Sex and the City arrived for streaming on Netflix for the first time in April 2024 and, as anticipated, the classic HBO series made quite the splash. No one can resist watching Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha's adventures in New York City, even if you have already watched the series through a handful of times. But did you know that on top of two movies and a revival, there's also a prequel series?
Based on Sex and the City author Candace Bushnell's pair of prequel novels, The Carrie Diaries premiered on The CW back in January 2013 and aired for two 13-episode seasons. The second season brought the series to a close in January 2014. The O.C., Gossip Girl, and Dynasty executive producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage were behind the Carrie Bradshaw origin story, which was developed by SATC writer Amy B. Harris.
While the Sex and the City prequel series was once available on Netflix before being removed back in 2019, it's not available on the platform in tandem with the original series. We can keep our fingers crossed that it will someday return, and perhaps there's a greater possibility with the HBO title's popularity on Netflix. But for now, fans wanting to head to the '80s with Carrie Bradshaw can watch the series for free thanks to its home network.
The Carrie Diaries is available to stream for free
All 26 episodes of The Carrie Diaries are available to stream for free on The CW's website and app. As previously mentioned, the series consists of two seasons, which each have 13 episodes. Of course, because the show streams on The CW's free platform, the viewing experience isn't ad-free. But the episodes are available for purchase on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
For those who haven't watch or maybe forgot, The Carrie Diaries follows Carrie Bradshaw at 16 years old during her junior year of high school when she encounters love at first sight with New York City. She begins interning for a law firm but also explores the fashion and journalism industry by secretly working for Interview Magazine, too. The series also tackles Carrie's home life with her father and little sister Dorrit after the death of her mother. (Yes, a lot of this isn't mentioned in Sex and the City.)
Austin Butler played a Carrie Bradshaw love interest
Before he was an Academy Award nominated actor for playing Elvis Presley, Austin Butler played the object of Carrie Bradshaw's teenage affection as bad boy Sebastian Kydd. He's the hunky new guy in school who Carrie immediately crushes on. No spoilers here for how their relationship turns out by the end of season 2, but if you've watched the modern series as well as And Just Like That, you know that Sebastian Kydd isn't part of the Carrie canon. Maybe he should make a comeback...
Here's who else stars in the Sex and the City prequel series, including the younger version of the iconic Samantha Jones:
- AnnaSophia Robb as Carrie Bradshaw
- Austin Butler as Sebastian Kydd
- Ellen Wong as Jill "Mouse" Chen
- Katie Findlay as Maggie Landers
- Stefania LaVie Owen as Dorrit Bradshaw
- Brendan Dooling as Walter "Walt" Reynolds
- Chloe Bridges as Donna LaDonna
- Freema Agyeman as Larissa Loughlin
- Matt Letscher as Tom Bradshaw
- Lindsey Gort as Samantha Jones
Watch a trailer for the series in the video below!
Unfortunately, in spite of its connection to a real pop culture institution, The Carrie Diaries was canceled by The CW after two seasons due to low ratings. The show didn't really take off quite like the second coming of Gossip Girl the network was likely hoping for, and that's a shame. It's a very charming teen drama series full of color, nostalgia, and Easter eggs. Also, AnnaSophia Robb delivers an amazing rendition of a young Carrie Bradshaw. We need to see the Carries join forces in And Just Like That... Make it happen, Max!
Watch The Carrie Diaries complete series on The CW's website and all six seasons of Sex and the City on Netflix.
This article was originally published on netflixlife.com as Is The Carrie Diaries on Netflix, too? Where to watch the Sex and the City prequel series.
