The BEST episodes of Sex and the City

Every episode of Sex and the City ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Sex and the City!

The narrative of the show focuses on Carrie Bradshaw and her three best friends, Miranda Hobbes, Charlotte York and Samantha Jones. The women discuss their sexual desires and fantasies, and their travels in life, love and lesbianism. The show often depicts frank discussions about romance and sexuality, features a short montage of interviews of people living in New York City.

Last Updated: 1/7/2024Network: HBOStatus: Ended
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An American Girl in Paris: Part Deux
star
8.25
718 votes

#1 - An American Girl in Paris: Part Deux

Season 6 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/22/2004

After Petrovsky leaves Carrie behind for a second time in Paris, she begins to wonder if she's doomed to follow in Juliet's footsteps. Back in New York, Samantha's chemo treatments are killing her sex drive, and she tries to push Smith away in an attempt to cope with it. Hoping to adopt a baby, Charlotte and Harry host an expectant couple from North Carolina, with the intent of acquiring their unborn child.

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Ex and the City
star
7.90
771 votes

#2 - Ex and the City

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 10/3/1999

Carrie wonders why she has never become friend with an ex-boyfriend, and decides that if she must start with someone, that someone mind as well be Mr. Big. She calls him up for inviting him over for a dinner, where he breaks the news that he's proposed to his new girlfriend, Natasha. Shocked, Carrie storms out of the restaurant, shouting and yelling about how with her he had a commitment problem for 2 years, but had found no difficulties on proposing to whats-her-name after 5 months. Meanwhile, the other gals try to find friends themselves. After running away (literally) from Steve, Miranda receives a visit from him in her place and ends up in bed with him – they're friends who have sex. Charlotte tries to become friends with a horse and overcome her trauma caused by her best friend – a horse – who threw her from his back when she was a child. And Samantha faces a challenge: she meets a man with a huge penis. So big that she isn't sure she can make it. When the doubt becomes a certain,

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One
star
7.72
763 votes

#3 - One

Season 6 - Episode 12 - Aired 9/14/2003

Alexander Petrovsky, an internationally acclaimed artist who sweeps Carrie off her feet show up in her romance life. In the meantime, Miranda and Steve celebrate Brady's first birthday; Samantha frets about her appearance "down there;" and Charlotte receives some surprise news.

Directors: David Frankel
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The Real Me
star
7.71
991 votes

#4 - The Real Me

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/3/2001

Carrie is asked to be a model on a fashion show mixing real models and real people. At first reluctant to believe she was chosen to be a model, Carrie is quickly swept off her feet with the glamour of the fashion business. But as everything that comes fast goes fast her dream turns into a nightmare when moments before the show her dress is changed to a jewelry panty. With a huge hair, heavy makeover and high heels, Carrie finally feels like a supermodel and enters the stage strong and confident, only to fall from the top of her shoes. Nevertheless, she gets up and goes on with the show, after all she's a real person and when real people fall they get back on their feet and move on. Meanwhile, Charlotte is embarrassed to change gynecologists when she develops a rash on her vagina, and even more embarrassed when the doctor prescribes anti-depressives for her vagina. But the real solution for Charlotte's depressed vagina is more attention, and so Charlotte finally meets her female part wi

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I Heart NY
star
7.71
682 votes

#5 - I Heart NY

Season 4 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/10/2002

Carrie accidentally finds out that Big is planning on moving away from NY and wonders if she should have goodbye sex with him. She tries to have a romantic evening with him, but Miranda goes into labor and Carrie has to ditch Big to join her friend at the hospital. Miranda still doesn't feel maternal at all – she doesn't want to be motivated to push and she gets annoyed every time Steve cries about the baby. Meanwhile, Charlotte sees her ex husband and his mother at the museum and decides it's time to date again, but her date freaks out with her apartment. Samantha wears a wig to catch Richard cheating on her with another woman.

Directors: Martha Coolidge
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Out of the Frying Pan
star
7.70
692 votes

#6 - Out of the Frying Pan

Season 6 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/25/2004

Aleksandr prefers strong coffee and stronger realities. In the meantime, Charlotte runs to escape the pain of not having a child and bumps into a small bundle of joy; Miranda puts her own desires aside and emphasizes Steve's; and Samantha audaciously gets a new hairstyle.

