The ultimate girl-code glitch — how Carrie ended up with the man who once rejected Samantha in Sex and the City
It’s the plot twist nobody talks about — but it might just be the most awkward coincidence in Carrie Bradshaw’s love life.
Sex and the City wasn’t just iconic — it was the blueprint. At its core was Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), writing about love, lust, and late-night city strolls in her Manolos, flanked by three fiercely loyal friends. But as Carrie found herself swept up in the emotional whirlwind that was Mr. Big, there’s a small, almost-forgotten moment from episode one that still makes fans wince.
Before he ever gave Carrie a ride in that limo… Mr. Big turned down Samantha.
Yes — that Samantha. The unshakable queen of confidence. The woman who practically invented seduction in stilettos. She made a move — a bold, sultry, very Samantha move — and he said no. Politely, but unmistakably.
A “blink and you’ll miss it” rejection — but it changed everything
Rewind to the first episode: Carrie and Samantha walk into a high-end Manhattan party, all attitude and ambition. Samantha sees Mr. Big — tall, polished, unattached. She lights a cigar, closes the distance, and makes her move. But Big declines. She brushes it off, barely phased — she’s Samantha, after all.
And just minutes later? He’s picking up Carrie.
They talk about love. He drops that line:
“Abso-f—ing-lutely.”
It’s romantic. It’s mysterious. It’s everything Carrie’s column was built on. But under the glitter and charm lies something murkier: Carrie ends up with the guy who, hours before, rejected her best friend. In any other friend group, that’s awkward. In this one? It’s never mentioned again.
What if Big and Samantha had actually hooked up?
Would it have lasted? Not a chance.
Both were too emotionally elusive, too independent, too good at playing the game. They’d have had one legendary night — maybe a weekend in the Hamptons — and moved on. Samantha didn’t need “the one.” She was the one. And Big? He needed someone who could slowly thaw his cynicism — someone like Carrie.
Across six seasons, Samantha only had a handful of meaningful connections: James (forgettable), Richard (complicated), and Smith Jerrod — the one man who truly saw her vulnerability. Her arc was about power, self-discovery, and finally, softness. Big would’ve been a detour. Smith was the destination.
Carrie cracked Big’s heart. Samantha never needed to.
In hindsight, Carrie ending up with Big wasn’t betrayal — but it was one of the show’s strangest narrative blind spots. Girl-code wasn’t broken, but maybe it was quietly bent.
And in true SATC fashion, no one apologized — they just kept walking in heels.
Watch all episodes of Sex and the City now streaming on HBO.
