Really for Aidan
The fact that Aidan moved his life outside of the city and thrives while living on a farm shows that he prefers that lifestyle. If he moved back to New York to be with Carrie, it would likely be only for her sake.He would probably have eventually resented it and wanted to move back to the simpler lifehe had before. Anyone who watches the show knows that isn’t the lifestyle for Carrie. While it’s fun for a visit, Carrie would never move out of New York City, and certainly not to a farm. Aidan has to know that.
The idea that he would upend the lifestyle he loved just to be with Carrie was a disaster waiting to happen. Carrie got a glimpse of that when he visited for a few days and crowded her when she was trying to work on her book and wanted to focus on that. He was convinced her time with Duncan was more than just work, coming across as overly needy and jealous.He didn’t respect her career, and considering how important that part of Carrie’s life is to her, he simply wouldn’t fit in.
