And Just Like That... fans got what they wanted, as the icon that is Samantha Jones finally made her appearance in the first few moments of the season-two finale.
Looking as fabulous as you'd expect, the PR mogul was perfectly put together – quite literally in classic SATC style, thanks to the show's original costume designer Patricia Field – in a coral dress, a silver power jacket and a lime green clutch bag (which remained firmly in her grip, despite being seated in the back of a chauffeured car).
The trouble is, we knew it was coming. Thanks to an apparent leak, fans were robbed of the surprise – and we couldn't help but muse about just how impactful it would have been to see that name flash up on Carrie's phone, only to then cut to Samantha's beaming face, having previously been none the wiser.
Those in the know voiced concerns that expectations might have been too high, given the headlines about the previously unexpected return. Sarah Jessica Parker admitted to being really "upset" about the reveal making its way out into the world before AJLT's second season had even started.
"It's a big bummer because it would've been so like fireworks in the middle, you know, and also because we want to make sure that expectations are real," she said (via SiriusXM's Andy Cohen Live).
Miranda Hobbes star, and occasional director, Cynthia Nixon also tried to couch expectations by underlining to viewers that it was to be a "very brief, very small cameo."
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"I worry that with all the build-up people are going to wonder what all the fuss was about," she also shared, in an interview with The Times.
As sad as it is to think of the moment that could have been, that wasn't our biggest issue.
As brief as the cameo was, it was wonderful to finally have our girl back – it just further highlighted the gaping hole that she has left behind. Sure, it made sense that Samantha Jones would want to honour the brownstone apartment that for so many years had been the backdrop of the core four's friendships.
But to then see the likes of Carrie's fleeting former podcast pal Jackie and his girlfriend Smoke taking a seat at the table? And Just Like That's failure to get out from Samantha's shadow, pushing these two-dimensional and inconsequential side characters in her stead, then became even more jarring.
In our humble opinion, it was the wrong decision to begin the finale with the climax of that nostalgia hit, as it flattened the remainder of the episode – like starting a three-course meal with the deliciously sweet dessert, or reading the final page of a novel to have the ending twist spoiled for you. In short, the episode peaked too early.
Once the initial elation had passed, the cameo didn't stand up to any real interrogation.
If we're honest with ourselves, it failed to do Samantha justice as a character and, in turn, didn't really give the audience what they wanted (above, you know, seeing her Samanthaisms back on our screen).
It had the primary focus of serving Carrie and all her annoying main-character energy; Samantha was there to mark a milestone in her former friend's life, but the conversation remained one-sided.
What's Samantha doing, besides still apparently residing somewhere in the vast area of London and picking up a slightly hilarious twang? How's her career? Who does she hang out with, in her pristine and bedazzled OOTDs?
The cynics among us would probably say that this stays true to the dynamic of Bradshaw's friendships. By now, many collectively accept that Carrie is a pretty awful friend – we only need to point to the previous episode's painful comedy show, and Carrie's failure to support supposed best friend Miranda through an objectively terrible time.
But after 13 years away, we wanted more – and that was always going to be the case, given that it seems fairly obvious that Samantha Jones won't be back, a few possible text messages aside, for And Just Like That season three or beyond.
And Just Like That, the sequel to Sex and the City, airs on Max in the US and Sky Comedy and NOW in the UK.
TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