Directors: Michael Engler
Writer: Jenny Bicks
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Baby, Talk Is Cheap
star
7.70
779 votes

#7 - Baby, Talk Is Cheap

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/1/2001

Carrie sends Aidan an email saying that she misses him and when he doesn't respond she decides to give him a call. They go out with Miranda and Steve and Carrie senses that Aidan wants a relationship too even though he tells her that he doesn't want a relationship. She pursues him anyways and they have sex. He later shows up again and they go walking the dog. Samantha attracted a man by using fake nipples but discovers that he's a big baby when she tells him to stop using baby talk during sex. Miranda meets a man who she dubs Marathon Man because he's training for a marathon. They have sex several and she's shocked when he performs analingus on her. She wonders if she has to reciprocate so she confers with Charlotte, Carrie and Samantha and they all tell that they've never done except for Charlotte who seems to find it acceptable because she's married. Charlotte and Trey try to have a baby but after having dinner with married friends and their children they decide to stop trying

Directors: Michael Spiller
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An American Girl in Paris: Part Une
star
7.70
729 votes

#8 - An American Girl in Paris: Part Une

Season 6 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/15/2004

Before leaving for Paris, Carrie runs into Big outside of her apartment, but she makes it clear to him that she wants him totally out of her life. Ms. Bradshaw then has one last dinner with Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda, and it's clear that the four women know that Carrie's absence will have a major impact on all of their lives.

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Boy, Interrupted
star
7.68
720 votes

#9 - Boy, Interrupted

Season 6 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/24/2003

Carrie receives a pleasant surprise when her high school boyfriend, Jeremy, calls her up and asks her to meet for dinner. The pair broke up in High School, but their chemistry leads them to instantly reconnect. Everything seems perfect, until he reveals one fairly shocking bit of information... he is actually in the area because he's committed himself to a Connecticut mental facility. The New York City summer heat is driving Samantha crazy, but equally frustrating is her inability to be granted access to SoHo, an exclusive club that features a fabulous swimming pool. Luckily for Sam, she finds a misplaced ID card that grants her access to the club, so long as she doesn't mind answering to the name Annabelle Bronstein. Unfortunately, a SoHo employee blows the lid off the deception, causing Samantha to beat a hasty retreat back into the sweltering Manhattan streets. Approving Dr. Leeds' application to live in her apartment building proves to be one of the best decisions that Miranda has

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A Woman's Right to Shoes
star
7.67
754 votes

#10 - A Woman's Right to Shoes

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/17/2003

Carrie and Stanford attend a baby shower thrown by their friends Kyra and Chuck. Upon arriving, they discover that Kyra's house rules include the removal of all footwear, regardless if doing so will destroy a carefully crafted outfit. The evening is pleasant enough, but when Carrie plans to leave the party, she discovers that her brand new Manolos have been stolen. Later, Kyra offers to pay for the missing shoes, but balks when she discovers that they cost $485. Carrie winds up leaving the apartment with no compensation, and a sense of shoe-induced shame. She wonders if she has somehow made a mistake by choosing the lifestyle that she did, rather than the more traditional one chosen by Kyra. Miranda finds herself with three separate problems: an open apartment in her building, Brady suffering from the chickenpox and her own growing need for male companionship. Luckily, one person solves all three problems, as Dr. Robert Leeds takes the vacancy and helps Miranda care for her sick child.

Writer: Jenny Bicks
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All That Glitters
star
7.64
639 votes

#11 - All That Glitters

Season 4 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/13/2002

The girls all go dancing at a gay club and Carrie meets a gay guy and they start hanging out but she soon discovers that she has to fight for his attention whenever they go out. Miranda runs into a co-worker who she didn't know was so she tells him that she's pregnant and he lets it spill at work so she accidently lets it out that he's gay. Samantha takes a hit of extasy and tells Richard that she loves him. Charlotte and Trey's home is featured in "Home and Gardens" but they grow farther apart and he moves out.

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The Domino Effect
star
7.64
674 votes

#12 - The Domino Effect

Season 6 - Episode 11 - Aired 9/7/2003

Big visits New York for what could be the moneyed mystery man's last chance with Carrie. In the meantime, Miranda pursues a relationship with Dr. Robert; Charlotte visits a Chinese fertility doctor; and freewheeling Samantha balks at holding hands.

