SPOILER ALERT: This story incorporates spoilers for “Outlook Good,” Season 3, Episode 1 of “And Simply Like That,” now streaming on Max.

Carrie Bradshaw’s return comes with — what else? — issues.

Within the third season of “And Simply Like That,” the sequel collection to “Intercourse and the Metropolis,” Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) is as soon as once more entangled with Aidan (John Corbett), regardless of the couple’s vow within the Season 2 finale to remain separate for 5 years in order that Aidan can give attention to his household life in Virginia. Whereas the Season 3 premiere begins with Carrie pensively sending Aidan a postcard, it goes on to function a number of makes an attempt at cellphone intercourse between a pair who wrestle to go away each other. Annoyed at simply how out-of-reach Aidan appears, Carrie ends the episode by exhibiting us a brand new facet of herself: Sitting at her laptop computer and writing not a newspaper column however a fiction undertaking, about an unnamed lady determining her life. 

All of which gives loads for Parker to play. The actress — who, on prime of promotional duties, is at present studying a number of books a day in her capability as a choose for the U.Okay.’s Booker Prize — spoke to Selection concerning the delight she feels at persevering with to play reverse Corbett’s Aidan, Carrie’s personal first steps as a novelist, and the character’s journey, some 27 years since “Intercourse and the Metropolis” first started, towards discovering herself. 

I discovered the choice to re-integrate Aidan into the present, after Carrie and he had determined to take a five-year break, actually attention-grabbing. What did it really feel prefer to play?

The choice — the sabbatical — was arrived at with each desiring to honor it. I actually do suppose that Carrie understood the explanations what Aidan felt he needed to be a mother or father at residence. It makes actually good sense. And the methods during which they pursued this sabbatical have been principled. However the actuality of resisting this sort of firm, having discovered each other once more, is a complete totally different animal. There’s one thing significant — it’s onerous to not seek for that with an individual for whom you are feeling such deep affection.

It was attention-grabbing watching Anthony and Carrie argue concerning the relationship on the ballet; I think about some potential viewers listening to his critiques of the back-and-forth nature of how she’s dealing with Aidan and considering, “He speaks for me.” Clearly showrunner Michael Patrick King is conscious of viewers expectations. And but the connection’s issues are what make it intriguing.

The writing did a very good job of permitting frivolity and whimsy and the joyfulness that Aidan brings to Carrie’s life, however they’re inarguably grown-ups. In order that has weight and ballast. After which it’s simply Corbett — it’s simply so nice.

One factor we love about Carrie is that she’s a real romantic, however that additionally means she’s but to land on her happily-ever-after — it’s all the time concerning the journey. Will she ever discover that glad ending, or is it concerning the fixed pursuit? 

I believe it’s potential she gained’t discover an individual that’s the vacation spot level. However I’ve been making an attempt to convey that — to not be confused with the one that enjoys the hunt over the kill, to be quite crude about it — however for her, it’s the invention. One in all our previous bosses at HBO used to say that the vacation spot is all the time residence, and I actually suppose that’s true. Carrie is searching for residence, and that may elude you. For a very long time, a really developed, sensible person who makes poor decisions typically can nonetheless perceive what meaning. 

Given your love of studying, I used to be questioning whether or not there was one thing particular about Carrie’s writing having shifted to this nascent novel she’s engaged on. 

I used to be actually excited by this concept for quite a lot of causes. Michael was very intelligent about telling this particular person’s story. Carrie thinks it’s separate and that it’s onerous to summon this particular person, though the chapters that come simply, she isn’t recognizing have a parallel to her personal life. 

I hope you’re having fun with being a Booker Prize choose.

Oh my God, sometime I’ll speak to you about it. It’s fairly superb.

This interview has been edited and condensed.