Sex and the CityCreator Darren Star Says Carrie Cheating on Aidan in Season 3 'Brought the Show to Another Level'

Mar. 15, 2025

Sarah Jessica Parker and John Corbett.Photo: HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection

ForSex and the CitycreatorDarren Star, the decision to have Carrie Bradshaw kiss Mr. Big in that hotel elevator in season 3 was about much more than the pair’s love story.

In an interview withVulturepublished on Aug. 14, Star opened up about the iconic series, which first premiered in 1998. Coming off of his work onBeverly Hills, 90210andMelrose Place,Star first metCandace Bushnell— whose column and resulting book sprung the idea for the series — in the mid 1990s when he was working on his showCentral Park West.

Star says he knew from the beginning that Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and John “Mr. Big” Preston’s (Chris Noth) relationship would be “something that would be arcing through the show.”

“Even sitcoms turn into soaps after so many years because when characters get developed, you want to see them have lives that are continuous,” he continued.  “You don’t want to feel like their lives are resetting every episode. I was very conscious that Carrie and Mr. Big were going to be the spine of the show.”

Sarah Jessica Parker and Darren Star in 1998.Getty Images

Getty Images

He says their dynamic helped to “create the tension of the series.”

Vulture’s E. Alex Jung asks Star about what he calls a “turning point” in season 3 where Carrie has an affair with Mr. Big, while dating Aidan (John Corbett) who was head over heels for her.

For Star, the decision to have Carrie and Mr. Big go down that road expanded her character as a whole.

Chris Noth and Sarah Jessica Parker in ‘Sex and the City’.Craig Blankenhorn / HBO/Everett

“It brought the show to another level,” he said. “I really wanted a character that was going to make mistakes and be an anti-hero, to be able to love and hate her at the same time, see her make mistakes, understand her.”

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source: people.com