Directors: David Frankel
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Twenty-Something Girls vs. Thirty-Something Women
star
7.63
657 votes

#13 - Twenty-Something Girls vs. Thirty-Something Women

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 9/26/1999

Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda head to the Hamptons and Charlotte meets a 26-year old guy. She tells him she's 27 and she starts to act like a girl in her twenties. They sleep together and he gives her crabs. Samantha fires her 25-year old assistant Nina and she steals her business rolodex. She gets jealous when Nina plans "The Hamptons Hoe-Down" and people who have never shown up for her parties show up for Nina's. She decides to congratulate her and is happy to discover that Nina needs her help because nothing is going as planned and to pay her back she sets her up with Greg, the guy who gave Charlotte crabs. Carrie gains a protege and can't believe that at 25 she's still a virgin. She goes to a book party and meets a doctor. Later at the hoe-down she runs into Mr. Big, who's back from Paris, with his twenty-something girlfriend whom he met in Paris.

Directors: Darren Star
Writer: Darren Star
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Running with Scissors
star
7.63
700 votes

#14 - Running with Scissors

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 8/20/2000

Carrie's reignited affair with Mr. Big puts a increasing strain on her relationship with Aidan, and she meets Natasha again in the worst of circumstances: while letting herself out of the Bigs' home. In the commotion, Natasha has an accident, so Carrie takes her to hospital. Charlotte becomes more and more preoccupied with preparations for her wedding, especially finding the perfect wedding dress; she also finds out about Carrie and Mr. Big, and is outraged. Samantha's new boyfriend, Tom Reymi, makes her have an AIDS test, which fortunately proves negative, before he will sleep with her. Miranda is attracted to a man wearing a sandwich costume.

Directors: Dennis Erdman
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Ghost Town
star
7.63
831 votes

#15 - Ghost Town

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/24/2001

Miranda is invited to the opening of Steve's bar, but is afraid to go because he seems to be getting on with his life while she's been living the same life she did except she's still single now. She asks Carrie to join her, but Carrie is reluctant once sees that Aidan is Steve's partner. However, after mature thinking, Carrie decides that if Aidan can be a bigger person and invite her, she can be even bigger and buys him a plant. When she enters the bar Steve tells her Aidan didn't invite her; he did. Shocked, Carrie flees the scene before she runs into the ghost of Aidan. Meanwhile, Charlotte is faced with a ghost of her own when Bunny insists they buy her preferable mattress. Suddenly Charlotte realizes that their apartment is more Bunny than her and decides to take a stand in the name of her marriage. Samantha is bored with all the talking and soaking of her lesbian relationship, and Maria buys her a strap-on to make up for Sam's dick abstinence. Unfortunately she never knew how har

Directors: Michael Spiller
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Easy Come, Easy Go
star
7.61
730 votes

#16 - Easy Come, Easy Go

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/6/2000

After Mr. Big confesses to Carrie that his relationship with Natasha is not going well, they return to their old ways, resulting in a night of passion. Charlotte realises her greatest goal in life when she and Trey become engaged, though it was she who had to pop the question. Samantha has a difficult time with Adam, her latest boyfriend. Miranda and Steve are still sharing an apartment even though they've broken up, and they find out that it's not easy living with a former partner, particularly if they want to date someone else.

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Ring a Ding Ding
star
7.60
646 votes

#17 - Ring a Ding Ding

Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/27/2002

Aidan moves out and leaves Carrie the option of either buying back her apartment for what he paid for it or selling it off but she doesn't have enough money for a loan so she goes to see Mr. Big who writes her a check but she finally decides that she wants to do it on her own so she tears up the check. Charlotte ends up giving her her wedding ring so that Carrie can use it as collateral to get her loan. Samantha discovers that Richard isn't the one that's shopping for all the presents that he buys her and that he isn't even signing the cards but his assistant is the one who does it so she gets his assistant to sign the most recent card "Love Richard" to trick him into saying I love you. Miranda and Steve discuss custody of their soon to be child.

Directors: Alan Taylor
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Cock a Doodle Do!
star
7.59
778 votes

#18 - Cock a Doodle Do!

Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 10/15/2000

Mr. Big phones Carrie and invites her to lunch, which she accepts against Miranda's advice. Samantha's sleep is being disturbed by the noise made by some transsexual prostitutes, and she ends up inviting them in for a rooftop party with the other three friends. Charlotte receives an early-morning visit from Trey, who's finally ready for her. Miranda is feeling that her life is in a rut, and runs into Steve on a couple of occasions.

