Michael Patrick King Believes ‘And Just Like That’ Could Stand the Test of Time

Michael Patrick King Discusses Future of "And Just Like That…" Amid Mixed Reactions

Michael Patrick King, co-creator of the HBO Max series And Just Like That…, remains optimistic about the show’s legacy despite its mixed reception. In a recent interview with The Guardian, he expressed his belief that the series—a sequel to the iconic Sex and the City—may ultimately achieve cult status.

Reflecting on his experiences with The Comeback, another series he co-created, King noted how public perception can evolve over time. “If The Comeback has taught me anything, it’s that perceptions can change over the years,” he said. “The Comeback’s first perception was: it failed. Then it grew in relevance as the world caught up. I think And Just Like That… will potentially age well. It has the same DNA as the original Sex and the City, which was society telling 35-year-old women they should be married. In And Just Like That, society was telling 55-year-old women they shouldn’t be wearing tulle. I’ve always tried to be excited about writing the individual vs. society.”

Premiering in 2021 and concluding in 2025, And Just Like That… brought back familiar characters as they faced new challenges in their 50s. Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon reprised their roles as Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda, respectively.

Despite its reunion of beloved characters, the series received criticism from both fans and critics. Nonetheless, a portion of the audience found enjoyment in what has been dubbed "hate-watching."

King acknowledged the tension between fan expectations and character development. “I’m interested in how characters change,” he explained. “The surprise for me was discovering that fans don’t want their characters to change—they want to see them frozen in the time they fell in love with them. That’s a particular dilemma if you’re trying to move things forward. If there was a great disaster, it would have been if And Just Like That… tried to be Sex and the City. It’s much better to come back, break it, and be a new show, even though you’re going to get hit with, ‘We like the other show better.’ Well, OK—it’s still there.”

King is currently seeing success with the third season of The Comeback, starring Lisa Kudrow, which is airing on HBO.