But lets back up to the start of the episode, which begins with Aidan answering Carries out-of-the-blue email.
It turns out hes coming into town for a meeting and wants to have dinner on Thursday.
The only problem is that Aidan isnt there.
Craig Blankenhorn
After a lot of miscommunicationand frustration on Carries partit turns out shes gone to the wrong restaurant.
And then, after what seems like a lifetime, the two reunite on the street.
Carrie and Aidan then go to the right restaurant, where they discuss the last decade plus.
Gotham/GC Images
These two could read the phone book and Id still be riveted.
Hes hesitant about going in for all the obvious reasons from seasons past.
But Aidan cant do it.
John Corbett (Aidan) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie) in the HBO television seriesSex and the City’s third season episode, “No Ifs, Ands or Butts.”
Im never going in there again.
Its a necessary moment for both Aidan and Carrie.
Aidan says he should go until he has a come-to-Jesus moment and declares, Fuck it!
Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin
This is New York!
They have hotels, right?
But for how long?
Glamour: Whats next for Aidan and Carrie?
It doesnt mean that theres more promise for them now than there was then.
It just means that theyre more mature, and theyre more interested in being thoughtful about one another.
But there is an undeniable passion about who they are when theyre together.
Will he stick around for the next four episodes?
SJP:Yes, hes not somebody who you’re free to be casual with.
He deserves morethe character and the actor.
Michael Patrick King, let’s dissect Aidan’s speech to Carrie outside of her apartment.
Michael Patrick King:It brings reality.
When they first see each other, theres so much memory and fantasy and chemistry.
[But when news] broke that he was coming onto the show, people were like, What?
You going to hurt him again?
People were very aware of the pain.
So we want to always show peoples self-awareness.
Its strong to show a character who knows what happened to them and is sort of drawing a line.
So when he looks at her and says, This is where we end it.
I dont want us do this, its important that she acknowledges it too.
She doesnt attempt to talk him out of it.
She says, I guess time doesnt heal everything.
And by the way, I dont want to do this if its going to be the same thing.
But he does not go up those stairs, and she does not tell him he should.
Weve seen so many photos and videos of Carrie and Aidan before this episode even aired.
Why did you decide to show so much ahead of time?
MPK:When any picture comes from us and not from the paparazzi, its been thought out.
The idea is everybody knew Carrie and Aidan were in the show, and this is really a dance.
Were basically flirting with you.
Were showing you a little bit and not giving it all away.
Were showing you the kiss, but you dont know the beginning, middle, and end of that.
You dont even know what happens next.
You know theres a kiss, and you know what shes wearing.
But you still dont know the details.
So that was a very thought-out moment because it gives the audience everything and it gives them not everything.
But sometimes we dont have a choice [with the release of photos] because its getting released anyway.
People are excited, and they come and take pictures.
So why not us give you the best version of it?
Sometimes its not by choice, sometimes its, well, Theyre going to get it anyway.
SAG-AFTRA members are currently on strike and therefore not promoting their film and TV projects.
This interview was conducted prior to the strike.
