Controversial ‘Sex and the City’ Spin-Off Knocked Down on HBO’s Streaming Charts as 87% Rotten Tomatoes Period Drama Returns for Season 3

Despite proving controversial, The Sex and the City spin-off And Just Like That… has been topping the recently renamed HBO Max’s streaming charts in the US. Perhaps propelled by its own controversy and certainly helped by the success of its predecessor, And Just Like That… has kept other big HBO Max titles quiet for quite some time, including J.J. Abrams‘ brand-new crime drama series starring Lost‘s Josh Holloway, Duster. However, as of June 24, 2025, And Just Like That‘s reign at the top of HBO Max’s charts is over, having been knocked into second by another popular current series.

Currently, in the battle of Carrie versus Carrie, it is Carrie Coon that is coming out on top, with The Gilded Age the most-streamed show on Max as of June 24. This is thanks to the premiere of Julian Fellowes’ show’s third season last Sunday, which ushered in a summer of impressive costumes and indulgent drama set to finish after eight episodes. When fighting on critical fronts, there is no real competition, with And Just Like That… earning a respectable 62% from critics, and a dismal 31% from audiences on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. This pales in comparison to the 87% critics’ score for The Gilded Age, although a 58% average audience rating still suggests plenty of room for improvement.

‘The Gilded Age’ Season 3 is a Critical Success

Thanks to a captivating opening episode, fans have flocked back to their favorite HBO period drama to fall head-first into its magic once more, with critics also gushing over Season 3’s success. In Carly Lane‘s review of the third season for Collider, she awarded an 8/10, citing engaging storylines, exciting newcomers among a terrific ensemble cast, and Christine Baranski‘s performance in particular as positive factors. “The Gilded Age Season 3 is a turning point for the show on several fronts,” Lane wrote. “New York society is on the cusp of greater advancement, with several storylines emphasizing that the older way of doing things is falling out of fashion, but it’s also at risk of being impacted in lasting, irreparable ways.” She continued:

“Meanwhile, in allowing characters who have mostly remained on the fringes to take center stage, the series breathes some new life into its story. It would have been easy for The Gilded Age to coast on its reputation or the delightful buffet of Broadway names, both new and old, within its ensemble, but Season 3 quickly establishes that it isn’t interested in playing it safe, hinting at the possibility of much darker times ahead.”

The Gilded Age’s third season streams on Sundays on HBO Max. Stay tuned to Collider for more information about the HBO hit.