The Best Bags from And Just Like That…Season 3, Episode 9

It finally happened: Carrie and Aidan are no more.
This breakup has been telegraphed for weeks, and in the process, the writers managed to make a once-beloved character so insufferable that, by the time it happened, I think we were all rooting for it to implode. I certainly was. And honestly? I’m relieved. Because even in his swan song, Aidan was the worst.

But before we get into that final scene, let’s start where we always do, with the bags of Episode 9, because while there are still three episodes left this season, this was a defining one for both the show and for Carrie.

Episode 9: Present Tense

I almost forgot how this episode started because the ending eclipsed everything. But rewind with me: we open with Aidan lurking in Carrie’s garden, obsessively trying to track down her downstairs neighbor to interrogate him. It was uncomfortable, controlling, and made it abundantly clear that the trust issues here were never going away.

Carrie’s Bag Moment: A+

Elsewhere, we got a return to some real fashion moments. Carrie visits Seema’s stunning new office and meets her assistant, who’s casually carrying a massive Hermès HAC. I love when fashion is treated as an event, and this one even got a shoutout from Carrie herself: “Yes, I met him and his Birkin!”

Lisa is trying to draw boundaries with her new editor, and it’s not going smoothly. Meanwhile, her husband is in full cliché mode, whining about the cheese and pasta in the house and blaming it for his cravings. He doesn’t realize that he’s being 1) deeply relatable and 2) profoundly unsexy, all while Lisa is just trying to keep the fantasy alive.

Her wardrobe, however, is still fantasy-level fabulous: an avant-garde mix of color, texture, and confidence. Her bag? Practically a supporting character. We barely see it in the shot, but trust: it’s the oversized fringe pouch on the table while she and her son try to figure out why their dad doesn’t just go on Ozempic.

Seema’s new relationship gives us major vintage Sex and the City vibes: unexpected, playful, and filled with those classic “Is this a dealbreaker?” moments. Speaking of which… he doesn’t wear deodorant. Instead, he’s a salt-bar kind of guy. Seema, ever the cool-girl romantic, decides to give it a go, until she rushes uptown for a meeting and the man she’s meeting complains about a smell. (He assumes it’s the waiter. Seema knows better.)

Naturally, she heads to the bathroom, pulls out actual deodorant from her very chic Gucci bag, and fixes the situation. See? This is why we always carry everything.

Miranda has a big moment—she finally comes clean to Joy about being an alcoholic. And Joy, while honest, responds in a way that feels… selfish. She says she’s not sure she could handle watching Miranda watch her drink. Ma’am. If your name is Joy, maybe try bringing some.

There’s just no spark here, and unfortunately, every scene with the two of them seems to suck the energy right out of the room.

The Breakup: A Throwback Ending (In the Best Way)

And then, finally, we get to the end. Carrie and Aidan meet at a café. He tells her he can’t trust her. (Important reminder: he just cheated on her with his ex-wife.) Carrie, in turn, admits she’s no longer 100% in. And just like that, we’re back to the Carrie we know and love: standing her ground, saying what she means, and choosing herself.

We close with a classic Sex and the City moment, Carrie at a restaurant with her girls, her chosen family, the ones who never waver.

And just like that… our Carrie is back!