Directors: Allen Coulter
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I Love a Charade
star
7.56
729 votes

#19 - I Love a Charade

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 9/8/2002

On a night out at a Manhattan club, Carrie is amazed to learn that her old friend Bobby Fine, a flamboyant singer, is finally getting married - and that his intended is a woman. While the initial shock never quite wears off, it does give Carrie and her friends the chance to visit the Hamptons. Once there, Samantha takes over Richard's mansion and throws a party; Charlotte's new boyfriend makes his society debut; and Carrie runs into writer Jack Berger.

Directors: Michael Engler
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The Power of Female Sex
star
7.56
1095 votes

#20 - The Power of Female Sex

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/5/1998

"Where's the line between professional girlfriend, and just plain professional?" - Carrie Carrie goes on a date with a gorgeous French architect who shows his thanks with a thousand dollars; a famous painter uses Charlotte as one of his models; Skipper becomes sexually obsessed with Miranda.

Directors: Susan Seidelman
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The Freak Show
star
7.56
946 votes

#21 - The Freak Show

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/20/1999

Carrie ruins a new relationship with Ben, a guy she meets in the park. Samantha dates Harrison, but finds he is into something she isn't. Charlotte dates Mitchell Sailor, “Mr. Pussy”. Miranda quits dating after Carrie sets her up with a blind date she doesn't like. Carrie realises she's a freak, too.

Directors: Allen Coulter
Writer: Jenny Bicks
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Splat!
star
7.55
727 votes

#22 - Splat!

Season 6 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/8/2004

Carrie considers Aleksandr's question; Charlotte uses her maternal instincts and Miranda admits concerns about Aleksandr.

Directors: Julian Farino
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Time and Punishment
star
7.53
754 votes

#23 - Time and Punishment

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/8/2001

Things between Carrie and Aidan – which had been going great – get weird after Aidan overhears Big on Carrie's answering machine. While he seems more distant and cold, Carrie goes out of her way to please him. Finally, when Aidan and a waitress get too friendly, Carrie confronts him if he's out to get even with her. He asks her not to see Big again, but she can't. Aidan will just have to accept it. Meanwhile, Samantha goes to bed with a guy who stole her cab and ends up shaving his pubic hair after he tells her to get waxed. And Charlotte faces lack of support from her friends when she decides to quite her job and become a full time wife and mother – and maybe cure Aids in the meantime. All the arguments she has with Miranda cause her to have a neck thrown out, and if that wasn't painful enough try having Aidan picking you up from the bathroom floor when you're naked.

Directors: Michael Engler
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Change of a Dress
star
7.53
854 votes

#24 - Change of a Dress

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/20/2002

When asked when she was getting married, Carrie reflects on the purpose and meaning of getting married. Miranda, after faking an ultrasound – she doesn't get it why she has to cheer with everyone the fact that she's having a boy – takes Carrie to try on ugly wedding dresses in a weird shock therapy to exorcise her fears away. But Carrie has a freak allergic reaction to the dress, which makes her feel negative about the whole thing. She asks Aidan for some time, but he won't give it to her. She realizes he still doesn't trust her and despite their mutual love, the wedding is just something to give him confidence on her. He moves out the next day. Meanwhile, Charlotte freaks out on tap dancing class and Samantha has her first monogamy attack – something she never thought she could – after finding out Richard is sleeping around.

Directors: Alan Taylor
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Was It Good for You?
star
7.52
728 votes

#25 - Was It Good for You?

Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 9/19/1999

Carrie meets a man and they go out for coffee. She gives him her phone number and when he doesn't call she wonders what she might of done to turn him off. She later runs into him in the street and he tells her the reason he didn't call is because he's an alcoholic and his AA sponsor told him that he shouldn't start any new relationships for at least a year. He throws caution to the wind and embarks on a relationship with Carrie. Soon enough though he becomes addicted to her instead of alcohol so she has to cut him off, which leads him to alcohol addiction once again. Charlotte thinks she's bad in bed when a guy falls asleep while making love to her so she enrolls herself in a tantric sex workshop and signs Carrie, Samantha and Miranda up as well. They go to the workshop and they all learn how to please their partner without actually having sex and Miranda accidently gets hit by flying ejaculate. Samantha agrees to have sex with a gay couple she knows but when the couple can't go th

Directors: Dan Algrant
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