There’s a threat to Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Aidan’s (John Corbett) relationship in And Just Like That from a new character who looks like one of the worst Sex and the City boyfriends. Bradshaw and Shaw are giving their romance another whirl after rekindling their flame in season 2. That said, the romance has encountered a series of challenges.

While Carrie and Aidan are stronger than ever in some respects, Bradshaw finally understands why her long-distance beau can’t go the distance after And Just Like That season 3, episode 4. In episode 5, Carrie is too distracted by her new neighbor, Duncan Reeves (Jonathan Cake), to worry about Aidan, but that could be a bad thing.

And Just Like That Season 3 Episode 5 Hints At A Romance Between Carrie & Duncan

Duncan Reeves Is Carrie’s New Gramercy Park Neighbor

The dynamic between Carrie and Duncan hints that a romance could potentially blossom between the pair. While their relationship starts antagonistically, with Duncan asking Carrie to ditch her high-heels, the neighbors come around to one another by the end of episode 5. Bradshaw and Reeves go to dinner and bond over their anxiety about upcoming book projects.

I still miss the consistency of the characters’ lunch outings and chatting, but season 3 has settled what was once more of a rocking boat.

Bradshaw and Reeves have a lot in common because, as Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) informed Carrie, Duncan is an acclaimed biographer. Carrie and Duncan’s shared passion for writing could result in the pair spending more time together, helping each other balance something new. And Just Like That’s season 3 trailer shows Reeves acting romantically, wooing Carrie on the terrace.

Duncan Seems Like He Could Become And Just Like That’s Version Of Jack Berger

Jack Berger Was Carrie’s Writer Boyfriend In Sex And The City

With Carrie potentially embarking on a romance alongside another writer, the situation is reflective of a particular romance from Sex and the City — Jack Berger’s — which ended with an infamous Post-it note breakup. Like Ron Livingston’s Berger, Reeves is a brooding writer. He is pretty mocking and combative with Carrie at times, evoking some of Jack’s divisive qualities.

Reeves writes professionally, so, like Berger, Duncan can match Carrie’s intellectual interests and passion for writing. Once he gets past their initial confrontation, Duncan could be a real source of inspiration and support for Carrie, providing the historical insight she needs to complete her fiction project. Still, Berger and Carrie’s overlapping writing careers had many downsides.

Duncan Already Avoids Some Of Berger’s Worst Qualities

Duncan Reeves Is More Successful Than Jack Berger

While Berger shared Carrie’s passion for writing professionally, there were significant downsides to Berger and Bradshaw’s similar careers. Jack Berger wasn’t as successful a writer as Carrie, and Bradshaw’s achievements triggered insecurities that Jack brought to their romance. That said, Reeves should avoid this pitfall, since Miranda has indicated that Duncan’s work is highly acclaimed, evoking more confidence.

Carrie romanticized the idea of Berger, because he was a writer and they shared that connection. However, Berger’s insecurities were a significant setback to the relationship, even extending to the bedroom. That said, since And Just Like That’s Duncan is successful, he won’t bring the same baggage to the romance, and could be the partner that Carrie envisioned in Jack.