The Five-Year Pause: 7 Shocking Reasons Why Aidan Shaw Had To Leave Carrie Bradshaw In 'And Just Like That...'
The seemingly endless debate over Carrie Bradshaw's true love—Team Big or Team Aidan—received a shocking, definitive twist in the most recent season of And Just Like That... (AJLT). As of this December 22, 2025 update, the passionate reunion between Carrie and her "nice guy" furniture designer, Aidan Shaw, has been put on ice, not by infidelity or commitment issues, but by a heartbreaking, five-year ultimatum.
The return of John Corbett's character was a major storyline, fulfilling a long-held fan desire following the death of Mr. Big. Yet, the story arc in AJLT Season 3, Episode 9, concluded with a devastating "pause," forcing fans to confront the reality that Aidan's life in Virginia—specifically his three sons—will always take precedence over a life in a New York City brownstone. This is the definitive breakdown of the seven core reasons for the split and what it means for the future of the Max series.
John Corbett: The Man Behind the Myth of Aidan Shaw
Before diving into the complex character arc of Aidan Shaw, it is essential to appreciate the actor who brought him to life. John Joseph Corbett Jr. has been a consistent presence in television and film for over three decades, often playing the charming, grounded, and slightly bohemian love interest.
- Full Name: John Joseph Corbett Jr.
- Born: May 9, 1961 (Age 64 as of 2025)
- Birthplace: Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S.
- Spouse/Partner: Bo Derek (Partner since 2002; married in 2020)
- Notable Roles (Film/TV):
- Chris Stevens on Northern Exposure (1990–1995)
- Aidan Shaw on Sex and the City (2000–2003) and And Just Like That... (2023–2025)
- Ian Miller in My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) and sequels
- Max Gregson on United States of Tara (2009–2011)
- Seth Holt in Parenthood (2011–2015)
- Other Career: Country music singer, releasing two studio albums.
- Net Worth (Estimated 2025): Approximately $9.5 million, reflecting a long and versatile career in acting and music.
7 Reasons Why Aidan and Carrie's Reunion Was Doomed to Fail
Aidan Shaw's return in And Just Like That... was initially a fairytale, but the realities of their vastly different lives quickly surfaced. The core conflict was no longer about commitment, but about geography, family, and trauma. Here are the seven compelling reasons why the relationship ended in a five-year "pause," a decision that has divided the fanbase.
1. The Wyatt Crisis and the Five-Year Ultimatum
The single most crucial factor in the split was Aidan's youngest son, Wyatt. After Wyatt, a troubled teenager, was found experimenting with drugs and suffered an injury at Aidan's Virginia farm, Aidan realized his children needed his full, undivided attention. He told Carrie that he needed to be a full-time, present father to Wyatt, Homer, and Tate for the next five years, until Wyatt turns 21. This non-negotiable term was a direct conflict with Carrie's New York City life.
2. The Unbridgeable Gap Between NYC and Virginia
Aidan is a successful furniture designer who now lives a grounded life on a vast Virginia farm. Carrie is a quintessential New Yorker, an established author, and a podcast host whose entire identity is tied to Manhattan. The initial plan—Aidan flying back and forth and buying back his old apartment—proved unsustainable. Carrie could not leave New York, and Aidan could not leave his children and his ex-wife, Kathy, with whom he co-parents.
3. Aidan's Lingering Trauma from Carrie's Apartment
A key plot point was Aidan's refusal to step foot inside Carrie's iconic brownstone apartment, a place where she had cheated on him with Mr. Big. This physical barrier symbolized the emotional baggage and unresolved trauma from their first two relationships. While Carrie moved to a new apartment to accommodate him, the fact that the ghost of Big and the past still haunted their present was a major hurdle.
4. The Shadow of Mr. Big
While Big is deceased, his presence is still felt in Carrie’s life, especially as she navigates widowhood. Aidan's role has always been the antithesis of Big—the stable, kind, and committed partner. However, for a relationship to thrive, it must stand on its own, not as a reaction to a previous one. The constant comparison and the fact that Carrie chose Big twice before, even marrying him, undermined the foundation of her third attempt with Aidan.
5. The Needs of His Three Sons (Homer, Tate, and Wyatt)
Aidan is not just a free-spirited carpenter; he is a dedicated father of three boys: Homer, Tate, and Wyatt. His commitment to them, especially after the trauma of Wyatt's accident, is paramount. The show finally gave Aidan the agency to prioritize his family over Carrie's romantic needs, a mature decision that fans, while disappointed, had to respect. His ex-wife, Kathy, even shows up to ensure Carrie understands the gravity of the situation.
6. Carrie’s Inability to Fully Embrace the "Virginia Life"
Carrie's brief attempt to integrate into Aidan's life proved difficult. She is a metropolitan woman who thrives on the energy of New York City, surrounded by her close friends like Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York Goldenblatt. The quiet, isolated life on a Virginia farm, far from her social circle and career, was simply not a sustainable reality for her. The five-year pause is essentially a recognition that their lives are too fundamentally different to merge.
7. The Predictable "Nice Guy" Narrative Twist
From a storytelling perspective, the reunion was always a temporary measure to give Carrie closure and show her moving forward from Big. Aidan, the "one that got away," had to return, but his ultimate departure reinforces a key theme of the original series: Carrie's life is about her, her friends, and New York City, not necessarily the traditional happily-ever-after with the "perfect" man. The pause is a narrative device that keeps the possibility of "Carriedan" alive while allowing Carrie to explore new storylines in upcoming seasons of And Just Like That...
What Does the "Five-Year Pause" Mean for AJLT Season 4 and Beyond?
The five-year pause is a bold move by the showrunners, effectively writing Aidan Shaw out of the main narrative for the immediate future of the Max series. While fans of the original Sex and the City may be distraught, this decision provides a clear path forward for Carrie.
The silver lining is that the relationship did not end with a messy breakup or a betrayal; it ended with a mutual, loving agreement to wait. Aidan told Carrie that five years "goes fast," and he fully intends to resume their romance when his sons are settled. This leaves the door open for John Corbett's return in a future season or even a potential third movie, offering a definitive conclusion to the Big vs. Aidan debate that has persisted for decades. For now, however, Carrie is back to dating in the city, with her focus likely shifting to her career, her friends, and her new apartment, unburdened by the complexities of a long-distance family drama.
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